Houseplant Week UK | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Houseplant Week UK. Houseplant Week UK is an annual observance, typically held in mid-January, that celebrates the joy and benefits of houseplants. It was launched by The Joy of Plants, an initiative of the Royal FloraHolland growers' association, to encourage more people to bring plants into their homes and workplaces, highlighting their positive impact on well-being, air quality, and aesthetics. For official information and to learn more about the campaign, please visit The Joy of Plants website: www.thejoyofplants.co.uk.

Monday 11th - Sunday 17th January 2027 (TBC)

Understanding Houseplant Week UK in EYFS & KS1

Let's green up our learning space! Houseplant Week UK is an annual observance, typically held in early-January. It was launched by The Joy of Plants, an initiative of the Royal Flora Holland growers' association. The week aims to encourage more people to bring plants into their homes and workplaces, highlighting their positive impact on well-being, air quality, and simply making spaces more beautiful. It's a wonderful opportunity to focus on the small, living things we can nurture indoors.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this week provides a fantastic and hands-on theme for exploring plants, nature, science (biology/ecology), responsibility, and caring for living things. It's about introducing children to the basic needs of plants, observing growth, and understanding the role plants play in our environment, even indoors. This week offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about botany and nurturing both fascinating and rewarding.

Why Is Teaching About Houseplants & Plant Care Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about houseplants and plant care into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) can help ‘grow’ their understanding of the natural world, promoting responsibility, and developing an appreciation for living things.

• Understanding Life: Teaches children about the basic needs of living organisms (water, light, air, nutrients) and the concept of growth.

• Responsibility & Nurturing: Provides a tangible way for children to practice caring for something, fostering responsibility and empathy.

• Science & Observation: Encourages close observation of plant changes, leading to early scientific inquiry and understanding of cause and effect.

• Environmental Awareness: Connects children to the wider natural world and the role plants play in producing oxygen and cleaning air.

• Fine Motor Skills: Activities like watering, repotting (with supervision), and handling seeds develop fine motor coordination.

• Patience: Teaches patience as children wait for seeds to sprout or plants to grow.

• Well-being: Being around plants can have a calming effect and contribute to a positive learning environment.

Engaging Houseplant & Plant Care Activities for Houseplant Week UK (0-7 Year Olds)

Make Houseplant Week UK a truly green-fingered and investigative experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on learning about plants, caring for them, and appreciating nature indoors! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Plants' and 'Gardening' resources.

Here's some inspiration for bringing the joy of houseplants into your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• What Does a Houseplant Need?: Have a discussion about the essential needs of a houseplant. Use our 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' Poster', and 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' Poster - Colouring' for visual support. Play the 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' Game' to reinforce learning.

• Plant Care Station: Set up a designated area for plant care. Use our 'Plant Monitor' Organisation/Watering Set' to help children track when plants need watering. Provide small watering cans and spray bottles for a hands-on experience.

• Parts of a Plant: Explore the different parts of a plant (roots, stem, leaves, flower). Use our 'Parts Of A Plant' Activity Sheets' to label or draw.

• Design a Plant: Encourage creativity by having children design their own imaginary plant or decorate a plant pot. Our 'Design A Plant Multimat - Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Crafts' is perfect for this.

• Plant Puzzles & Sorting: Use our 'Plants - Word & Picture Match Puzzles' and 'Plants Colouring Mini Pack' for recognition. Our 'Plant - Size Ordering Cards' can help with early maths skills.

• The Science of Plants: Introduce simple scientific concepts about plants. Use 'Plants Make Their Own Food' Poster', 'Plants Make Oxygen' Poster', and 'All Plants Need - Poster'.

• Plant Observation Diary: Provide children with a simple notebook to draw or describe changes in a houseplant over a week, noting if it's been watered or placed in the sun.

• Bean Life Cycle Investigation: Grow beans in clear containers (like jars with damp cotton wool or soil) so children can observe root growth. Use our 'Bean Life Cycle Display/Activity Visuals', 'Bean Growth Cards', and 'Bean Growth Cards - Colouring' to chart the growth.

• Sensory Plant Exploration: Provide different types of plant leaves (safe ones!) for children to touch, smell, and observe using magnifying glasses. Our 'Plant Leaves Playdough Mats (1-10)' combine sensory play with numeracy.

• Plant Vocabulary: Use our 'Plants - Word Mat', and 'Plants - Word Cards' to introduce new vocabulary related to plants and gardening.

• Gardening Role-Play & Activities: Set up a mini-gardening area (even indoors!). Our 'Gardening - Display Banner', 'Gardening - Word Mat', 'Gardening - Word Cards', and 'Gardening - 'Digging Area' Challenge Cards' can support this. You could use 'Gardening - 'Planting A Seed' Poster Set' to guide a planting activity.

• Plant Hunt: Go on an indoor "plant hunt" or a nature walk outdoors to spot different types of plants. Use our 'Science - Activity Pack - Plant Hunt'.

• Celebrate Green Thumbs: Award 'Gardening - 'Green Fingers' Certificate' to children who show great care for plants.

• Explore More: Please visit our 'Gardening' and 'Plants' pages to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme!

These activities offer great inspiration for making Houseplant Week UK a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering scientific understanding, responsibility, observation skills, and a genuine love for nature.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Houseplant Week UK’

Free Plant related activities for EYFS & KS1:

Plant related activities for EYFS & KS1:

Bean Life Cycle activities for EYFS & KS1:

Please visit our ‘Gardening’ and ‘Plants’ pages to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for January

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Houseplant Week UK'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by The Joy of Plants/Royal FloraHolland, which organises this campaign, other than providing their official website as a source of information about the initiative. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and to learn more about the campaign, please visit their website at www.thejoyofplants.co.uk.