Education

  1. World of Plants
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Children learning at the World of Plants. Retrieved from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/education/programmes.html#!/school-programme

In the World of Plants, it contains multi-sensory encounter with nature. It educates the public about nature. One of the gardens is called “Secret Life of Trees”.  In here, through the display of trees, it educates the public about trees and also familiarize them with the challenges they face to survive in tropical countries like Singapore. Similarly, in “World of Palms”, it allows the public to know more about the diversity and the role of palms in Singapore. In “fruits and flowers”, the vibrant display of flowers and fruits in season will let people know about the different types of flowering plants. Not to leave out the decomposers, “Understorey” talks about the things to know about decomposers and their importance.  To enhance the aesthetics of the garden and to allow the public to understand the relationship between certain animals, plants were trimmed into life-sized animals like the orang utan and the pangolin.

  1. School programs

School programs includes guided tours like “Gardens under Glass” which guides the students around Gardens by the Bay and its domes and educate them in varied aspects– energy sustainability strategies, adaptations of plants in the respective domes, appreciate the presence of Cloud Forest, develop awareness of the threats and effects of climate change and human activities on environment and lastly, the need for conservation and responsible living. Another program “Wise Wee and the Little Adventurers” targeted for younger children of 4 to 9 years old which introduces them the uses and features of plants, their adaptability and also the need for protection.  Other programs range from pre-school to primary school to Secondary school.

For Pre-school programs, it includes “Plant Superstars” and “How useful is that?”. These programs will educate them about how to identify certain different features of a plant and the usefulness of each plant.

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Children learning about plants through interactive features. Retrieved from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/education/programmes.html#!/school-programme
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Children learning about plants in Cloud Forest. Retrieved from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/education/programmes.html#!/school-programme

For Primary School Programs, it targets more abstract thinking like how different conditions and factors will affect plant growth and the need for environmental conservation. One interesting feature of all these programs is that each part of it talks about conservation – human impact on environment, how to conserve and the importance of it. One of the learning outcomes in the programs is “The COOL factor” where they also educate the students about the creative use of design for long-term conservation and sustainability with Gardens by the Bay as their example.

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Primary school students at Heritage Gardens. Retrieved from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/education/programmes.html#!/school-programme

In Secondary School programs, although the programs are much more specified and targeted, most still focus on the need and importance to conserve. One of the programs that caught my eye is “TREES: Our Natural Heritage”. This is a proof that urban parks like Gardens by the Bay have been continuously trying to conserve natural heritage. It teaches the students various features of the tropical trees and plants in the Heritage Gardens and also teaches them to appreciate the conditions for health plant growth. Other than all these physical programs, they even provide online resources to educate the public and students.

  1. Public programs

On top of all the school programs, Gardens by the Bay also included programs like multiple day camps for children. Holiday program for children like “Garden Troopers” provides a holistic education about the several aspects of Gardens by the Bay like the Cloud Forest, Flower domes and the other gardens.  There are also packages for family which allow family to spend time together while learning about the nature and conservation.

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Frozen Fables for Family in Flower Dome. Retrieved from: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/education/programmes.html#!/public-programme

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