Primary - Garden Museum

The museum will close at 4pm on 12 December Book your visit

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Primary

We find that morning visits work best, from the Museum’s opening at 10.30am – 12.30pm followed by lunch, which can be eaten at the museum by arrangement.

We can cater for a maximum of 30 pupils plus staff, and all sessions are very hands-on.

To book, fill in the form at the bottom of this page. Payment is made by invoice before your visit.


1. Vegetable Families (KS1 or KS2)

Hands-on activities to identify, name and classify a variety of vegetables

  • Subjects covered: Science
  • Ages: Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2
  • Curriculum/topics covered: Science, Art

Plant identification and classification, parts of the plant and their functions, understand where food comes from, find out and describe why plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow.

Learning objectives

Hands-on activities to identify, name and classify a vegetable family, identify which parts of a plant are edible, compare and identify seeds, use a microscope, sow seeds, draw objects in the collection.


2. Water transport in plants (KS2)

Pupils investigate the method of water uptake and transportation in plants.

Investigation involves using coloured food dyes, white carnations and celery to examine the movement of water in a plant stem via Xylem vessels.

Pupils learn, in simple terms, about the importance of water  to plants as a requirement for the process of photosynthesis.

3. Role of Leaf Pigments in photosynthesis (KS2)

Pupils investigate why leaves are green and the role they play in 'making food' for plants.

Extraction of leaf pigments using the process of chromatography where pupils learn about the role of chlorophyll and other pigments in capture of light energy from the sun. Leaves are chosen by pupils from the Sackler  garden.During the Autumn months a range of different coloured leaves can be selected.

Vocabulary is tailored to the year group.

4. Plant adaptation (KS1 or KS2)

Pupils examine a range of leaf shapes found in the Healing Garden and front garden garden.

Pupils make botanical drawings of the different shaped leaves and relate these to the adaptation of the plant to its natural environment.

An investigation is performed on carnivorous plants to understand leaf adaptation to environment and the various methods of capturing prey.

5. Food Chains and Food Webs (KS1 or KS2)

The importance of the relationship between living things and their habitat.

Hands on practical activities that focus on the feeding relationships of plants and animals in a habitat and the importance of plants in a food chain.

6. Seeds (KS1 or KS2)

What is a seed?
Dissection of a seed and examination of a wide variety of seeds.
Links are made between food eaten and seeds used.

Pupils identify the vast diversity in size and shape of seeds occurring in nature.Seed dispersal mechanisms are investigated by pupils and depending on the season a seed is either planted in soil or a test tube seed necklace is made.

7. Arts Award Discover

Arts Award Discover sessions are available for primary schools and can be tailored to our permanent collection of art or our temporary art exhibitions.

  • Subjects covered: Art
  • Ages: Key Stage 2
  • Curriculum/topics covered: Art

These sessions explore the work of different artists and incorporate practical activities. Aimed at Key Stage 2, pupils explore the arts within the museum and take part in hands-on art activities. Get in touch with the Head of Learning to find out more and what costs involved.

Click below to find some of our existing resources for Arts Award Discover based on our permanent Collection.

Downloads

Anthony-Gross-Arts-Award-Resource

Harold-Gilman-Arts-Award-Resource

John-Nash-Arts-Award-Resource

Sir-Cedric-Morris-Arts-Award-Resource

Vita-Sackville-West-Arts-Award-Resource

arts-award-artist-activity-pack

Booking form - School

  • Please enter a number less than or equal to 30.


Tree-mendous Trees

The Garden Museum Tree Trail of Archbishop’s Park, a park close to the Museum

Ages: Key Stage 1 and 2

The tree trail is an A4 double sided worksheet which is available to download from our website. Pencils and ideally clipboards are needed for completing the worksheet.

The nearest entrance to Archbishop’s Park from the Garden Museum is from Lambeth Road. The entrance is along a footpath from the main road. On entering the park the area of trees that the Tree Trail focuses on is in the left hand side where there is a nature trail with signage.

Key Stage 1

Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants including deciduous and evergreen trees.

Identify and describe the structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees.

Observe changes across the seasons.

Key Stage 2

Explore the part that flowers play in the life cycle of flowering plants, including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal.

Downloads

Tree-mendous Trees Activity Sheet

Tree-mendous Tree Trail Teacher’s Notes

Got a question? Have a look at our Teachers FAQ’s.