Virtual Field Trips

Take your school group on a virtual field trip of Garfield Park Conservatory! Field trips of all kinds are an important way for students to make connections between the classroom and the real world, and to deepen their learning across subject areas. We have developed a virtual field trip option to provide an exciting and educational experience for your group, and we look forward to helping you plan an engaging and meaningful virtual field trip to the Conservatory.

Each virtual field trip will include an orientation based on the chosen science topic, a guided, interactive, theme-focused tour throughout the collection with a Conservatory educator, and the opportunity for questions and answers throughout. More information about the field trip topics is on this page.

All of our virtual field trips will include:

    • A live-stream, interactive experience with a Conservatory educator
    • Choice of a variety of themed experiences, including Introduction to Plants, Pollination, Adaptations, Plant Reproduction and Black History.
    • Access to printable copies of select resources
    • The opportunity to deepen student learning across subject areas in one of Chicago’s most beautiful institutions
    • Trips are ideal for hybrid classrooms, or any type of learning!

 

Teacher Feedback:

“The students as well as the staff learned new things about certain plants adaption that they never knew. It was our first live virtual field trip and it was great!” Adaptations, Grades 6-8 diverse learners

“They were excited and talked about how interesting it was, and they had no idea chocolate “grew on trees” or that vanilla came from Mexico! They also were surprised they could visit for free and it’s nearby. It was fabulous. Very well organized and presented. The kids were engaged and totally interested.” Pollination, Grade 4

“Students were able to ask questions and participate throughout the experience. Keep up the great work! This was a very well-planned trip.” Intro to Plants, Grade 2

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA10-17-0193-17]. Additional funding provided by Peoples Gas Community Fund, PNC, and the Dr. Scholl Foundation.
Institute of Museum and Library Services LogoPNC Logo
 

Questions? Contact groups@garfieldpark.org or call 773.638.1766 x 25 to speak with Heather Van Zyl, School & Groups Program Coordinator.

Choose Your Virtual Field Trip Topic:

Intro to Plants: Grades PreK-3

The Conservatory offers a wide range of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds for students to explore. Unveil the magical world of botany with this introductory exploration of all things plant! This experience includes a tour where students explore sensory elements of a large variety of plants. Choose ‘Intro to Plants experience’ when you sign up for a field trip to experience everything this trip offers, from a staff-led orientation to a sensory tour through the plant collection.

Pollination: Grades 1-5

Without pollination, life on Earth would look very different. But, what is pollination and why is it important?  Through this tour of the Conservatory, explore many interesting examples of how plants and their pollinators co-evolved to perfect the process of pollination that we depend on for our own survival. Choose ‘Pollination experience’ when you sign up for a field trip to experience everything this trip offers, from a staff-led orientation to a themed tour through the plant collection.

Adaptations: Grades 3-12

Take your students on a fascinating journey through time as you explore how plants have adapted to different environments throughout the years! Investigate convergent evolution in the desert house, discover why carnivorous plants eat insects, and discuss the dynamic differences between plants! Choose ‘Adaptations Experience’ when you sign up for a field trip to experience everything this trip offers, from a staff-led orientation to an interactive tour through the plant collection.

Plant Reproduction: Grades 5-12

How do plants make new plants? It’s not just by producing seeds! Investigate spore patterns in the Fern Room, pups in the Palm House, and rhizomes in the Aroid House. Find out how and why plants have developed different ways of reproducing. Choose ‘Reproduction experience’ when you sign up for a field trip to experience everything this trip offers, from a staff-led orientation to a themed tour through the plant collection.

Black History: Grades PreK-12

Get inspired by greatness during this ethnobotany tour of the Conservatory! Ethnobotany is the study of how people and plants relate. Join GPC educators to meet a wide variety of plants and discuss their connections with inspiring Black Americans and Black history. As we learn about these plants and people, we will ask your students to think about their aspirations and help them to get inspired!

This field trip has been designed with different levels so that all grade-level groups will have an age appropriate experience.