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Learning Resources

EDUCATION KITS

The botanic garden offers some ‘outdoor classroom ready’ Education Kits with detailed notes for self-guided or guided discovery walks in the botanic garden, as well as learning activities to do inside the classroom to make the most of a field trip before and after the visit to the garden. The education kits are geared to Stage 3 of the NSW Curriculum. Available for free download as an introductory offer to schools with the opening of the new Nature Discovery Centre.

Our Habitat, Our Home Education Kit

Explores what a habitat is and provides detailed notes for a short walk through six different habitat types in the garden with a photo-set of the animals which call them home. Includes a focus on the importance of old trees with a “Habitat Tree’ match up activity.  Aligned to the Living World strand of the ES1-S3 science syllabus.

Art in Nature: SHAPE  Education Kit 

Explores the art and science of nature with a focus on leaves. Invites students to use their imagination with a list of ‘plants with strange names’ to explore, along with a range of creative and fun activities to do. Aligned with the S1-S3 Creative Arts syllabus and S1-S2 Science and Technology syllabus.

INFORMATION LEAFLETS

WILDLIFE

Powerful owl
  • Birds of the Botanic Garden (General information about birds in the garden)- download here
  • 105 Birds of the Botanic Garden (List of species you might see and in which season) – download here
  • Powerful Owl Brochure – download here
  • Owl friendly garden – BirdLife Australia
  • Wildlife of the Botanic Garden – download here
  • Why you shouldn’t feed our birds and other wildlife. Disease, dependency and dietary deficiency plus water pollution. Here’s a great guide on this from Birdlife Australia.

CITIZEN SCIENCE

Dragonfly

Use these apps and get involved with these events to learn more about the wonderful nature that surrounds us.

Attracting Insect eating birds to your garden things you can do to make your garden more bird friendly.

Aussie Bird Count – a week of counting during bird week using a special, easy to use app. Next bird count October 2024.

BirdData – Birdlife Australia’s bird counting app.

Birds in Backyards Seasonal Surveys. As the seasons change, record the changing birds.

BirdLife Australia – An Australian Organisation dedicated to education about, and the preservation of Australian birds.

Christmas Beetle Count 2023-2024

eBird – an app that helps you create lists of the birds you see and that is used by scientists across the world.

Fire Ant identification information.

FrogID – your 20 second recording of a local frog can make all the difference.

Frog ID Week A week of collecting extra frog recordings.

Great Glossy Black Cockatoo Count Help these endangered birds.

Great Southern BioBlitz an annual event using iNaturalisst to find as many plants, insects and animals as you can. Local Great Southern Bioblitz Group

Learn how to use your phone to identify plants and animals.

iNaturalist. a great app to help identify things you find. The link gives you all the information you need to use the app.

National Science Week

Nest Boxes – guidelines designed by North Coast Regional Landcare and Charles Sturt University

Owl Awareness Day – August 4th each year.

Plant Science Learning Hub – created by the Australian National Botanic Garden, this is a free educational resource designed for educators and students to explore the science and stories of Australian native plants. Explore plant life cycles, structure, pollination and more.

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES     

Botanic Gardens of Australia and NZ – https://www.bganz.org.au
Australian Plants Society NSW – https://www.austplants.com.au/
NSW PlantNet – https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants – https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/intro/index.html