Eden teaching facilitator with pupils in the Rainforest Biome

School Workshop: Rainforest Uncovered

This workshop challenges your Year 5 and 6 pupils to go on an expedition, make contact with the Kombai people of Papua and unlock the secrets to their survival.

You may also be interested in the online version of this session, delivered live to your school by our team.

Book a school trip

Workshop overview

What happens in the workshop

Your pupils are members of a research team who have been sent to locate the Kombai people in Papua and learn how they live. The pupils first prepare for their expedition by considering what kit they would need.

Upon making contact with the Kombai they are divided into groups each with their own unique symbol. Accompanied by their teachers the groups journey into the rainforest and identify how to use the rainforest and its plants for food, shelter, water and health.

On return to the classroom each group has the responsibility of using their artefacts box to teach the rest of the group some of their secrets to survival.

Visiting teacher

“ An engaging workshop linked to learning across the curriculum. Children were fascinated and excited by the tasks. ”

Practical information

This workshop enables pupils to:

experience the heat, sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest
understand our fundamental dependence on plants
consider how people from other places and cultures live

We've designed the workshop to help teachers cover the following subject areas:

In Geography, pupils should be taught about the physical and human characteristics of tropical rainforests as well as their geographical location using subject specific language. They should understand how these regions differ in comparison to the UK in terms climate, vegetation, settlements, lifestyle, land use, trade and food and water supply. They should gather information through direct observation, illustration and digital technologies.

In Science, pupils should identify the ways in which living things are adapted to life in the rainforest and consider the essential requirements of humans in order to survive in an extreme environment.

The workshop costs £8.25 per pupil, with a minimum charge of £165 per group (includes VAT). Maximum group size is 35. The cost includes:

a facilitated workshop with our Education Team
free access to the Eden site for the day
all equipment needed for the workshop
free teaching resources enabling your class to prepare for the workshop and to follow up on the activity (download a sample copy)
a personal welcome from the Education Team at the entrance
a base for your bags in our purpose-built education centre, The Core
a space to eat your own lunch

The price includes free entry for accompanying adult helpers, whose participation is essential to the success of the day (please note our suggested adult/pupil ratios are as follows: Early Years Foundation Stage, 1:3; Key Stage 1, 1:6; Key Stage 2 and 3, 1:10; Key Stage 4, 1:15; Key Stage 5, 1:20). You’re welcome to bring more helpers if you’d like. Additional helpers are charged at our group booking rate.

We also offer a free preparatory visit to Eden for teachers wanting to plan their school trip, which should be booked in advance.