Virtual Resources
The Bellevue Botanical Garden Society is excited to offer virtual field trips, which are extensions of our in-person Living Lab program! Below you will find descriptions, suggested grade levels, and correlations to Next Generation Science Standards, for each video program.
A Walk Through the Bellevue Botanical Garden
This video tour is an introduction to the Bellevue Botanical Garden and a walk through a portion of the 11 specialty gardens. In addition to it being a tour, it also includes some botanical and historical information. There’s a “seek & find for pollinators” throughout the tour. The video is 37 minutes long, but is broken into 10 chapters, so that it can be easily watched in shorter segments. Watching the first 7 minutes covers an introduction to the garden and a walk through the first garden on the tour. The audience for this video is the general public with a focus on elementary age children and their teachers.
ACCESS VIDEO
FUN ACTIVITIES
Thanks to our sponsor
Super Soils Extensions
4/5th Grade: Soil Chemist
4/5th Grade: Soil Chemist
Combining science with art, this lesson teaches basic concepts of soil acidity through exploration of the hydrangea. Students learn to conduct hands-on experiments involving mixtures and solutions.
LINK TO: Teacher Guide, Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
- WATCH: Soil Chemist Video (13 min)
Supplies needed: Blank paper and colored pencils for art with video.
Soil Chemistry Experiment
Soil Chemistry Experiment Instructions
Supplies needed: white vinegar, baking soda, container and soil.
Cabbage Water Test
Cabbage Water Test Instructions
Supplies needed: red cabbage, distilled water, clear container and soil.
4th/5th Grade: Soil Sleuths
4th/5th Grade: Soil Sleuths
You might get a bit dirty doing this detective work. Through a hands-on experiment, video, and reflection questions, students learn about the PNW forest floor. The formation of minerals, rocks, and layers of sediment over time are also explored.
Link to Teacher Guide, Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
- WATCH: Soil Sleuth Video (8:16 minutes)
2nd Grade: Rocks and Soils at the Garden
2nd Grade: Rocks and Soils at the Garden
Watch to see how woodpeckers help make healthy soil, how gardeners use rocks, and how gnomes make cement for their homes. Scientific vocabulary is applied during the garden video tour. Viewers are invited to complete an imaginative drawing, and to try a simple, hands-on investigation to observe components of soil.
Glossary: Download this soil glossary to learn vocabulary
LINK TO: Teacher Guide, Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
Videos:
- WATCH: Intro to Soils Video (7:54 min)
- WATCH: BBG Rocks Video (3:25 min)
- WATCH: Soil Suspension Investigation Video (3:15 min)
K-2: Soil Story
K-2: Soil Story
Take a walk through your neighborhood to see all the life soil supports. Grab a handful of soil on your walk, then watch the video to try a hands-on soil experiment. If you want to learn more, check out our list of books to read all about soil!
LINK TO: Teacher Guide, Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
- WATCH: Soil Suspension Investigation Video (3:15 min)
Broadleaf Trees & Leaves
K-1: Broadleaf Trees & Leaves
In this extension, the main video introduces students to leaf parts, tree identification, photosynthesis and how the seasons affect trees. Students will use their observation skills. The video also includes an art project on leaf rubbings. Students will want to have paper and a crayon handy! There are also links to two book readings about why leaves change colors and the artistic use of leaves in Leaf Man to share how leaves move through a landscape. There is also a book list of some of our favorite tree and leaf books.
Download Teacher Guide, Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
Download Trees & Leaves Reading List
- WATCH: Broadleaf Trees & Leaves Video (12:11 minutes)
- WATCH: Why Do Leaves Change Color? Book Reading (7:41 minutes)
- WATCH: Leaf Man Book Reading (6:09 minutes)
Seed Travelers
K-2: Seed Travelers
In this extension, the main video introduces students to various methods of seed dispersal. Students will use their observation skills. There are documents with activities for making a paper helicopter and drawing a dandelion! There are two video book readings about traveling seeds – “A Seed is Sleepy” and “Karlein’s Pumpkin Patch” – and a video showing kids investigating seed dispersal. There is also a list of some of our favorite books about seeds and a list for teachers to connect to the standards.
Download Teacher Guide, Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
- WATCH: Seed Travelers Video (6:22 min)
- WATCH: Kids Demonstrating Seed Dispersal (2:31)
- WATCH: A Seed is Sleepy Book Reading (7:43 minutes)
- WATCH: Karlein’s Pumpkin Patch (3:29 min)
Flower Dissection
K-3: Flower Dissection
In this extension, a brief video shows an educator or parent how to do a flower dissection with a class or child. We have also included a reading list for the topic of flower and plant parts and a list of the state standards related to the topic.
WATCH: Flower Dissection Demo for Educators or Parents Video (5 min)
Download Teacher Guide, Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
Download Flower Dissection & Plant Parts Reading List
Habitats
1-5: Tardigrades & Moss Habitat
In this extension, the video introduces students to the small creatures called tardigrades or “water bears” and their mossy habitat. Instructions for building a tardigrade habitat are at the end of the video. There is also a list of some books and videos about tardigrades and habitats and a list for teachers to connect to the standards.
WATCH: Moss & Tardigrade Habitat Video (15 min)
Download Teacher Guide, Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards Correlations
