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The Living Lab
Program serves the local community and supports the mission of the
Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, and the Interpretive Plan of
the Bellevue Botanical Garden by providing quality science and
botany-related educational opportunities for youth. |
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Our volunteer group has returned
year after year to have fun with the kids and assist the staff
teachers with classes. Teachers in the Bellevue School District
receive a program announcement several months before the classes
begin for the spring and fall sessions. They select the activity
that relates to their class level.
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Fall 2011 Session Dates: *
September 26, Monday
September 27, Tuesday
September 28, Wednesday
October 3, Monday
October 4, Tuesday
October 5, Wednesday
October 10, Monday
October 11, Tuesday
October 12, Wednesday
October 17, Monday
October 18, Tuesday
October 19, Wednesday
October 24, Monday
October 25, Tuesday
October 26, Wednesday
All Fall 2001 Classes are Full
No Charge
Download Flyer
Contact us at
livinglab@bellevuebotanical.org
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Living
Lab is a lot of learning and a lot of fun! |
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Wood Works
for kindergarten
Flower Power
for grade one
Super Soils
for grade two
Botanical Measurements for grade three
Native Plants in Our Lives
for grade four
All activities are interactive, fun, hands-on, and aligned with the
Washington State Standards for Science. Complete descriptions in our
flyer. Teacher comments:
"This was our 2nd year and once again we were awed by the
professional student centered lesson and curriculum connections
presented. Thank you for supporting our community."
"So much GREAT info and
activities in a short time!"
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Student activities:
 Use hand lenses
and microscopes.
Make paper
flowers, pollinators, and play the "Pollination Game".
Observe and
identify the parts of a flower, role-play their function.
Handle Native
American artifacts made from plants; identify native plants.
Apply knowledge
of native plants in a game of survival.
Learn the parts
of a tree, sort tree products, and make one to take home.
Observe,
record, experiment and compare the perc rate for 4 soils.
Determine the
best soil for: most plants, swimming pool, Hens & Chicks.
Measure trees,
analyze data to determine the best tree for a mast.
Weigh 3 soils
to make mixture for mini-alpine rock gardens to take home.
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Students usually come to the Garden from
9:30am to 11:00am unless special arrangements have been made. Classes
are divided into two smaller groups
that participate in grade-specific activities related to the
topic for the day
(see list of activities, descriptions and grade level for each).
Groups rotate through the 2 or 3 activities planned for the day. |
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Participating teachers and their
students, volunteer helpers and staff teachers are asked to
evaluate their experiences with the Living Lab Program. Judging
from their comments, they feel this free program, funded by the
Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, is valuable and serves the
community well. Hands-on learning is fun and educational for all
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To sign up to volunteer, call Melinda
at the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society office, 425-452-4216 or email her
at
livinglab@bellevuebotanical.org
Hope to see you! Program Historic Perspective:
The Living Lab Program has been in existence at the Bellevue Botanical
Garden since 1994. The original program objective was to offer plant and
water-related classes to third and fourth grade students in the
Bellevue School District. In those early days, the City of Bellevue
Utilities Department supported the program. The Department supplied
the funding and a program coordinator. Volunteers taught the classes. In
1996, two staff teachers were hired. In 1999 the Bellevue Botanical
Garden Society assumed full responsibility for the financial and
administrative functions of the program. A professional program
coordinator/developer and two professional staff teachers were hired. The
program was expanded from two days to three days per week during the
spring and a fall
session was added. Volunteers were trained to assist staff teachers. Grade level offerings
increased to include K-5.
All activities align with the Washington State Standards for Social
Studies and Science, the EALRS and CBAs.
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