Middle School Program

The Forest and the Farm (meets standards 6.H.2.3, AIS.G.2.3): Learn about the diverse ways humans have used plants and animals for food throughout history. Visit the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to discover the complex communities of the southeastern U.S. and the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden to learn about domesticated fruits and vegetables.

Beyond the Pond (meets standards 6.L.2.1, 8.E.1.3): Examine a pond ecosystem and evaluate the water quality by examining benthic macroinvertebrates. Learn about connections between plants and animals and how human activities affect aquatic life. Limited to 40 students

Discovery Garden: Introduce students to agriculture and sustainable gardening.  What parts of plants do we eat?  What’s the difference between a fruit and vegetable?  See bee hives, chickens, an orchard, vegetables and fruits, a historic tobacco barn and more.

Math in the Gardens: Measure, multiply and map your way through the garden. Learn about the different kinds of math our garden staff use to create and maintain our beautiful garden, and solve your own garden math problems.  Program content is adjusted to match appropriate grade-level standards.

Haiku Trail into the Gardens (meets standard 6.85): Develop literacy skills and practice creative expression on a walk through the gardens. Learn about haiku structure and the poet Basho, then collect words that describe your sensory observations to assemble your own haiku.

Go With the Flow (meets standards 8.E.1.1, 8.E.1.3, 8.E.1.4): Follow the flow of water through Duke Gardens to explore the hydrologic cycle. Observe water management infrastructure, perform hands-on experiments to determine properties of this urban watershed, and map your data.

Garden Walk: Observe seasonal highlights on a guided walk that introduces students to the biodiversity of Duke Gardens.