Project: Create a mobile museum

Teach your pupils how to create a school museum with our free project guide and lesson plans.

Economic Botany Collection jars

Teach your KS1 and KS2 pupils the knowledge and skills needed to curate a school museum and encourage them to think about everyday objects from a fresh perspective.

Inspired by a collaborative research project between Kew and Royal Holloway, University of London, these lessons will help develop enquiry skills and encourage story-telling. 

About the project

  • Economic Botany Collection jars

    Teachers' handbook

    Find out about Kew's economic botany collection and why school museums are important for learning. 

  • Shelves of seeds in jars contained in the Millennium Seed Bank

    Lesson plan overview

    An overview of our lesson plans, learning outcomes and curriculum links. 

Lesson plans

  • Olacaceae fruits in Kew's economic botany collection

    Lesson plan 1: Object handling

    Pupils will develop their enquiry skills through observation and handling of plant-based objects. 

  • Pumpkin in the Kitchen Garden

    Lesson plan 2: Why plants matter

    Pupils will explore why plants are so important in our daily lives, including food, shelter, medicine and wellbeing. 

  • Economic Botany Collection items on display in Museum Number One

    Lesson plan 3: Creating a plant museum

    Pupils will work together to create their plant-based museum. 

Pupils using maths equipment during a schools session

Primary education resources

Browse our free primary education resources.