Primary (KS1 & KS2)
Visit us in the park, or link up from your classroom
Whether you want to bring your group to the park or take part from your classroom, we can give your students a live experience that will inspire and engage them. Sessions are inspired by the nature and heritage of these famous green spaces – most are based in Hyde Park, but we can also offer experiences in Kensington Gardens, St. James's Park and Brompton Cemetery.
Use the following links to our partners for visits to Greenwich Park, The Regent's Park, Bushy Park or Richmond Park:
In the parks
We're ready to welcome your group to the Royal Parks to explore these incredible natural environments confidently and safely. All sessions remain curriculum-linked to meet learning outcomes but also give children a unique opportunity to get outside and explore some of the most famous parkland in the world. Sessions are priced at £120+VAT (half day) or £220+VAT (full day) for a class of up to 30 children.
Senses
Come on a sensory journey as we explore the local environment. Use your senses to compare different textures, sounds, smells and tastes in our wildlife garden then look for different animals and birds in the wider park.
| Suitable for: KS1 | Duration: Half day |
Life cycles
Use real animals to learn about growing and changing. Have a look at spring out in the park and think about how we can help birds care for their chicks.
| Suitable for: KS1 | Duration: Half day |
Habitats
Visit the different habitats in Hyde Park and find out how they provide the basic needs for plants and animals. Hunt for minibeasts under logs, in the pond or out in the meadow. Use binoculars to find a wealth of bird life on the lake and surrounding woodland. Identify, name and classify common local animals; find food chains and feeding groups in our woodland and pond invertebrates. This session is also available in Brompton Cemetery.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Full day |
Dirty hands, green fingers
Find out how plants grow and learn to identify common plants and trees as we explore the garden and park looking at their structure. Act out the plant life cycle and make an art work using natural resources. Older children take a closer look at flowers and pollination in the life cycle of plants. All levels will plant a seed to take home.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Discover the seasons
Exploring spring
Explore the park as the trees begin to blossom and early bees visit spring flowering bulbs. Find out how this fits into the life process of reproduction in plants. Observe and describe the changing seasons and how animals are taking advantage of warmer weather. Identify local trees and then make a seasonal artwork with natural materials to take home.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Exploring summer
Observe and describe the changing seasons and how animals are taking advantage of the warmth. Meet a tree while blindfolded as we explore the park in all its summer finery. Enjoy our scavenger hunt and other outdoor activities before creating an artwork out of natural materials to take home.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Exploring autumn
Explore the park as the trees put on their beautiful autumn display, discovering different seeds, nuts, berries and fungi as we go. Find out how they fit into the life process of reproduction. Observe and describe the changing seasons and how animals are preparing for winter. Create some leaf art to take home. KS2 students may also investigate seed dispersal.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Focus on life
Focus on life in the pond
Pond dip in our own pond, discovering the wealth of invertebrates and amphibians living in this habitat. Use magnifiers and microscopes to examine how organisms have adapted, or group them finding similarities and differences. Explore food chains and learn the basics of scientific drawing.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Focus on life in the trees
Invertebrates living in trees are often forgotten but this is a great habitat to explore. Using nets and sheets we will shake the bugs from the trees then collect and examine them in specimen pots. Use binoculars to discover the trees' bird inhabitants and maybe some nests too.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Focus on life in the undergrowth
Beneath our feet worms and other invertebrates are constantly busy breaking down nature’s litter of sticks and leaves. Roll logs in our garden to find worms and woodlice, slugs and snails and examine them using specimen pots and magnifiers. Visit the wormery before venturing out into the wider park for a game.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Maps and orienteering
Learn to use a compass, map and key before setting off on an orienteering adventure around Hyde Park. Locate landmarks on an Ordnance Survey map as you search for the next clue. Create a key to a map of our garden to take home. This session is available in Hyde Park or Brompton Cemetery.
New for 2023, we have extended this popular session to a full day option for Years 4, 5 and 6 in Hyde Park. The full day allows more time to stretch their learning and explore more of the park on their orienteering challenge.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day (plus full day option as above) |
Wondrous Weather
Observe and record the day’s weather and relate it to seasonal patterns. Use simple equipment to measure wind speed and temperature before recording your data and using it to present a live weather report. KS2 students use compasses to investigate direction of weather patterns and employ fieldwork skills to observe, measure and record weather conditions.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Sustainability
Find out what we have done to try and make the Hyde Park Learning Centre as sustainable as possible. How can you do the same at home? Explore the distribution of natural resources and investigate renewable energy sources.
| Suitable for: KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Pirates in the park
Science, geography, history and art combine in this exciting day-long adventure! Come dressed as pirates to navigate your way across Hyde Park and find your escape ship at the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens. We’ll upcycle various materials to create a floating raft, paint pirate flags and use weather measuring equipment as we immerse ourselves in the world of pirates. A cross-curricular day of excitement!
| Suitable for: KS2 | Duration: Full day |
Nature, Navigation and Nastiness in St. James's Park
St. James's Park has a long and rich history. In London's oldest Royal Park, your group will discover quirky facts and stories about its past while learning to navigate around it. With a carefully selected set of activities including orienteering and drama, your group will never look at a park in the same way again! This local history study also involves elements of science, including mention of habitats and food chains. Maths skills will be needed to calculate distance using a map scale, and descriptive English language skills to develop and deliver a group drama on one aspect of the park’s history.
Please note that this session takes place entirely in St. James's Park, and is currently available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
| Suitable for: KS2 | Duration: Half day |
Nature art
Explore the beauty of the changing seasons while creating a ground collage using the colour, pattern and texture of natural resources. Compare your work to that of some great outdoor artists and sculptors. Take home a leaf rubbing or sketch of a tree silhouette. Use magnifying glasses to find hidden patterns in nature. KS2 children can search for 2D and 3D shapes and different angles.
| Suitable for: KS1 or KS2 | Duration: 2 hours |
Plan your visit
Have you chosen which sessions you’d like to join? You can take a look at our practical information or go ahead with planning your visit by filling out the form below.
If you have any questions, you can also call us on 0300 061 2286 or email learn@royalparks.org.uk.