Education

Teacher Programs

Winter Programs

New! Teas, Sweets, and Tropical Treats: Science and Culture of Edible Plants
Jan. 22 at the Garfield Park Conservatory
Jan. 29 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $150 ($140 for Educator Members)
Grade level: K-12
CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1, Graduate credit: 1

Discover firsthand how flavorful plants like chocolate, vanilla, and ginger grow. Learn how people use them to enhance their lives and tickle their taste buds. Explore both institutions’ plant collections, enjoy hands-on activities, and make literary connections for the classroom.

New! School Gardening Basics
Feb. 5 at Openlands
Feb. 12 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $150 ($140 for Educator Members)
Grade level: PreK-12
CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1, Graduate credit: 1

Gain the resources to successfully plan and implement a schoolyard garden. Learn the basics of building a garden team, choosing your garden theme, and understanding garden design, soil tests, and base maps through this two-day workshop.

Worms and Wings
Feb. 26 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
March 5 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $130 ($120 for Educator Members)
Grade level: PreK-12
CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1, Graduate credit: 1

Spend a day at the Garden and a day at the Nature Museum exploring ways to incorporate insects and other critters into math, science, reading, and art curriculum. You will learn how to raise worms and butterflies in the classroom. Participants will construct a live-worm bin to take back to their classroom along with ready-to-use lesson plans.

Nature, Garden, and Art
March 12 & 19 at the Chicago Botanic Garden
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $150 ($140 for Educator Members)
Grade level: PreK-12
CPDU credit: 15, Lane credit: 1, Graduate credit: 1

Gardening and nature study provide rich opportunities for multidisciplinary teaching and learning. In this workshop, special interest will be given to year-round implementation of a curriculum that utilizes a school garden or natural area. We will model outdoor teaching methods to assist your students in developing a lifelong interest in nature, art, and gardening.