Schools & Teachers
Gardening, plant science and outdoor learning for schools.
Gardening as Science in Action
Gardening gives pupils a practical way to explore science through plants, soil, weather, food growing and the natural world.
As a retired science teacher and horticultural author, Tony Arnold believes gardening can help young people see science in action. Planting, growing, observing and recording all encourage curiosity, practical skills and scientific thinking.
From seeds and roots to water, light and plant growth, gardening helps pupils ask questions, test ideas and understand the living world around them.
Watch: Gardening, Space and School Science
What can space teach us about growing plants?
This short video will explore how school gardening can connect pupils with real science — from seeds, soil and water to observation, recording and plant growth.
Inspired by projects such as RHS Rocket Science and Tim Peake’s Principia mission, it shows how gardening can help young people ask questions, test ideas and see science in action.
Planting, Observing, Recording
School gardening gives pupils the chance to learn by doing.
When young people plant seeds, care for seedlings and watch plants grow, they are also developing important scientific skills. They observe changes, compare results, record what they see and begin to ask why things happen.
This makes gardening a powerful classroom activity. It connects science with the real world and helps pupils understand plants, food, weather, soil and the environment in a practical way.
From a tray of seedlings to a school garden, every growing project can become a science lesson.
Useful Links for Schools & Teachers
The RHS School Gardening programme provides free resources, activities and training to help schools use gardening as part of learning.
Teachers can explore planting projects, outdoor learning ideas, curriculum-linked activities and school gardening awards. These resources are a useful starting point for bringing plant science, growing and observation into the classroom or school garden.
Projects such as RHS Rocket Science also show how gardening can connect with wider science topics, including space, food production and environmental learning.
RHS School Gardening RHS School Resources Learn About Rocket Science
Order a signed copy of Tony Arnold’s book and discover a relaxed accessible guide to the science behind gardening.
Signed copies are available exclusively through this website .