Botanic Garden and Attenborough Arboretum
Primary programmes
*Starred programmes below are at the Attenborough Arboretum and suitable for one class per day.
(Dates still available for 2026 Summer 1 and Summer 2)
Programmes at the Botanic Garden are all suitable for one or two classes.
(Dates left from 13th July 2026 and in the 2026/27 academic year)
Programmes with + are available for three classes.
All programmes are tailored to the year group.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
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Tell the story and visit the places, linked English and art activities |
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Using the story 'Elmer and the Lost Teddy' by David McKee English, art and science |
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Choose three from a selection of activities including; shelter, natural painting, mud, music |
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Autumn or Spring. Art, science, dance |
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Find the ingredients to make cake |
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Activities linked to Julia Donaldson's Smartest Giant story, minibeast hunting |
Years 1/2
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Elmer (Year 1) |
Using the Story 'Elmer and the Lost Teddy' by David McKee. English, art and science |
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Choose three from a selection of activities including: shelter, natural painting, mammal tracks, mud, music |
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Habitats (year 2) |
Rainforest, desert, woodland, pond and minibeast hunting |
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Planting, rainforest, desert, woodland, naming parts of a plant, herbs |
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See permanent collection, consider material, make a natural sculpture and a clay sculpture |
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| Seasons* (year 1) | Autumn or Spring. Science, art, dance |
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Pond dipping, minibeast hunting, leaf/bark rubbing, herbs, exploring |
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Find ingredients to make a cake. Learn about the places and people who get food to us |
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Choose two from: Trees, Minibeasts, Green man masks, Orienteering, Parts of Plants |
Years 3/4
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English, Maths and Science |
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Choose three from: shelter, natural painting, mammal tracks, music |
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Global Fruit + (Year 4) |
Mapping, make a fruit kebab and global citizenship activities |
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Compare: rainforest, desert, woodland, warm temperate, alpine. Pond dipping and minibeast hunting |
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Islamic Art (Year 4) |
Learn about Arabesque art. Find and sketch plants, create stencils and form own pieces of art |
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Life Cycles (Year 4) |
Choose five activities: pond dipping, minibeasts, squirrels, seed dispersal, tree ID, clay seeds, helicopter seeds, finding life cycle stages |
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Hands-on activities - number, measure, data handling |
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| Orienteering | Use a map and compass to find minibeast stampers |
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Plants Wow! (Year 3) |
Planting, desert, rainforest, parts of a plant, woodland, herbs |
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How rainforest, desert and temperate plants are useful to people, mini- shelter building, Rousseau art or Latin America items |
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See permanent collection consider material and setting. Create a clay sculpture and a sculpture from found natural materials |
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Pond dipping, minibeast hunting, herbs, tree identification, exploring |
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Find ingredients to make a cake. Learn about the places and the people who get food to us |
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Choose two from: Trees, Minibeasts, Green man masks, Parts of plants, Orienteering (year 3) Seed dispersal (year 4) |
Years 5/6
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Choose three from a selection of activities including: shelter, natural painting mammal tracks, music... |
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Mapping, make a fruit kebab, global citizenship activities |
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Compare: Rainforest, desert, warm temperate, alpine, UK woodland. Pond dipping and minibeast hunting |
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Look at arabesque art, find and sketch plants. Create stencils and form own pieces of art |
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Choose from: classification, seed dispersal, tree identification, pond dipping, minibeast hunting, clay seeds, helicopter seeds |
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Hands-on investigations - number, measure, data handling |
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| Orienteering | Use a map and compass to find minibeast habitats |
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How rainforest, temperate and desert plants are useful to people. Make a mini-shelter. Rousseau art or Latin American items |
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See permanent sculptures, material setting, form. Make own clay sculptures. Create a natural sculpture from found materials |