Key Stage 2 sessions

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

School pupil examining a seed on a Wakehurst school visit

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 2 workshops

  • 90 minutes

    KS2 Meet a tree

    Pupils get to know tree species from our stunning Wakehurst collection by making systematic and careful observations, taking accurate measurements and recording data.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Flower structure and plant reproduction

    Pupils take a closer look at the amazing structure of flowers, using microscopes. Do you think all flowers are the same?
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Life in water

    Pupils use the amazing variety of life collected from the Wakehurst ponds to explore life cycles, food chains and adaptations to life in water. This is currently available as an indoor session only.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Story of a sunflower

    Using living plants grown in our nursery pupils observe the life cycle of a sunflower - from seed to flower.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Banking on seeds

    Pupils visit the world-famous Millennium Seed Bank and discover why Kew is saving seeds from all around the world.
  • 90 minutes

    KS2 A place to grow

    Pupils use a variety of field study techniques to demonstrate the effect of environmental factors on plant growth in two different habitats at Wakehurst.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Amazing seeds

    Pupils discover the beauty and diversity of seeds from around the world.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Seeds on the move

    Using a large variety of seeds from around the world, pupils investigate the connection between structure and dispersal mechanisms.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 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 in habitats at Wakehurst.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Rainforest

    Pupils learn about the unique and diverse rainforest habitat and explore the many everyday products that come from it.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Plant doctor

    Pupils investigate the requirements for healthy plant growth using plants that have been grown in our nursery under a variety of conditions.
  • 1 hour

    KS2 In the footsteps of Darwin

    Follow in Darwin’s footsteps to discover how plants are adapted to hostile homes. Available from late spring to early autumn.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Plant eater

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

    KS2 Art in the garden

    Using materials from the garden, pupils create art to form a temporary art gallery
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Sustainability workshop

    Pupils explore Wakehurst to discover how our team works sustainably and with the minimum impact on nature. They learn about the importance of plants for all life on Earth and reflect on simple steps to live more sustainably at school and at home.

    • Browse our Key Stage 2 trails

  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Wellbeing trail

    Pupils discover the wonder of nature, learning to use their senses to connect with and feel closer to the natural world.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Tremendous trees trail

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

    KS2 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

    KS2 Parts of a plant trail

    This trail uses the special and diverse collection of plants found at Wakehurst to learn about the parts of plants and their functions.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Pollination trail

    On this interactive trail pupils explore why pollination is important and how different plants are pollinated (available seasonally from late spring to early autumn).
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 In search of a home trail

    Pupils look for animal homes in trees and bushes, under log piles and in leaf litter around Wakehurst.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Seed dispersal trail

    Pupils go on a trail around the gardens to investigate the varied ways plants disperse their seeds.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Rainforest Explorer Trail

    Pupils explore Wakehurst’s diverse living collection to find plants with adaptations similar to those growing in tropical rainforests. 
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Aren’t plants amazing trail

    Pupils find out how plants have adapted to survive in challenging habitats.
  • 45 minutes

    KS2 Plant doctor trail

    Pupils go on a trail looking at different areas of the Garden that demonstrate the many factors affecting the health of a plant.
    • Pupils on a school session

    Browse our teaching resources

    Want to learn more? We’re here to help.

    Key Stage 2