On Wednesday 19^th June, we went on an excursion to the Royal Botanical Gardens to deepen our understanding of our Inquiry unit “How might we contribute to the thriving of flora and fauna?”.  

• Exploring the gardens using 4 of our 5 senses.
• Observing plant structures, adaptations, features and functions. 
• Cultivating their own plant to take home. 
• Discovering Indigenous plants - their uses and significance to First Peoples, 
• Learning how First Peoples care for the plants and country. 
• Examining the sustainable land practices used by First Peoples across Australia. 
• Discovering tools and technologies designed and made by First Peoples. 

We had an awesome day walking and exploring the garden under the winter sun. We got to see and feel different plants and experience how First Peoples connect to their environment. Here are what our children have learnt:

• I learnt about the Snowy Gum tree - it doesn't feel the cold.  - Tyler
• I learnt that the possum's fur is the third warmest of all the animals.  The first is the polar bear and the second is the arctic fox. - Drashti and Jaik
• We got to see a lot of Indigenous plants and learn how they care for them. Also having a more in-depth knowledge of different cultural tools and what they are used for. - Akaine
• I learnt how possum skins are used to celebrate each year of an Indigenous person's life and it is sewn together to eventually make a large quilt. - Ranuli
• The Bunyip tree adapted a long time ago to become prickly to ward off animals eating all the leaves. Also, indigenous people harvest the seeds to eat. - Onalee
• I was able to grow my appreciation for nature and understand how we can help it thrive even more. It is important to be planting native plants to encourage all our native animals. – Krisha A
• At the Royal Botanical Gardens, I found it very intriguing to explore and look at the different flora and fauna. We also learnt about Indigenous people. The best part was going to the indoor glass house. It felt like a rainforest, and it directly reminded me of a story we are reading called ‘The Secret Garden’. It’s a magical story about a girl and a garden. Inside the glass house it brought back a beautiful scene and overall, it was mesmerising.  - Adrisha 
• When we entered into that garden, it felt like each of us was in the book, ‘The Secret Garden’. The birds whispered to each other, “What a beautiful place this is.” - Eyren 
• Visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens was a fabulous memory as we were taught myriad things related to our Inquiry focus this term - how to help flora and fauna thrive. There was an intriguing glass house and inside there were rare carnivorous plants as well as a blend of native and non-native plants. We looked through microscopes to look at a closer snapshot of flowers, we learnt unique and unknown things about Indigenous communities, and we held real boomerangs and possum fur.  - Stuti