Teacher Resources
Denver Botanic Gardens offers a variety of resources just for teachers. Whether you need recertification credit or materials for your classroom plant studies, we are here to help.
Planting Kits
Classroom Grow Kit
Want to start growing plants in the classroom but don’t know where to start? Our classroom grow kit contains two grow lights, clamp shades, seeds, soil and planting containers. Instructions and an activity sheet are included. Advance reservation required.
Cost: $65 per kit (for up to 32 students, grades PreK–12)
Student Planting Kit
Give your students a hands-on opportunity to plant and care for their own seeds. The Student Planting Kit includes pots, soil and seeds. Materials can be picked up at Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street location. Stream our instructional video with directions for planting. Advance reservation required.
Cost: $3 per student, $30 minimum.
Día de los Muertos Student Kit (Grades 2-12)
Offered September - October only. Involve your class in Día de los Muertos nicho creation and planting project. Each student kit comes with atin nicho (mini ofrenda altar), tissue paper, marigold seeds, a pot and soil. The kit is accompanied by four instructional videos in English and Spanish, and lesson plans for decorating them; the comprehensive, step-by-step instructions enable even beginners to create beautiful and meaningful tributes. Encourage students to share stories about the individuals they are honoring, as this will deepen their understanding of the holiday's significance and promote cultural appreciation. First-come, first-served; supplies are limited.
Cost: $8 per student
Classroom Resources
Free Gardens STEM Careers Resource (Grades 6–12)
Through short video interviews, students will learn directly from our scientists about their career journeys and what they find fun and fascinating about working at a public garden. Use the optional activities for each video to help students dive deeper into the career fields and explore relevance to their own lives.
Free Día de Los Muertos Crafts Resource (all grades)
Instructional videos in Spanish and English guide your students step by step through the creation of various Día de los Muertos crafts and art projects: ofrendas, papel picado, sugar skulls, paper monarch butterflies and paper marigolds. Supplies are not included but a list of suggested materials to purchase will be provided along with the video links.
Activities for Students Onsite or Online
EcoFlora
Budburst
Native Plant Treasure Hunt
Phenology Resource: Participate in Community Science
Colorado Water Crossword Puzzle
Teacher Professional Development at Your School
Have a group of teachers interested in digging into a garden topic together? Choose from the topics below or contact us to let us know what you’re looking for.
- Growing Plants at Your School
- Plant Science Across the Curriculum
- Colorado Ecosystems
- Phenology and Community Science
- Nature and Wellness
- Build your own custom program
Email school.groups@botanicgardens.org to request more information.