Lithophyte - Plate 3910 Laelia crispa Walter Fitch 1841

Admission: School groups and accompanying adults free.
Education programme charges: $4 per student or $8 per student depending on selected programme.

Wonderland: The Mystery of the Orchid is the first chapter in a two-part exhibition exploring stories of the world’s most popular flowers. The second chapter, Wonderland: The Magic of the Rose, opens in October 2009.

As well as examining the orchid’s inspiration on culture, Wonderland explores the flower’s remarkable science. For teachers of Science, Art, English or Social Studies, this exhibition provides you and your students with a unique opportunity to explore the botanical world from a new perspective.

The exhibition provides links with:

• New Zealand Curriculum, Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – related content from Science, Arts, English and Social Sciences
• Strong opportunities for the practise of the key competencies and values exploration
• A scientific pathway and a cultural pathway through the exhibition, making it ideal for general visits or more focussed study.
  

  Download the Wonderland Educator’s Guide

Exhibition Facilitation

• Educators are available to prompt and inspire students to make deeper inquiries and engage in discussion related to the objects and exhibition themes.
• Session time: 1 hour
• Suitable for all year levels
• $4 per student, no charge for accompanying adults.

Tutorials

 Poetry Tutorial

A tutorial that explores the role of flowers in major historical events and our everyday lives. Students will also examine how flowers have inspired some of the world's most famous poets and identify the poetic conventions used in their work.

• Students will use their investigations to create and submit their own poem for potential inclusion in a poetry showcase on the Museum’s website.
• Session time: 1 hour. We suggest this tutorial is preceded with a 30 – 60 minute exploration of the exhibition.
• Suitable for Y3 and above
• $4 per student for Poetry Tutorial only
  AND
  $ 4 per student 1 hr Exhibition Facilitation OR free of charge exhibition self-guided.

Botanical Illustration Tutorial

A tutorial that examines the science of flowers and provides opportunities to practise methods of illustration.

• Students create their own botanical illustration for a web exhibition
• Session can be focussed on either science or visual art
  Session time: 1 hour. We suggest this tutorial is preceded with a 30 – 60 minute exploration of the exhibition
• Suitable for all year levels
• $4 per student for Botanical Illustration Tutorial only
  AND
  $ 4 per student 1 hr Exhibition Facilitation OR free of charge exhibition self-guided.