Guided Programs
In presenting programs, Holden encourages students to take an active role in learning. Instead of lecturing, our guides lead hands-on investigations and discussions in a natural setting, encouraging students to discover, gather information, ask questions and begin to formulate answers or methods for
obtaining answers for themselves. This leads to more questions and new investigations that can be pursued later. We want to stimulate curiosity and encourage observations.
PreK-2
Stories in the Garden, 1 hour, 15 minutes
PreK-Grade 1
Each season we pick a spot in our gardens and share stories that help illustrate the wonders of the natural world. A craft or activity solidifies the concepts. We’ll be outside, so dress for the weather.
Topics:
- Fall (September – November) Fabulous Forests
- Winter (December – February) Water
- Spring (April – June) Ponds
- Summer (July – August) Things that Fly
Forest Discovery: Year Round, 1 hour, 30 minutes
K-Grade 2
Experience a forest first hand using your senses to make discoveries about this special place. Learn about the diversity and adaptations of the animals and plants that live in this habitat.
Life on the Edge of the Pond: Mid-April through September, 1 hour, 30 minutes
PreK-Grade 2
Many plants and animals make their homes at the edge of a pond. Use nets to search for tadpoles, snails and dragonfly nymphs. Find out how they live in, and depend on, the water for their survival.
Grades 3-5
Forest Discovery: Year Round, 1 hour, 30 minutes
The forest is a diverse and interdependent community. Learn about food chains and competition and search for links between plants and animals. Dissect soil to understand its importance to the whole system.
Life on the Edge of a Pond: Mid-April through September, 1 hour, 30 minutes
A pond is a complex ecosystem. Discover the diversity of organisms living in various pond zones and habitats. Identify organisms by comparing and contrasting structures. We’ll discuss adaptations and food chains.
Program Add-On: Video Microscope, 30 minutes
Get a closer look at what was discovered by collecting specimens for viewing under the video microscope. An additional 30 minutes is required.
Grades 6-12
The Mathematics of Big Trees: Year Round, 2 hours
Grades 6-8
Learn how to measure a “big” tree using math concepts from state standards and apply this knowledge to a real life data collecting situation. Everyone wants to have the biggest tree, so see how Holden’s measure up to the state and national champions. Students will analyze their results and use soil tests to help determine what factors affect how “big” trees can get.
Explore a Stream with Rachel Carson: April through October, 2 ½ hours
Grades 6-8
Learn about famous writer, biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson. Then follow in her footsteps by doing a macro invertebrate study of a creek to determine its health and discover the power of words by writing about the natural world.
Life on the Edge of a Pond: Mid-April through September, 2 hours
Grades 6-12
Energy flows through an aquatic system. Collect and identify organisms in a pond to better understand the transfer and all that is involved in making this system function. Abiotic measurements will be taken to better understand the impact that humans can have on the environment
Program Add-On: Video Microscope 30 minutes
Grades 6-12
Get a closer look at what was discovered by collecting specimens for viewing under the video microscope. An additional 30 minutes is required.
Invasive Plants - A Threat to Biodiversity: April through October, 2 ½ hours
Grades 6-12
Learn about invasive plants in this hands-on oriented program. Pre-visit materials using dichotomous keys and herbarium specimens familiarize you with invasive plants and what makes them so successful. Students put knowledge into action by using transects to study the occurrence and spread of local invasive plants. Note: The program cost is $4 per student.
Spanish in the Garden: April through May, 2 hours
Grades 7-12
This discovery experience is conducted totally in Spanish. Explore cultural and natural diversity while strengthening skills in reading, writing and speaking. Locate trees using written directions, write a plant description, read lilac myths, compose a myth and report on the experience. A great way to practice skills learned in the classroom.
Exploring Plant Genetics: March through June, 2 hours
Grades 6-12
Learn the purpose and history behind plant breeding during this two-part program as you cross-pollinate flowers and observe diversity in plant collections. Note: The program cost of $8 per student covers a visit to your classroom and your visit to Holden.
Classroom visit: 1 hourStudents are introduced to the concept that humans have been manipulating plants for centuries for food and ornamental value. They will learn about plant characteristics, and sexual reproduction in plants. Flower dissections will prepare them for a hands-on pollination activity in the Holden greenhouses.
Holden visit: 2 hours
At Holden, the students will perform a cross pollination in order to try their hand at plant breeding and learn the difficulties associated with plant reproduction. They will then move outside to study a plant collection and look for plant characteristics that might be selected and gain an appreciation for the vast amount of diversity that exists in any plant genus.
Plant Science
These science investigations are designed to meet state proficiency outcomes. Each unit includes a teacher’s guide and materials kit. Detailed content descriptions of each unit are available upon request. Cost: $4/student
Grades K-1, 1 hour, 30 minute
Discover Plants: From Top to Bottom Students will define a plant, plant seeds and observe changes. All plants have tops, middles and bottoms, but there is great diversity. Students collect weeds, make vegetable soup, play plant twister, measure root lengths and create plant stories.
Plants and Me: Living Together Discover ways plants are part of our lives: food, clothing, shelter and beauty. Study food cartons; plant and measure the growth of seeds; dissect cotton bolls; cook with grains and herbs; and use senses to explore and group plants. After exploring their surroundings and Holden, students will create a community mural and class story called “Thanks, Plants.”
Grades 2-4, 2 hours
Interdependence: Links Between Plants and Animals Explore the relationship between plants and animals. Plants provide food, cover and homes for animals while animals provide pollination, decomposition and seed dispersal for plants. Create a forest mural, model the effects of insects eating plants, observe interactions in the forest, use tough-o-meters to explore plant defenses, and create a newscast to share learning.
Life Cycles of Plants: Growing through Changes Discover a plant’s life cycle by comparing stages of growth in classroom plants with the plants at Holden. You’ll dissect seeds, flowers and fruits; compare rates of growth; hunt for various life-cycle stages in Plant Bingo; and create stories to describe a plant’s life cycle.
SEASONAL TOURS
Sugarbush Tour: March only, 1 hour, 15 minutes
All ages
Explore the history of maple syrup production. Learn the cycle of sap movement and its importance to trees. View artifacts in the maple museum and try our interactive exhibits. Finish with a taste of maple syrup. The weather is very changeable in March, so boots, gloves and hats are a must.