National Children’s Gardening Week | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with National Children’s Gardening Week. National Children’s Gardening Week is an annual event in the UK, typically held at the end of May/early June. It is organised by Garden Centre Association (GCA) members and aims to encourage children to enjoy gardening and learn about nature. The week provides a fantastic opportunity for children to get involved in growing plants, understanding where food comes from, and connecting with the natural world in a hands-on way. It promotes the joy and educational benefits of gardening for young people, inspiring a love for plants and the outdoors. For official information, themes, and how to get involved, please visit the National Children’s Gardening Week website: www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk/.

Understanding National Children’s Gardening Week in EYFS & KS1

Let's dig in and grow something amazing! 🌱🌻🥕

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this week provides a wonderfully rich and hands-on theme for exploring plants, life cycles, food sources, nature, science (growth and change), the environment, outdoor play, and understanding the world (the natural world). It's about inspiring children to become little gardeners and scientists, fostering a sense of responsibility for living things, and teaching them about the importance of plants for our planet and our food. This week offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about gardening, nature, and sustainability both essential and wonderfully engaging!

Why Is Learning About Gardening Important for Young Children?

Integrating National Children’s Gardening Week and themes of plants and growing into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) develops an early appreciation for nature, engaging practical skills, and laying the groundwork for future environmental awareness and healthy habits.

• Connects to Nature: Encourages children to spend time outdoors, observing and interacting with the natural world.

• Teaches Life Cycles: Provides a hands-on way to learn about how plants grow from seeds to full plants, including the 'bean life cycle'.

• Promotes Healthy Eating: Helps children understand where food comes from, encouraging them to try new fruits and vegetables they've helped grow.

• Develops Responsibility: Fosters a sense of care and responsibility as children look after living plants.

• Enhances Scientific Observation: Encourages children to observe changes, ask questions, and make predictions about plant growth and needs.

• Builds Fine Motor Skills: Activities like planting seeds, watering, and weeding develop dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

• Supports Environmental Awareness: Introduces concepts of sustainability and the importance of plants for our planet's health.

Engaging Gardening & Plant Activities for National Children’s Gardening Week (EYFS & KS1)

Let's put on our gardening gloves and celebrate the wonders of growing for National Children’s Gardening Week with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on hands-on exploration, observation, and nurturing nature! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated ‘Gardening’, ‘Plants’, ‘Life Cycles’, and ‘The Environment’ resources.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating National Children’s Gardening Week in 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. Emphasise gentle interaction and care for plants.)

• Getting Started with Gardening:

  • Introduce basic gardening concepts with 'Gardening - 'Planting A Seed' Poster Set'.

  • Set up a 'Digging Area' with 'Gardening - 'Digging Area' Challenge Cards' for hands-on sensory exploration.

  • Use 'Gardening - Word Cards' and 'Gardening - Word Mat' to introduce gardening vocabulary.

  • Create a gardening display with 'Gardening - Display Banner'.

  • Have children draw or write about their gardening experiences using 'Gardening - Draw/Write/Mark Making' sheets.

  • Celebrate their efforts with a 'Gardening - 'Green Fingers' Certificate' or the full version.

• Understanding Plants and Their Needs:

  • Discuss what plants need to grow using 'Plants - All Plants Need - Poster' and 'Plants - All Plants Need - Colouring Poster'.

  • Explore indoor plants with 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' Poster', 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' Poster - Colouring', and 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' 4-Piece Puzzle'. You can also play the 'What Does A Houseplant Need?' Game'.

  • Use 'Plant Monitor' Organisation/Watering Set' to help children track their plant's needs.

  • Introduce plant parts with 'Parts Of A Plant' Activity Sheets'.

  • Discuss how plants help us by producing oxygen with 'Plants - 'Plants Make Oxygen' Poster' and how they make their own food with 'Plants - 'Plants Make Their Own Food' Poster'.

  • Explore different types of plants using 'Plants - Word Mat', 'Plants - Word Cards', and 'Plants - Word & Picture Match Puzzles'.

• Life Cycles and Growth Observation:

  • Plant some beans and observe their growth using 'Bean Life Cycle Display/Activity Visuals', 'Bean Growth Cards', and 'Bean Growth Cards - Colouring'.

  • Use 'Gardening - Sunflower Growth Ordering Cards' to sequence the growth of a sunflower.

  • Explore general life cycles with 'Endless Life Cycle Puzzles'.

  • Encourage children to keep a 'Weather - My Weather Diary - Booklet' to see how weather affects plant growth.

• Nature Connection & Themed Fun:

  • Go on a 'Science - Activity Pack - Plant Hunt' to identify different plants outdoors.

  • Explore woodland plants and trees using 'Woodland Trees - Fact Cards - A5'.

  • Engage artistic skills with 'Design A Plant Multimat - Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Crafts' and 'Plants Colouring Mini Pack'.

  • Practise counting with 'Plant Leaves Playdough Mats (1-10)' and 'Plant - Size Ordering Cards'.

• Connecting with Traditional Tales about Growth:

  • Bring gardening themes to life through classic stories. Explore 'Jack And The Beanstalk' resources like 'Jack And The Beanstalk - Activity/Movement Challenge Cards', 'Jack And The Beanstalk - Colouring Sheets', and 'Jack And The Beanstalk' Banner & Key Phrases'. You can even measure how tall their imaginary beanstalks grow!

  • Read and retell 'The Enormous Turnip', discussing pulling vegetables and the power of working together.

  • Engage with 'The Little Red Hen' through resources such as 'The Little Red Hen - Role-Play Headbands - Colouring' and 'The Little Red Hen - Character Descriptions', focusing on the journey from seed to bread.

• Explore More: Please visit our ‘Gardening’ and ‘Plants’ pages to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme. You may also like to explore additional pages covering relevant and/or connected themes such as ‘Animals’, ‘Life Cycles’, ‘Minibeasts’, ‘The Environment’, ‘Spring’, ‘Wildlife’, and ‘Forest School’.

These activities offer great inspiration for making National Children’s Gardening Week a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering a love for nature, scientific observation skills, environmental responsibility, and the joy of growing something with their own hands.

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

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘National Children’s Gardening Week’

Free ‘Gardening’ & ‘Plant’ related activities for EYFS & KS1:

‘Gardening’ & ‘Plant’ related printable resources and activity ideas for EYFS & KS1:

Bean Life Cycle activities for EYFS & KS1:

‘Traditional Tales’ that involve themes of ‘Gardening’ & ‘Plant Growth’ | Printable Resources and Activity Ideas 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 May

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!

SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONS…

Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'National Children’s Gardening Week'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) or the official organisers of this event. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and how to get involved, please visit the National Children’s Gardening Week website: www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk/.