Teachers Page

Thanks to the exploration of the Butchart Gardens, the Central Experimental Farm, and the Reford Gardens, knowledge is shared in a playful and engaging way.

Educational Guide
In the educational guide, you will find a description of each chapter along with the corresponding learning objectives.
Here is the list of contents:

Chapter 1 - Women and Their Gardens
Match the Horticulturist to Her Garden
Difficulty Level: Grade 1 and 2

Activity Description

This first chapter introduces three Canadian horticulturists and the unique features of their gardens:

• Elsie Reford – Reford Gardens
• Jennie Butchart – Butchart Gardens
• Isabella Preston – Central Experimental Farm

Students must listen carefully to the information (oral and/or written) and observe visual details to correctly match each horticulturist to the image of her garden.
This activity encourages students to discover Canada’s horticultural heritage while developing observation and comprehension skills.

Learning Objectives

• Discover important figures in Canadian horticulture.
• Identify distinctive features of different gardens.
• Develop attention and comprehension using oral and written information.

Skills Developed

• Observation and analysis: identify visual and textual clues
• Association and logic: connect a person to her environment
• General knowledge: enrich understanding of Canadian horticultural heritage
• Oral and written comprehension: listen and read to extract relevant information

Chapter 2 - Gardens Full of Colour
Difficulty Level: Grade 1 and 2

Activity Description

Students explore the details of each garden through a fun activity: colour-by-number. Once the colouring is complete, it transforms into a beautiful watercolour image.

Next, the horticulturist presents the unique features of the coloured garden and the flowers that grow there.

This activity combines creativity and scientific learning, allowing students to discover garden diversity while developing artistic skills.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize visual characteristics of gardens and flowers.
• Understand plant diversity and its role in garden aesthetics.
• Stimulate curiosity and interest in Canada’s horticultural heritage.

Skills Developed

• Observation and attention to detail: follow visual clues for accurate colouring.
• Organization and logic: apply a colour code to complete the image.
• Creativity and artistic expression: create a harmonious coloured image.

Chapter 3 - The Seasons of Gardens
Difficulty Level: Grade 1 and 2

Activity Description

Students discover how gardens change throughout the seasons. The activity involves identifying elements that mark the transition from one season to another:

• Spring to summer for Elsie Reford at Reford Gardens.
• Summer to autumn for Jennie Butchart at Butchart Gardens.
• Winter to spring for Isabella Preston at the Central Experimental Farm.

To succeed, students must select and place in the garden tools, animals, or natural elements that help a garden transition from one season to the next. Watch out: some choices are tricky!

This activity sparks curiosity and helps students understand seasonal changes in nature.

Learning Objectives

• Understand seasonal characteristics and their effects on gardens.
• Identify natural and human elements that influence seasonal transitions.
• Develop observation and logical thinking in a playful context.

Skills Developed

• Observation and analysis: recognize visual clues related to seasons.
• Logical reasoning: choose appropriate elements for each seasonal transition.
• Scientific knowledge: understand natural phenomena linked to seasonal changes.
• Vocabulary use: correctly name objects, animals, and natural elements.

Chapter 4 - My Herbarium
Difficulty Level: Grade 3 and 4

Activity Description

This chapter has two parts:

1. Creating a Herbarium: students learn the essential steps to make a herbarium. They must select the correct items and arrange them in the right order.
2. Identifying Plant Parts: students learn to recognize different plant structures by observing: 

• An apple tree from Reford Gardens.
• A rose from Jennie Butchart’s rose garden.
• A bulb flower, such as a lily, from the Central Experimental Farm.

This activity promotes understanding of plant structures and develops observation and classification skills.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the steps involved in creating a herbarium.
• Identify the main parts of a tree, a flower, and a bulb plant.
• Develop sequential logic and the ability to organize information.

Skills Developed

• Observation and analysis: identify plant characteristics.
• Organization and logic: correctly order the steps of a process.
• Scientific knowledge: recognize plant structures (root, stem, leaf, flower).
• Use of scientific vocabulary appropriate for primary level.

Chapter 5 - Flowering the Gardens
Difficulty Level: Grade 4 and 5

Part 1 – Identifying Garden Zone Characteristics

Activity Description

Students read the descriptive sheet for each garden and match the correct set of icons representing:

• Sunlight
• Temperature
• Humidity level
• Soil pH
• Soil type
• Cold resistance
• Flower colour
• Flowering period

This activity helps students understand the importance of environmental conditions for plant growth.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the role of environmental factors in plant growth.
• Develop the ability to read and interpret simple scientific information.
• Learn to make logical associations between data and visual representations.

Skills Developed

• Observation and analysis: identify clues in descriptive sheets.
• Logical reasoning: correctly match icons to environmental conditions.
• Scientific knowledge: understand plant growth requirements.
• Use of scientific vocabulary: sunlight, humidity, temperature, pH, soil type.

Part 2 – Matching Plants to Suitable Gardens

Activity Description

Each plant comes with several icons indicating its needs for:

• Sunlight
• Temperature
• Humidity level
• Soil pH
• Soil type
• Cold resistance
• Flower colour
• Flowering period

Students must analyze the characteristics of each garden and place the plant in the appropriate environment.
This activity reinforces understanding of the relationship between plant needs and environmental conditions.

Learning Objectives

• Understand that each plant has specific needs for healthy growth.
• Learn to compare data (plant needs vs. garden characteristics).
• Develop the ability to make logical choices based on scientific criteria.

Skills Developed

• Observation and analysis: interpret icons and descriptive sheets.
• Logical reasoning: correctly match plants to suitable gardens.
• Scientific knowledge: understand factors influencing plant growth.
• Use of scientific vocabulary: sunlight, humidity, temperature, adaptation, pH, soil type.