Outside In: Observing Nature by Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium

Nature Noticers

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 03:21:04 UTC

Designed for Years 3 - 7

Become expert Nature Noticers! Encouraging curiosity, nature connection and exploration of the natural world using observations, touch, scent and sound.

Bird Watching Basics

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 03:21:16 UTC

Bird Search

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 03:21:24 UTC

Start your bird watching adventure at the Botanic Gardens!

Bird Search Teacher Resource Guide

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 03:21:50 UTC

A guide to support educators in connecting bird watching across curriculum

Bird Identification Skills

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 03:22:53 UTC

At first glance, wetland birds can look very similar. You'll need to practice your observation and noticing skills to become a bird ID expert and figure out who is who!

Outside In: Observing Nature

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 06:08:53 UTC

Providing opportunities for students to slow down and truly observe nature helps spark curiosity, strengthen wellbeing, and build a deeper sense of self. When we notice the small details, patterns in leaves, a pollinator visiting the garden, changing light or seasonal shifts, we start asking questions, making connections, and thinking like scientists and storytellers.

These moments of mindful observation also support calm and emotional regulation, offering a gentle reset from busy routines. By engaging their senses and attention, learners develop confidence in their own thinking, a stronger awareness of their place in the world, and a growing sense of wonder about the natural environment.

With Special Thanks To

dewbgschools — 2025-11-24 06:09:00 UTC

This project was made possible by generous support from the A Private Philanthropic Organisation and the Department for Education.

Partners

dewbgschools — 2026-02-17 22:32:03 UTC

The Botanic Gardens Education team partnered with expert Psychologists and Nature Therapists from Connected Self across this project. Working together to co-design resources and workshops to provide meaningful connection to nature based on findings from peer reviewed research and years of nature based wellbeing delivery and practise.

Next Level Nature Noticing

dewbgschools — 2026-03-02 05:34:45 UTC

For the nature detectives! Work your way through these observations, gather evidence and record your findings to discover more about how plants, animals, people and places are all connected!

ACARA Links

dewbgschools — 2026-03-12 02:26:20 UTC

Learning programs where learners are able to spend time outdoors, observing nature creates an authentic interdisciplinary learning environment where students can increase their curiousity and connection to nature through exploration of concepts connecting to science, sustainability, culture, mathematics, art, design and wellbeing through real-world, hands-on experiences.

Below is a list of links across a variety of curriculum areas that can be applied to these nature based learning experiences:

Health and Physical Education
- Making healthy and safe choices
- Making active choices
- Investigate different ways of moving their bodies
Science
- Inquiry Skills
- Asking questions and making predictions
- Planning and conducting investigations
- Recording and representing observation
- Biological Sciences
- Living and non-living things
- Life cycles (seeds, flowers, insects, birds)
- Interactions between living things and their environment
HASS (Geography)
- Observing and describing natural features of places
- Identifying how environments support living things
- Considering how people interact with and care for environments
- Interpreting, analysing and evaluating data
- Communicating observations and pesenting descriptions
- Developing evidence based conclusions
Mathematics
- Measurements
- Modelling problems
- Statistics
- Patterns and symmetry
- Data representation
- Probability
English
- Topic specific vocabulary
- Creating informative, reflective or emotive texts
Design and Technologies
- Food and fibre productions
- Technologies and society
- Investigation and defining
- Investigating, generating and creating opportunities for designed solutions
- Evaluation ideas, process and solutions
- Collaborating and managing
General Capabilities
- Critical and Creative Thinking – asking questions and exploring ideas
- Literacy – recording observations in journals
- Numeracy – measuring, counting and identifying patterns and collecting data
- Sustainability – understanding ecosystems and caring for environments
- Personal and Social Capability – reflecting on wellbeing in nature

Pre or Post Visit

dewbgschools — 2026-03-12 02:44:16 UTC

These resources have been designed to support self-guided learning to encourage connection to nature and allow for moments of mindfulness. Use them at the Botanic Gardens or in your own school or community!

Getting Ready to Be Garden Adventurers!

dewbgschools — 2026-03-30 02:34:08 UTC

Join Lucy as she helps you get ready for your visit to Adelaide Botanic Garden! Learn how to use your senses to become curious garden adventurers, discover how being outdoors can help wriggly feelings disappear, and learn how to explore a botanic garden safely and kindly.

dewbgschools — 2026-04-16 06:39:26 UTC

Rosellas and Lorikeets are both bright, colourful birds that love trees, flowers and fruit! Use your observation skills to discover what makes each bird unique!

Learning at the Botanic Gardens looks like....

dewbgschools — 2026-07-17 02:30:37 UTC