Online programmes and activities

Bookings

To book a live KS1/KS2 online session or an in-school workshop with the Botanic Garden Education Officer please email the Botanic Garden.

Botanic Garden board game

A fun, printable board game based on the University of Leicester Botanic Garden for ages 6-9. Follow the trail around the Garden enjoying the different things to see and do. Test your science knowledge.  Will you linger and win or rush and miss the sights? 

• Board and rules (PDF, 1.46MB)
• Board game question cards (PDF, 569kb)
• Spinner and counters (PDF, 221kb)

Plants Year 1/2

View a 10 minute narrated video for KS1 covering:

1. Naming plants with interesting examples and simple explanations of the functions of different parts of the plant
2. What plants need to grow including explaining how some plants have adapted when what they need is in short supply

Plants Yr 1/2 worksheet (Word, 58kb, formatted for printing)

Plants Year 3/4

View a 13 minute narrated video for lower KS2 covering:

1. Functions of parts of flowering plants including an experiment to show the way water is transported
2. The requirements for life and growth and examples of plants that have adapted to cope when these are in short supply
3. Detail on the stages of a flowering plant life cycle including pollination, seed formation and seed dispersal
4. Understanding that not all plants are in the flowering plants group

Plants Yr 3/4 worksheet (PDF. 263kb, formatted for printing)

Animal life cycles and plant reproduction Year 5

View a 13.5 minute video covering:

1. The differences in the life cycles of a mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile, fish and insects
2. Sexual and asexual reproduction in plants

The video looks at different examples from the local environment and from other habitats around the world. The animal life cycles differences are explained and the flowering plant life cycle is revised. The different forms of asexual reproduction in plants are explained both natural (including, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers) and artificial methods (cutting, layering and grafting).

Classification Year 6

View a 11 minute video covering:

1. Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics based on similarity and differences including micro-organisms, plants and animals.
2. Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics

The video looks at how living things are divided into kingdoms and then subdivided and the significance of the work of Carl Linnaeus. Why species are put into groups of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and commonly found invertebrates are explained. The division of the plant kingdom is also given and the characteristics of the broad groups. 

Evolution and adaptation Year 6

View a 15 minute video covering:

1. How animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation can lead to evolution.
2. How fossils provides us with information on how the earth has changed over time

The video starts by showing how fossils help show us that the continents have moved over time. The work of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace are outlined and how this led to the theory of evolution through natural selection. Examples given include how giraffe’s necks got longer. The creation of different breeds of dogs are also explained. Detail is given of a variety of animals and plants living in different habitats throughout the world and how they have adapted to suit where they live such as the arctic fox's insulating fur.

Christmas plants

View a 7.5 minute narrated presentation about the plants and the traditions used at Christmas – spruce trees, holly, ivy, mistletoe, frankincense, myrrh and coco for chocolate. Suitable for KS2.