Red Butte Garden is proud to offer Botany Bins and Boxes for teachers and students at K-12 publicly funded schools (public and charter) thanks to funding from the Utah State Legislature through the iSEE program, and generous grants from our community!
A special thanks to The Henry W. & Leslie M. Eskuche Charitable Foundation and The Peggy Bergmann Trust for their support of the Botany Box Program!
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2022-2023 School Year Botany Bins & Boxes
Welcome back Utah teachers and students!
About the Botany Bin program:
Botany Bins:
Grades K-6, & 8
The Botany Bin program offers botany-based teacher toolboxes that include activities, materials, and curriculum for hands-on scientific investigations. The Botany Bins are available for 3-week rentals at No-Cost to Utah public and charter school teachers. See below for information on our 2 Botany Bin modules that enhance standards for grades K-8.
This year we will be updating many of the Bins to align with SEEd standards. We are currently only scheduling Bin reservations through winter break, and will open requests for after winter break in December.
Botany Boxes:
Grades K-4
Created to meet the need for Covid-19 friendly programing, these science kits include real plant samples, a magnifying tool, optional videos, and a journal that students get to keep! Each module presents students with a mystery to solve through investigation and experimentation, and enriches SEEd standards. See below for information on our two Botany Box modules that enhance science standards for grades K-4.
Thanks to a generous grant from the The Lawrence T. & Janet T. Dee Foundation and the Henry W. and Leslie M. Eskuche Foundation, we are able to offer a limited number of Botany Boxes for the 2023 school year!
Patterns & Partnerships
6th grade SEEd standards 6.4.1-5
5th grade Core standards 5.1.A, D, E 5.2.A-D
The Patterns & Partnerships Bin is filled with phenomenon-based, 3D investigations and lesson plans that explore Utah’s mountain ecosystems. Covering all 5 of the 6th grade life science SEEd standards, this bin includes customizable curriculum, over 100 specimens, drone footage, scientific tools, and more! 5th grade Core standards are covered with phenomenon-based investigations of the traits of plants and animals found in Utah’s mountains, with a special focus on canines.
This Bin is often adapted for use in other grade levels, especially 8th grade.
The Patterns & Partnerships Bin is being fully aligned with SEEd standards for the 2022/2023 school year.
Ethnobotany
4th grade science Core standards: 5.1a, 5.1b, 5.2, 5.2c, 5.3
4th grade Social Studies Core standards: 2
The Ethnobotany Bin explores the classification, habitats, and uses of Utah’s plants by indigenous peoples and settlers. This popular Bin ties together life-science and social studies standards with inquiry-based, hands-on activities and materials, including over 40 plant specimens, books, magnifying glasses, and more.
This Bin is often adapted for use in other grade levels, especially 3rd grade.
The Ethnobotany Bin is being fully aligned with SEEd standards for the 2022/2023 school year.
Tree Detectives
Enhancing SEEd standards: K.2.1, 1.2.1, 3.1.1.
Students become detectives as they work to save a grove of trees. Their detective journal and optional videos lead the students as they work to break the code hidden in tree rings, using their own magnifying tool and tree cookie (slice of a tree trunk).
Seed Sleuths
Enhancing SEEd standards: 2.2.3, 3.2.4, 4.1.1.
Students work to unravel the mystery of the stolen seeds by investigating and experimenting with a variety of seed samples and their fruits. With the help of their detective journal, optional videos, and magnifying glass students explore the scientific process and learn about seed dispersal and survival needs.