![A lotus leaf showing off its hydrophobic properties. Water is balled up on its surface.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/splashy_hero_large/public/MatsFabric_nasturtium_Mar08.jpg?h=972c9b24&itok=NO142u2U)
Plants
Featured Hands-on Activities
![Photo of person pouring water on soil and sand to demonstrate erosion](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/land_activity.jpg?h=dd99b896&itok=we6abGF7)
Exploring Earth: Land Cover
![Children exploring Building with Biology DNA activity using pipette](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-12/category_life_sciences.png?h=0c86fa9d&itok=aHAAkpGg)
Exploring Structures - DNA
![a group of four learners listen to a facilitator as they explain the activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/20110918GH_282%20%281%29.jpg?h=cb7b63f3&itok=YWvmFi3N)
DNA Nanotechnology
Synthetic Biology Programs and Resources
![Building with Biology Bio Bistro activity components](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/bio_bistro_kit_materials.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=k57a_1uP)
Building with Biology: Bio Bistro
![learners and facilitator extract sample with pipette](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-01/SeeDNA.jpg?h=bfa41935&itok=0PTjRma6)
Building with Biology: See DNA
![Children using Building with Biology kit of parts activity with colored blocks and cards](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/hero%20Building%20with%20Biology%20BWB%20%20kit%20of%20parts%2020160321_1275.jpg?h=265e640d&itok=sWZlCXVk)
Building with Biology Kit
![Should We Edit the Genome title slide](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-03/Should%20We%20Edit%20the%20Genome.jpg?h=a1f525db&itok=vONQveCB)
Should We Edit the Genome? forum
![Image of a Synthetic Biology handout with illustrations of how DNA can be edited](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/BwB_ReferencePacket_Page_4.jpg?itok=fm3QHXym)
Building with Biology reference packet graphics
Stain Resistant and Hydrophobic Surfaces Inspired by Lotus Leaf Effect in Plants
![Exploring Products - Nano Fabrics acitivty components including signs, guides, and mini pants coated with nano materials](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/nano_fabric_kit_materials_0.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=ma0DEyZj)
Exploring Products - Nano Fabrics
Sand, Plants and Pants
![A lotus leaves in a small, man-made concrete pond.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/9072/lotus_leaf_rep_image.png?h=102304da&itok=MqxUhi7C)
Zoom into a Lotus Leaf video
![A screenshot of the zoom into a nasturtium leaf interactive starting with a nasturtium leaf.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/about/Nasturtium_screenshot.png?h=6b035c51&itok=4ohzrJxL)
Multimedia Zoom Into a Nasturtium Leaf
![A person holding an ice cream cone with the text "NANO: I've never had that problem."](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/8901/nano_and_me_screen_shot_2012_0.png?itok=D9KQsy3Q)
Nano and Me Videos
![The supervillain Dr. Blot dressed in a crazy costume](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/8601/stains.png?h=a2f616d4&itok=9DVE-Mrv)
I Got No Stains on Me
![Facilitator showing learners the lotus leaf effect](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/catalog/programs/Lotus_effect_EExpo2008.jpg?itok=6w3QNWri)
Lotus Leaf Effect
![Teen girl with braces in a pink shirt holds a large kale leaf](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2024-03/screenshot_2024-03-04_at_3.33.43_pm.png?h=998a70ec&itok=PZB_JqxB)
What’s Nano About Toilets?
![What is nano about museum labels thumbnails of signs featuring signs of hot-chocolate, hamburger, glass of water, a window, and a toilet](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/2021-04/What%20is%20nano%20about%20museum%20labels%20thumbnails%20of%20signs%20part%201.jpg?itok=VvmqeYZI)
Nano Museum Labels (Graphic Signs)
![Children looking at Gecko with magnifying glass](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/8438/nise_net_press_photo_0019.jpg?h=22b7f206&itok=-zEDpgtI)
Biomimicry
![Photo of a large interactive exhibit that has two chambers where learners can drop water onto cabbage leaves and observe droplets rolling off](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/1634/v2.0_bump_and_roll_1.jpg?h=2422d722&itok=trLDAx92)
Bump and Roll exhibit
Scientific Images
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12569/pollen_grains_nise.jpg?itok=azUMlh5k)
Scientific Image - Pollen Grains
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12605/nastrurtium_droplet_nise.jpg?itok=bqlpFm6k)
Scientific Image - Water Droplet on a Nasturtium Leaf
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12601/nasturtium_at_8000x_nise.jpg?itok=NGul6Fp3)
Scientific Image - Nasturtium Leaf
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12566/nasturtium_nise-1.jpg?itok=QjT04NAb)
Scientific Image - Nasturtium Leaf
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12602/nasturtium_at_10000x_nise.jpg?itok=Sfmv6qDx)
Scientific Image - Nasturtium Leaf
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/12600/nasturtium_at_2500x.jpg?itok=M5a2K4ez)
Scientific Image - Nasturtium Leaf
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/7132011_1000x.jpg?itok=H_gUHjF2)
Scientific Image - SEM Image of Lotus Leaf
![](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/7132011_500x.jpg?itok=DS0oEy7o)
Scientific Image - SEM Image of Lotus Leaf
Related Collections of Resources
![Hands holding blocks and cards for Future Builder SustainABLE activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/SustainABLE_FutureBuilder_activityguide1.jpg?h=ddb1ad0c&itok=rGCSSOW8)
Sustainability
![Half of the blue marble for Earth Day hero](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-01/earth-day-hero.jpg?h=46c5a8bf&itok=sfKmveh3)
Earth Day
![Two learners observe the Sun with a solarscope in a grassy field](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/exsci_space_promo_2019_20181018_1032_edit.jpg?h=81faf404&itok=T-xWw9Mx)
Outside Activities
More Resources
Hands On Activities
- HowToSmile.org activities https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/plants
Citizen Science
- NISE Network citizen science resources
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Growing Beyond Earth Project classroom-based citizen science project operated in partnership with NASA
- GLOBE Observer Land Cover App
- SciStarter database of citizen science projects about plants and outdoors
Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
- American Public Gardens Association
- American Horticultural Society
- Slow Food USA School Garden Network
- KidsGardening resources for educators
- Children & Nature Network
- Association of Children's Museums Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper
Annual Events
- Food-themed events (see Food Activities)
- Gardening and harvesting events
- Earth Day (April 22, month of April)
- Citizen Science Month (April)
http://citizensciencemonth.org - Globe Observer Challenges
https://observer.globe.gov/do-globe-observer/challenges
Partner Highlights
![LICM Milkweed garden](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/img_8841.jpg?itok=Cow_bHD2)
Partner Highlight: Sustainability and Citizen Science at Long Island Children’s Museum
Partner Highlight: The Power of HI-Nano, 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, Hawai'i
![Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event](/sites/default/files/styles/copy_50/public/2021-10/Working%20with%20STEM%20Experts%20Guide%20cover%20including%20an%20image%20of%20expert%20%20puring%20a%20liquid%20and%20using%20a%20strainer%20with%20a%20girl%20and%20her%20family%20at%20a%20museum%20public%20event%20CREDIT%20Marbles%20Kids%20Museum%20CROPPED.jpg?itok=O819TbQo)
Finding STEM Experts
- See the "Agriculture: Food Science, AnimalScience, and Plant Science" and the Environmental Sciences" sections of Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings