Today, Year 5 enjoyed an exciting trip to Kew Gardens!
We set off early, making our way across London towards Richmond, ready for a day of exploration and learning. Although we knew the journey would take some time, we had an unexpected 12 minute wait at Baker Street which tested our patience slightly. Thankfully, our excitement for the day ahead kept spirits high.
When we arrived, we split into two groups. One group began with their workshop, Rainforests: People and Plants, while the other set off to explore the gardens. Later in the day, we swapped over so that everyone had the chance to experience both parts of the visit.
Those exploring the gardens used maps from the Kew Gardens website to navigate their way around. This was a brilliant opportunity to apply our geographical skills, as we located key landmarks and found our way through the vast grounds with increasing confidence. We visited the impressive glasshouses and discovered a huge variety of fascinating plants from around the world, even making our way up to the viewing galleries for a different perspective.
We also took on the tree top walkway, with many of us showing real bravery as we made our way up high above the gardens. It was well worth it for the views and the sense of achievement at the top!
At lunchtime, we all came back together and enjoyed eating our lunch outside together. Despite the windy weather, it was lovely to share this time as a whole class before continuing with our afternoon activities.
The workshop was a real highlight of the day. We learned about the climate of the rainforest and where these environments are located around the world, linking closely to our geography learning. We also discussed the importance of rainforests and the impact that humans can have, including deforestation.
Inside the Palm House, we explored how plants have adapted to survive. We learned about drip tips and how they help leaves shed water quickly, and we spotted plants such as vanilla and even saw how quickly giant bamboo can grow. Our workshop leader, Stella, also shared stories from her time teaching in Borneo, which helped bring our learning to life.
We also explored a range of everyday products that come from the rainforest, using our senses to investigate different textures and smells, and thinking carefully about how much we rely on these natural resources.
It was a fantastic day filled with curiosity, teamwork and discovery. We would like to say a huge thank you to the parents who supported us on the trip and to the SVPA for helping to fund this wonderful experience.
Year 5, what was your favourite part of our day at Kew Gardens?
I enjoyed this trip so much! My favourite part was definitely the workshop but I loved going in the big glass houses.
Thank you teachers and parents for keeping us safe! But thank you Stella for teaching us in the workshop.