Self-directed Curriculum Activities
Enjoy a day at Longwood with your students where you set the pace! For your convenience, we designed self-directed curriculum activities to engage students in meaningful exploration while visiting the Gardens. You and your chaperones will decide how your day at Longwood will unfold since staff and volunteers will not be at the activity locations to lead the lessons. If you have questions, please email mcugini@longwoodgardens.org.
Each activity has a teacher page with goals and objectives, suggested materials, and standards links. Student work pages follow the teacher pages. Please download and print the student work pages for each student prior to visiting Longwood.
Reservations are not required for a self-guided visit. Groups of 15 students or more will be charged $3 for the self-guided group rate. Please consolidate all monies and purchase tickets at our Group Reservation Office in the Visitor Center.
Pollination Activities
Celebrate the year of pollination at Longwood! Engaging activities are designed for specific garden explorations.
Tree-inspired curriculum
Welcome to Nature’s Castles tree-inspired curriculum! Included in this document, you will find a range of multi-disciplinary activities targeting grades 3-5 and linked to National and PA state Education Standards. From writing tree poems to understanding vertical and horizontal measurements, students will learn and gain a greater appreciation of trees and their importance, while enjoying Longwood’s magnificent tree houses!
Discovery Backpacks
Created for school groups, youth groups, scouts, and after-school groups ages 6-12. This program is designed for an adult chaperone to lead a group of 10 to 15 students in activities around the garden. Cost is $3.00 per student for admission plus a backpack fee of $10. One chaperone for every group of 10-15 students is free, additional chaperones will be charged $3.00.
Backpacks are available at the Group Visits Desk in the Visitor Center. A valid credit card and a completed information form will be required. Reservations can be made prior to your arrival at 610-388-5205.
Backpack Activities
1.Create Your Own Garden
Students observe the beautiful garden areas at Longwood and create their own garden on paper using stamps and crayons.
2.Identify Garden Flowers
Students discover new flowers in the garden, observing details of color, shape and odor.
3.Magnify Flower Parts
Students use a magnifying glass to learn about the parts of the flower.
4.Follow the Map
Students use a map to record the areas of Longwood Gardens they visit.
5.Add Your Tale
Students are able to read what others have said about their visit to Longwood Gardens and create their own entry.
6.Insects and the Flowers
Students use an insect index ring to try to identify insects found in the garden areas.
7.Memory Matching Game
Students try to match flowers they may have observed in the garden.
8.Flower/Plant Hunt
Students search the conservatory for specific plants and flowers using an indoor map.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Longwood offers hundreds of lectures, courses and workshops each year that allow you to learn directly from our gardeners and horticulturists in our unique garden environment.
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Professional Gardener Training Program
Longwood's immersive, tuition-free, two-year program combines a rigorous academic curriculum with hands-on learning.
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Internships
Students can gain practical experience, learn horticultural skills and study plants in one of the world’s finest gardens through our internship programs.
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