Primary

In this session pupils explore what a seed is. Stereo and digital microscopes are used throughout the session.

Pupils are introduced to the variety of seeds found in nature, seeds that are edible and included in their own cultural recipes that comprise of seeds. There is a brief introduction to Latin names and classification system.

A seed dissection is performed, seed dispersal is discussed for higher Key stages, handling of our collection of seeds and seed pods.

All pupils plant microgreens in a portable cardboard coffee cup to take back to school or home.

Pupils investigate the method of water uptake and transportation in plants. The practical session involves using various food dyes, white carnations and celery to examine the movement of water in a plant stem via xylem vessels. Pupils learn, in simple terms, about the importance of water to plants as a requirement for the process of photosynthesis.

A practical investigation using spinach leaves to extract leaf pigments using the process of chromatography. Pupils learn about the importance of pigments to plants and their role in photosynthesis.

This is an ideal session for the autumn term where pupils can pick a different coloured leaf from our Community Garden and repeat the experiment. The Clore Learning Space is set up as a laboratory and pupils are encouraged to work scientifically in pairs. Pupils will be handling a range of equipment including chemicals.

Pupils discover what soil consists of by taking samples from the local environment. They then perform experiments to determine the properties their soil sample has such as water holding capacity, constituent particles and pH.

There is a visit to our wormery in the Community Garden to understand the important role of earthworms in soil. Earthworms are taken back into our Clore Learning Space, examined under digital microscopes and then sustainable wormeries are constructed for them which can then be taken back to school.

After this session pupils will understand what a flower is, its function and the difference between pollination and fertilisation. Pupils undertake a flower dissection to reveal and observe the various reproductive parts involved in sexual reproduction and then create a floral diagram.

Non-flowering plants such as Ferns or ‘Mexican hat’/’Mother of thousands’ are investigated to understand the process of asexual reproduction.

Pupils identify a range of leaf shapes found in our courtyard garden and orangery.

They then make botanical drawings, focusing on the leaves of a range of plants from different habitats and appreciate the features of each by observing via microscopes.

The session ends with a card sort to match plant to environment

Carnivorous plants are also handled by pupils during the session.

In this session pupils explore the important relationship between living things and their habitats.

Organisms once collected from our Community Garden, meadow and new pond are brought back into the Clore Learning Space where attempts are made to identify and build a food chain, or food web depending on range of organisms collected.

Earthworms from the Garden Museum wormery will be included and the session amended slightly if enough minibeasts are not found due to prevailing weather conditions.

Pupils are introduced to the difference between weather and climate, greenhouse gases, the concept of global warming and climate change.

They then model an experiment in the Clore Learning Space to measure the effect carbon dioxide on the planet.

The features of drought tolerant plants are analysed.

Pupils are introduced to the parts of a plant and their role in keeping the plant alive.

Tradescantia leaves are observed through stereo and digital microscopes and functions of structures seen explained.

A vegetable family is introduced; pupils match samples of pea/bean to photos of pea/bean and pod and understand lifecycle of vegetable.

Microgreens are planted in small paper coffee cups which pupils can take home.

Depending on the season a visit is made to Community Garden to see vegetables growing in raised beds.

Pupils explore the museum and make drawings of artefacts which are recreated on pencil cases using fabric pens and crayons which they can take home with them.