Key Stage 1 sessions

Inspire and engage your pupils with our wide selection of hands-on, inquiry- based sessions led by experienced and enthusiastic teachers.

Children on a school session at Wakehurst

Our learning programme at Kew’s wild botanic garden in West Sussex inspires curiosity and wonder in the world of plants and fungi.

We offer hands-on education sessions designed around inquiry-based learning, which link to the curriculum and Kew's science work and are led by experienced and enthusiastic teachers.

A full-day’s educational trip to Wakehurst typically centres around one workshop. Our team work with you to plan a day that suits your preferred learning themes and timings. You can add notes in the ‘Any additional comments’ section of the booking form.

Book an education visit to Wakehurst

Prices, planning and practical information

Browse our Key Stage 1 workshops

  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Plant explorer

    Become a modern-day plant hunter and get to know some of the amazing trees at Wakehurst.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Amazing seeds

    Pupils use their observational skills to discover the beauty and variety of seeds.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Life in water

    Pupils discover the amazing variety of life collected from the Wakehurst ponds. Currently available as an indoor session only.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 In the potting shed

    Pupils join our experts in the plant nursery to find out about how plants grow from seed, and take their potted seeds back to school to watch them grow.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Minibeast safari

    Pupils use different techniques to hunt through the long grass, trees and leaf litter to find and observe a wonderful variety of creatures.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Story of a sunflower

    Pupils observe the different stages of a sunflower's life using plants grown in our nursery.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Plant eater

    Pupils explore the different parts of plants and discover that some parts provide us with food.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Art in the garden

    Pupils use materials from the garden to create artwork for a temporary art gallery.

    • Browse our Key Stage 1 trails

  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Spring trail

    Pupils explore the Wakehurst garden looking for signs of spring.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Tremendous trees trail

    Pupils investigate the varied collection of trees at Wakehurst and their individual characteristics.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Parts of a plant trail

    Pupils go on a trail round the Wakehurst gardens and explore the different parts of a plant and their functions.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 In search of a home trail

    Pupils go on a trail to look for animal homes in trees and bushes, under log piles and in leaf litter. They look for evidence of animals, for example worm casts and mole hills.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Sense-sational trail

    Pupils explore the special and diverse collection of plants found at Wakehurst and learn about plants through their senses.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Pollination trail

    Pupils search for bees and other pollinators and learn about the pollination process (available seasonally from late spring to early autumn).
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Story stick trail

    Pupils go on a trail around the Wakehurst gardens collecting fallen plant materials to attach to their own story stick.
  • 45 minutes

    KS1 Autumn trail

    Pupils explore Wakehurst and search for signs of autumn around the gardens.
    • Pupils on a school session

    Browse our post-visit activities

    If you enjoyed your visit to Kew, why not explore more of our educational resources?

    Key Stage 1 post-visit activities