To limit the risk of transmitting COVID-19 coronavirus, the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) has changed its operations. The Conservatory and gated outdoor gardens are temporarily closed to the public while Bartholdi Park and the Terrace Gardens remain open. Please monitor this website for updates to operating status. Many resources can be accessed online, including educational materials, virtual tours, informational videos, and our fall programs will all be online. Connect with resources from home at www.USBG.gov/AtHome.
Resources for a Visit to the U.S. Botanic Garden
If you're coming onsite to the Garden, explore educational resources specfically designed to be used in the Garden on our onsite resource page.
Resources for Home or School
Lesson Plans and Activities
Engage young people in plant science through these educational resources. The lesson plans and activities are designed to help adults guide children in using the tools and techniques scientists use to learn about plants and the environment. They are intended to be flexible and we encourage you to adapt them to your child's interests and ability. Each lesson has a recommended grade range, goals and objectives, and materials list and steps to follow for each activity.
Flower to Seed, Seed to Flower Lesson Plan
Explore the life cycle of a flowering plant by examining how and why plants make seeds.
- Flower to Seed, Seed to Flower [PDF], recommended for grades Kindergarten - 2nd
- Flower to Seed, Seed to Flower [PDF], recommended for grades 3rd - 5th
Greenhouse Manual
This is an introductory manual for educators wanting to better use new or existing greenhouses for programming. The manual clearly and concisely lays out a basic understanding of greenhouses, how to integrate them into lessons, and how to effectively use greenhouses in classroom curricula and out-of-school activities. The manual includes lesson plans as well as basic information on layout and operations of a greenhouse, growing plants (especially during the school year), growing from seed, seedling nutrition, identifying and treating disease and pest management in greenhouses, basic budgeting, and succession planting.
Teaching Landscape for Life
Landscape for Life includes a complete kit of teaching resources that can be used to conduct classes in sustainable home gardening. Materials available include a downloadable, illustrated teacher's manual and four slide presentations that illustrate the curriculum.
Educational Collaborators:
Botanical Partners on the Mall
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany and the U.S. Botanic Garden are botanical partners on the National Mall. As such, we collaborate on a number of projects related to exhibits, research and plants.
North American Orchid Conservation Center
The North American Orchid Conservation Center is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden that will join public and private organizations to conserve, cultivate and restore North America's native orchids.