Field Trips

Thank you for considering the U.S. Botanic Garden as an extension of your classroom! Our indoor and outdoor living classrooms offer amazing opportunities for plant-based learning.

Teachers are always welcome to bring students to visit the Garden for their own educational activities. If you're looking for ideas on how to maximize a trip to the U.S. Botanic Garden, please see our Field Trips page.

Educational Resources and Lesson Plans

Plant-Based Curriculum

This curriculum is designed for grades 3-5 and includes pre-field trip lessons, onsite curriculum, and post-field trip lessons. Learn more and download the curriculum >

Junior Botanist

Our Junior Botanist program is now available to schools on a limited basis. If you are a 3rd-6th grade teacher and would like for your class to use our Junior Botanist Adventure kit while at the U.S. Botanic Garden, please contact Lee Coykendall, Children's Education Specialist.

There is a maximum class size of (36) with (8) backpacks issued. The Botany at Home adventure sheet can be used as a post lesson and upon successful completion of the adventure sheets, teachers may apply to our botanist to become an official U.S. Botanic Garden Junior Botanist class!

There is no fee for participation in this program.

How Plants Work curriculum

Our How Plants Work: A Guide to Being Green is a plant-based curriculum that helps teachers and chaperones lead students through investigations to discover the intriguing life, structural design, adaptability and resourcefulness of plants.

Classroom Resources

The U.S. Botanic Garden offers classroom resources for teachers, including a plant family tree and information on starting your own school garden.

Teacher Training

Each year, the Garden offers special workshops and teacher training opportunities to help engage students in plant-based learning. The Garden offers training throughout the academic school year. Please check our calendar of events for dates and additional information.

DC Teacher Night 2017

Welcome to the 2017/2018 school year. We are very excited to be collaborating with the DC Environmental Education Consortium to offer DC Teacher Night 2017. This year's DC Teacher NIght was September 21. Information about the 2018 DC Teacher Night will be posted a few months before the event, which is typically held in September or October.

Please check back for information regarding the HOPS Teacher Institute Program (usually held in Summer).