Bring outdoor learning to your classroom!
Boyce Thompson Arboretum classroom outreach brings outdoor learning to your school through S.T.E.A.M. units offering inquiry-based, engaging lessons that explore the world of plants as well as the phenomena of the Sonoran Desert. All lessons are aligned to Arizona State Science Standards. For more information and to request a booking, please see below.
Outreach Offerings
The Secret Life of Seeds | 1st – 2nd Grade
AZ Science Standards: 1.L1U1.6 1.L2U1.8 2.L2U1.9 2.L2U1.10
Learn how plants grow and what plants need to survive. This S.T.E.A.M. workshop will have students using their creativity and plant knowledge to germinate seeds before playing a game.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: The Parts of a Plant
- Students will learn about plant structures before studying live plants to apply their new knowledge.
- Activity 2: What Do Plants Need to Grow?
- Students will conduct a scientific investigation and grow their own seeds in order to discover what plants need to grow before playing a game of Plant Needs Jenga!
Time Needed: 1 hour
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: $150 per class, FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Amazing Adaptations of the Sonoran Desert | 3rd – 4th Grade
AZ Science Standards: 3.L1U1.5, 3.L2U1.8, 4.L4U1.11, 4.E1U3.9
Students will act as junior biologists as they discover how different species are adapted to survive in the Sonoran Desert by studying real native plants and animal biofacts.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: Desert Plant Adaptations
- Students will study live plants and determine how well they are adapted to the Sonoran Desert before designing their own desert plant.
- Activity 2: Desert Animal Adaptations
- Students will study animal biofacts and learn about different species in order to determine how well they are adapted to the Sonoran Desert. They will then put their knowledge to the test with a game of Adaptations Bingo!
Time Needed: 1 hour
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: $150 per class, FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Make a Pollinator Paradise | 1st – 3rd Grade
*Only available to Copper Corridor Schools
AZ Science Standards: 1.L2U2.7, 1.L2U1.8, 2.L2U1.9, 2.L2U1.10, 3.L1U1.5, 3.L2U1.8
In this S.T.E.A.M. lesson, students will let out their inner gardeners by designing and creating their dream school garden! This hands-on workshop will get classrooms started with an above-ground planter that can be used later on for classroom investigations. Classes will also receive supplies for a follow up activity once their garden has had some time to grow.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: How are Plants Pollinated?
- Students will create their own fuzzy bee to model pollination before playing a pollinator/ plant matching game.
- Activity 2: Let’s Get Planting!
- Students will help to design their garden before filling the planter with soil, putting in seeds, planting plants, and putting in different habitat elements for pollinators.
- Activity 3 (Post-activity): Who is Visiting Our Garden?
- Students will keep track of the pollinator species that they see visiting their garden.
Time Needed: 1.5 – 2 hours
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Make a Pollinator Paradise | 4th – 6th Grade
*Only available to Copper Corridor Schools
AZ Science Standards: 4.L4U1.11, 4.E1U3.9, 5.L4U3.11, 6.L2U1.13, 6.L2U1.14
In this S.T.E.A.M. lesson, students will let out their inner gardeners by designing and creating their dream school garden! This hands-on workshop will get classrooms started with an above-ground planter that can be used later on for classroom investigations. Classes will also receive supplies for a follow up activity once their garden has had some time to grow.
Activities Breakdown:
- Activity 1: How are Plants Pollinated?
- Students will play a pollinator/ plant matching game before creating their own flower craft complete with adaptions for one of the Arizona pollinator species.
- Activity 2: Let’s Get Planting!
- Students will help to design their garden before filling the planter with soil, putting in seeds, planting plants, and putting in different habitat elements for pollinators.
- Activity 3 (Post-activity): Who is Visiting Our Garden?
- Students will keep track of the pollinator species that they see visiting their garden.
Time Needed: 1.5 – 2 hours
Max. Number of Students: 32 per class
Cost: FREE for schools within the Copper Corridor
Schedule a program by clicking below. For questions, contact Boyce Thompson Arboretum Outreach Coordinator Annie Johnson at [email protected] or (520) 689-4689.
Supporting Education in the Copper Corridor
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Today marks the start of monsoon season! Typically beginning June 15th, a shift in winds brings increased moisture while pressure builds in the upper atmosphere. This creates the perfect condition for a monsoon. The added moisture from these storms helps sustain plants and wildlife across the desert.
However, monsoons can also bring hazards like flash flooding. Be sure to check the weather forecast before heading outdoors. If you hear or see rushing water, move to higher ground and never attempt to cross.
Stay safe and enjoy another season of monsoons!
#aznature #monsoonseason #arizonaweather #WeatherSafety
Have you ever wondered why plants from completely different parts of the world can look so similar?
An arid-adapted plant native to Africa may share many characteristics with a species native to the Sonoran Desert, even though they evolved separately. This phenomenon is called convergent evolution!
Although these plants do not share a recent common ancestor, they have developed similar adaptations that help them survive in dry climates.
Visit our East Greenhouse to explore arid-adapted plants from the Eastern Hemisphere and see for yourself how they compare to Arizona`s native desert plants.
#aznature #NatureArizona #1Arb #plantfacts #naturelovers #natureeducation #plantlovers
Start your morning off right at Boyce Thompson Arboretum! By taking advantage of our early summer hours, you can ensure a morning surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of nature before the temperature gets too hot.
June Hours:
6:00 am – 12:00 pm
Open Wednesday – Monday
Closed Tuesdays
$16 Admission
#aznature #BTA #BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaNature #SonoranDesert
Experience Boyce Thompson Arboretum from the comfort of a golf cart! Our expert Docents will take you on a tour of the most beautiful parts of the Arboretum while sharing stories, botanical facts, and other insights. These tours are the perfect way to explore the gardens during the hot summer months.
Summer Golf Cart Tours:
🗓1st, 3rd & 5th Fridays and Saturdays
🕣June-August | 7:30 am – 8:30 am
💲$20 per person, plus admission
5️⃣Up to 5 guests per tour
Advance registration recommended!
Register today using the link in our bio.
If you visit us this summer, you will likely see the many Turkey Vultures that call the Arboretum home! Early in the morning before it gets too hot they are often seen perched with wings outstretched toward the sun. As it get warmer, they take flight, utilizing warm air currents called thermals to stay up without ever needing to flap their wings. Their appearance and diet may make them seem frightening, but Turkey Vultures are wonderful birds that work hard to keep the environment clean. Come visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum and see the Turkey Vultures for yourself!
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaNature #ArizonaWildlife #ExploreArizona #BTA #birding #azbirding
Fruit trees can thrive anywhere, even in the arid Arizona climate! You just have to know the right ones. At Boyce Thompson Arboretum, we grow apples, peaches, figs, almonds, and more. Come explore our gardens and don`t forget to stop by our gift shop on your way out to pick up a plant of your very own.
#BoyceThompsonArboretum #SonoranDesert #ArizonaNature #deserttrees
A coati found near Boyce Thompson Arboretum tested positive for rabies on Monday, June 8. When the coati was initially observed, she exhibited unusual behavior and was safely transported to a wildlife center nearby. Ultimately, she did not survive and after a post mortem necropsy, it was revealed she`d had rabies. We are working closely with Pinal County and Arizona Game and Fish to continue to monitor wildlife in the area for everyone`s safety.
The Arboretum takes visitor and pet safety very seriously. Staff will continue to monitor all coati movements within the Arboretum grounds, ensure they stay away from people and pets, and close areas they are accessing. To keep safe on our trails we urge you to do the following:
- Make sure your pet is fully vaccinated.
- Keep your pet on a leash at all times.
- Inform Boyce Thompson Arboretum Rangers and staff of any wildlife sightings, especially those that are near the trails.
- Keep 50 feet away from all mammalian wildlife.
- Inform Boyce Thompson Arboretum staff immediately if a sick or injured animal is observed.
For any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a message.
When the sun goes down, the desert comes alive.
Join us for Critter Crawl and discover the fascinating creatures that emerge after dark, including elusive snakes like this Lyre Snake. Guided by our experts, you`ll explore the Arboretum at night and experience a side of the desert few people ever see.
June 12th, 7:30 PM–9:00 PM
$12–$18 | Preregistration required
Children 4 and under and pets are not permitted.
Reserve your spot and uncover the mysteries of the nighttime desert. Link in bio
#CritterCrawl #BoyceThompsonArboretum #ArizonaWildlife #LyreSnake #SonoranDesert