We offer a variety of teaching sessions to Non-Birmingham Local Authority and Independent Schools at a small extra fee to the standard school admission rate (Birmingham Local Authority Schools should contact the Outdoor Learning Service to find out current teaching sessions and price packages on offer).

The charge to Non-Birmingham Local Authority and Independent Schools is currently £5 per pupil for self guided groups and £5.50 per pupil with one 45 minute session per class (maximum 2 classes with a minimum charge of £110 for groups of under 20 pupils).

Sessions are available to Non-Birmingham Local Authority and Independent Schools for Reception children to Year 11 pupils. In addition, we can offer a tailor-made session for Sixth Form groups and beyond by one of our specialist horticulturalists, Simon Gulliver.

All our teaching sessions have close curriculum links http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/ and http://www.internationalprimarycurriculum.com/

Non-Birmingham Local Authority Schools - Key Stage 1 Teaching Session Options

Glasshouse Tours

We will excite your class by showing them some of the key plants in our glasshouse collections and telling them some key facts that you wouldn't find out from reading the plant labels! We will also passing around some plant-based products including cocoa beans to smell/touch. You can tell us where you want the focus to be for your tour - popular requests include plant adaptations through all 4 glasshouses and plant products. Glasshouse-based session.

Growth

What do plants need to grow well and what role different plant parts take? Using a large velcro plant in the classroom, we will reinforce plant parts and their functions, together with a look at real plants from our tropical and arid plant collections.  We end the session with a fun game about plant parts involving the whole class of children, complete with various noises as well as funny actions! Classroom-based session.

Land Minibeast Explorers (available spring to autumn)

Using our wide range of bug hunting equipment, your pupils will discover what minibeasts inhabit the Gardens. Are they insects? Do they have wings? How many eyes have they got? We will discover lots of exciting information about our multi-legged friends! Finish the session with a parachute game to reinforce our learning (weather-permitting). Gardens-based session.

Mixture of Minibeast Explorers (available spring to autumn)

Half of your class will have a go at pond-dipping in our raised pond to discover what monsters live in the watery depths. The other half will explore our Growing Schools Garden for land minibeasts such as slugs and ladybirds, before swapping over half-way through the session. Compare our findings at the end of the session to find out more about the different kinds of minibeasts that live in both land and water. Gardens-based session.

Senses Walk

Enjoy time exploring our plant collection in a different way by exciting your senses! Explore the sights through a mirror walk in the tree canopy, the smells through a smelly cocktail party and the textures through a blindfold activity. Gardens-based session.

Tree Fun!

The Botanical Gardens is home to trees from all around the world. Find out more about them as we take the blindfold challenge to explore their different textures, make bark rubbings and a leaf head crown to take home as a memento of your visit. Gardens-based session.

Three Little Pigs

Venture down to our our straw bale building in the Growing Schools Garden to hear the story of the Three Little Pigs, joining in the sounds of the story with musical instruments. Now let's see who can make the strongest shelter for our little piggy friends! Reinforcing the needs of life of all animals, can we ensure that our piggies have everything they need to survive? Gardens-based session.

Teddy Bears 

Go on a bear hunt out in the Botanical Gardens and try to find all the hidden teddies! Learn how wild teddies and other animals get their needs of life and find out how crucial trees are to teddies (and other animals) as we play a special game complete with chainsaw! Gardens-based session.

Buzzy Bees 

What is pollination and why are bees so amazing?  Find out the answers to these questions and more, as we have a go at bee dancing, find out if we can recognise other members of our hives by scent and play musical flowers! Classroom and Gardens-based session.

Spectacular Seeds

Have a look at our collection of strange and wonderful seeds and find out what the biggest seed in the world looks like! Have a look at different ways of seed dispersal as your pupils have a go at sorting our seed trays in small groups. Have fun playing the ‘squirrel hide and seek’ game and see who can survive the winter! Classroom and Gardens-based session.

Art Without A Paintbrush!

This session will encourage your pupils to create natural pieces of artwork in the style of Andy Goldsworthy. We will give you plenty of ideas before venturing out to create our own natural masterpieces! Gardens-based session.

Musical Fun!

This session will introduce your pupils to our range of musical instruments made mostly from plants as we investigate their different sounds and make a rainstorm together! Classroom-based session.

Non-Birmingham Local Authority Schools - Key Stage 2 Teaching Session Options

Glasshouse Tours

We will excite your class by showing them some of the key plants in our glasshouse collections and telling them some key facts that you wouldn't find out from reading the plant labels! We will also passing around some plant-based products including cocoa beans and Amazon tribal artefacts to smell/touch. You can tell us where you want the focus to be for your tour - popular requests include tropical rainforests, plant adaptations through all 4 glasshouses, plant products and Victorian plant hunters. Glasshouse-based session.

Tree-mendous Trees!

Work in small groups to discover how old some of our trees are, work out their height using clinometers and have a go at tree hugging! Finish the session with a game about trees. Gardens-based session.

Mixture of Minibeast Explorers (available spring to autumn)

Half of your class will have a go at pond-dipping in our raised pond to discover what monsters live in the watery depths. The other half will explore our Growing Schools Garden for land minibeasts such as slugs and ladybirds, before swapping over half-way through the session. Compare our findings using ID charts at the end of the session to find out more about the different kinds of minibeasts that live in both land and water. Gardens-based session.

Perfect Pollination (available during the summer term)

Suitable for Year 5 and 6 pupils, this session will cover naming flower parts and finding out the roles that they play. Dissect some flowers to take a closer look at the individual parts and play the pollination game which includes dressing up one of your pupils as a bee! Classroom-based session.

Music Challenge!

This session will introduce your pupils to our range of musical instruments made mostly from plants and set them the challenge of creating a short composition to perform to the rest of the group! Classroom-based session.

Rainforest Backpack Challenge

Use the clues to find key rainforest plants in the Tropical Glasshouses! What can your pupils find to wear? What can they eat? What plants can we use to make tools with? Discover fascinating facts about the plants and people, how they grow and unravel the secret codeword with a chance to win a tasty prize! A plenary follow the session which draws together the main plant adaptations and a look at some Amazon artefacts from tribal people. Glasshouse-based session.

Glasshouse Backpack Challenge

Use the clues to find key plants in all 4 of our glasshouses! What can we use the plants for and how do they grow? A fun way of getting your pupils to take a second look at some of our plants that they might normally walk straight past! Discover fascinating facts about the plants and unravel the secret codeword with a chance to win a tasty prize! Glasshouse-based session.

Natural Art

This session will encourage your pupils to create natural pieces of artwork in the style of Andy Goldsworthy. We will give you plenty of ideas before venturing out to create our own natural masterpieces in our outdoor ‘gallery’! Gardens-based session.

Habitats and Homes

Understand that all organisms within a habitat interact with each other and their relevance in food chains. Take a walk around the Gardens to find evidence of plants, herbivores and carnivores and take the insulation challenge to find out who can make the best and warmest animal home! Gardens-based session.

Green Man Quests

If you would like to encourage teamwork amongst your pupils and set them a challenge then this is the teaching session for you! We will take you down to our secret Green Man Interactive Zone, where your pupils will use our computers that will send them off on a quest to answer around the gardens and glasshouses, before returning to the cottage to see if they have found the right answer! Gardens and Glasshouse-based session.

Non-Birmingham Local Authority Schools - Key Stage 3 & 4 Teaching Session Options

Glasshouse Tours

Venture around the 4 glasshouses and we will show your pupils how the plants have developed special adaptations which allow them to grow successfully in different environments. Experience the different climates and learn how we use some of the plants as part of our everyday lives. Glasshouse-based session.

Rainforest Backpack Challenge

Use the clues to find the right plants to help your pupils to survive in the rainforest! What can they find to wear? What can they eat? Which layer of the rainforest is this plant usually found in? Discover fascinating facts about the plants, how they grow and unravel the secret codeword with a chance to win a tasty prize! Glasshouse-based session.

Cryptic Orienteering

Using maps (compasses are optional), can your pupils find their way around the Gardens and answer the cryptic questions as they go? This trail challenges your pupils with questions about the site and plant collection, encourages teamwork and enhances their map skills, whilst at the same time ensuring that they get plenty of fresh air and exercise! Gardens-based session.

Maths in Plants

Study our tree collection to find out more about them; how old are they? Which is the tallest? Which has the biggest canopy? Compare scientific measurements to other ways of finding out about our trees from around the world. Venture down to our Green Man Interactive Zone where your pupils will use our computers that will send them off on a quest to answer around the gardens and glasshouses, before returning to the cottage to see if they have found the right answer. Gardens-based session.

Green Man Quests (suitable for Key Stage 3 only)

If you would like to encourage teamwork amongst your pupils and set them a challenge then this is the teaching session for you! We will take you down to our secret Green Man Interactive Zone, where your pupils will use our computers that will send them off on a quest to answer around the gardens and glasshouses, before returning to the cottage to see if they have found the right answer! Gardens and Glasshouse-based session.

Art & Photography (self-guided)

The Botanical Gardens makes an excellent venue to bring your pupils to of all ages, together with your Art Co-ordinator to guide them, to spend time sketching, drawing and taking photographs.  Bring your drawing boards and your art materials and capture our unique plant collection, taking the time to explore the 15 acres of grounds and 4 glasshouses.

Our annual special rainforest week takes place in December. Meet and touch live rainforest animals and learn more about this special habitat with company Tropical Inc. Phone us for more details and prices or visit our 'Special Events for Schools' section of our website or visit Tropical Inc's website www.tropicalinc.com/