For older children, emphasis is also placed on the lifecycle and anatomy of plants. Students transplant a plant to take home with them. Digging in the Dirt Table will help children recognize the texture of soil and how worms help plants grow. After the soil introduction, trained volunteers or staff provide a guided tour of basic earthworm anatomy, a simple food chain, and soil composition. Children will discover the gender of a worm, how it moves, what it eats, the earthworm food chain, and the importance of soil particle size.
Students choose an earthworm to take home or enjoy their earthworm exploration in the greenhouse.
Water is essential to all living things. Students investigate the properties of water and how plants use water, with emphasis on tropical plants and their special adaptations that enable them to use water efficiently. Students learn about the diversity of birds and the plants and animals they depend on. Weather and time permitting, the group may visit the outdoor bird feeding station, sponsored by Quad City Audubon Society. Students explore the collection of tropical plants in the Sun Garden and learn about plant features using their five senses.