Roots to Wellbeing
Use our five activities to support children and young people’s wellbeing through growing and nature-based practical activities in school.
Learning objectives:
- Use plants to develop an understanding of wellbing
- Develop social interaction skills and confidence
- Notice and engage with the natural environment
Curriculum links:
- Science: Engage with natural materials and explore plant growth
- PSHE: Develop social interaction, mindfulness, and emotional wellbeing
- English: Reflect and articulate feelings about nature through writing
- Art & Design: Create using plants and explore sensory experiences
About our Roots to Wellbeing resource
Developed in collaboration with children’s mental health experts Place2Be and using the 5 Ways to Wellbeing as a framework, each activity encourages children to engage with plants and nature to support their wellbeing.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing were developed by the New Economics Foundation and identified five key actions around the themes of social relationships, physical activity, awareness, learning, and giving to support mental health and wellbeing.
Step by step
- Download our free activity pack to get started. Each activity uses the 5 Ways to Wellbeing as a framework - encouraging children to engage with nature and plants to support their wellbeing
- Plan when to use the activities with your class - each one contains a materials list, learning objectives and easy to follow step-by-step instructions. The five activities can be completed as standalone lessons, or over the course of several weeks
- Complete the reflection activities at the end of each lesson, encouraging children to think about their responses and how connecting to nature has made them feel
Get your pack:
Hints and tips
Differentiation
These activities are suitable for KS2 and KS3, with the possibility of adaptations for younger or older children within each one.
Timings
The activites are designed to fit into your lessons. Expected timings for each are as follows:
- Growing micro greens: 15 minutes
- Scavenger hunt: 30 minutes
- Sensory hands: 30 minutes
- Soil exploration: 45 minutes
- Seeded paper: 30 minutes