Mapping Activities
Knowing the nature and exact location of facilities will ensure your students have a more informed and relaxed day. It is important that students are familiar with the layout of the Gardens, so before the visit provide them with maps of the site and surrounding area.

The Treasure Bag
Aim - To make a bag that students can bring to the Gardens to collect leaves, bark, nuts and cones.
Materials - Raffia strands, hessian, tapestry needles, scissors.
Time required - I hour to make the bag.
Background
Hessian comes from the stems of Jute plants, Cochorus capsularis and C. olitorius. These plants come from India. Raffia is from the palm Raphia farinifera, found in Madagascar. The fibre comes from the leafstalks. This bag:

• is wholly made from plants
• is cheap and gives students experience in making a finished article
• helps create a sense of anticipation for the excursion
• emphasises some of the ways we use plants to make things

There are different grades of hessian available, with the cheapest sold in hardware stores at around $1.00 per metre. The hessian is best cut on the bias as shown in the diagrams, as it frays very easily. The bags can be worn around the neck or over the shoulder.
Step 1 - Using 180 cm hessian folded over to 90 cm, cut out the following pattern as shown in diagram 1.
Step 2 - Use tapestry needles threaded with raffia to stitch along the edges as shown, leaving a 1.5 cm border. Double stitch and knot the raffia at either end of the side seams. See Diagrams 2 and 3.
Step 3 - Turn the bag inside out and tie the ends of the raffia together to make a shoulder strap. Decoration is an additional step that could be undertaken by students either before or after the excursion.

Activities at the Gardens:     Activities Prep-2     Activities Grade3-6

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