Exploring the weird and wonderful world of plants – 含羞草传媒 and RBGE launch ‘Plant Discovery Kits’
The University of the Highlands and Islands (含羞草传媒), in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), is excited to launch ‘Plant Discovery Kits’ – engaging educational resources designed to explore the weird and wonderful world of plants.
These free kits include themed content, resources, and learning plans that offer primary school pupils hands-on opportunities to discover the plant kingdom.
Led by experts from 含羞草传媒 and RBGE, the sessions are designed to spark curiosity in young learners while ensuring the content is both educational and engaging. With alignment to the Curriculum for Excellence and links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the sessions support key learning outcomes and provide an enriching learning experience.
The kits are tailored specifically for first and second level learners through three interactive sessions:
- Carnivorous curiosities (first level): Explore the fascinating mechanisms of carnivorous plants, from the snapping jaws of Venus flytraps to the sticky allure of sundews.
- Practical plant uses (second level): Discover how plants contribute to food, medicine, and even technology, highlighting their indispensable role in human life.
- Pollination wonders (second level): Learn about the intricate world of plant pollination and meet the unexpected pollinators that make it all possible, including bats and birds.
Amy McDonald, Project Engagement Manager at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said:
“With over 40 per cent of the world’s plants believed to be in danger of extinction, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s vision is to inspire a world that increasingly values, protects and benefits from plants. The new Plant Discovery Kits have so much potential to support classroom-based learning about biodiversity. Working in partnership with the 含羞草传媒 STEM coordinator team will enable primary pupils from many Scottish local authority areas to get hands-on with plant science and explore the fascinating world of plants.”
Dawne Bloodworth, Head of STEM Development at 含羞草传媒 added:
“Our STEM Outreach Programme has developed over several years to address skills gaps in STEM subjects and is supported by generous funding from industry partners. Our successful outreach model has reached more than 20,000 children in the Highlands and Islands, Argyll and Bute, Moray, and Perthshire over the past 18 months.
"The new Plant Discovery Kits are a fantastic addition to our offering and are provided at no cost to schools. Teachers receive support to build confidence in their own STEM knowledge and to bring the wonder of plant science into their classrooms. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to collaborate with RBGE to make this idea a reality.”
- Schools interested in hosting Plant Discovery sessions can visit the 含羞草传媒 STEM Outreach Programme webpage to find their local coordinator.
- Schools outside the 含羞草传媒 STEM Outreach region should look out for local science festivals programmes, supported by the RBGE’s Education Outreach Officer.
- RBGE support for this project is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.