Home Education Day September 2025

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Book tickets
Come and join us for a day of learning for children aged 5+ who are home educated.

The day will feature some of our most popular science and nature sessions, showcasing some of the amazing objects in our handling collection.

Buy a ticket for our exciting drop-in activities only or book onto our amazing, hands-on workshops, with access to all drop-in activities included. Entry to the Aquarium is included in every ticket.

Home ed families will have exclusive access to our Education Centre, giving you space to meet other families and chill out.

Ticket information

  • For home educated children aged 5+.
  • Ticket price includes one child with one accompanying adult.
  • Tickets are non-refundable.
  • Please ensure you book your child on to an age-appropriate workshop to ensure learners get the most out of the session.
  • Only children booked onto the workshop may attend (with their accompanying adult).
  • We are able to offer a small number of free tickets for home educating families in receipt of Universal Credit. Please email schools@horniman.ac.uk to claim one of these tickets.
  • Tickets are non-refundable.

Each booked child and one free accompanying adult will receive:

  • Entry to one booked workshop
  • Entry to the Aquarium
  • Access to the Education Centre (for home educated families only) to use as a lunch room and break out space.

Sign up to our home education newsletter for updates on our programme.

Sibling Policy

  • To help ensure that our learners get the most from their sessions, and as spaces are limited, only children booked on to them may attend (with their accompanying adult).
  • When selecting the workshop to go with your ticket, please ensure that you are booking on to an age-appropriate session for your child(ren).
  • Babies in arms are permitted to all sessions, but we politely ask that you leave the session should they be disruptive to others.

Workshops

Tickets include a booked workshop, all-day Education Centre access (exclusively for home ed families) and entry to the Aquarium.

Seeds, Plants and People

10.45am – 11.45am, 12pm – 1pm | Recommended age range: 5 – 11 years old

Explore a range of seeds, live plants and artefacts in this exciting, hands-on workshop. Discover how seeds are dispersed, why we need plants and how plants are used by peoples around the world.

After an introduction to the life cycle of a flowering plant and seed dispersal, families will explore three stations. They will observe real seeds and find out how they are spread; explore a variety of plants and their uses in everyday products; learn about cultures by discovering plant-based artefacts from around the world. We will finish by discussing why we cannot live without plants and how to protect them.

Evidence for Evolution

11am – 12pm | Recommended age range: 10 – 16 years old

How have living things changed over time and how do we know?

This session explores evidence for evolution by handling real fossils from the Horniman’s collection and discussing what they are and what we can learn from them.

Children will compare the beaks of different birds, like Charles Darwin did, and study some taxidermy animals and find out how they have adapted to their environment.

Bones and Teeth

2pm – 3pm | Recommended age range: 8 – 12 years old

Why do animals have skeletons? What are the different types of teeth for?

Handle a range of real animal skulls such as tiger, dolphin and crocodile, and study their teeth to identify carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.

Compare to human teeth and look at the different types. Challenge yourself to guess the animal from the mystery skulls and skeletons.

Animals and their Habitats

1.45pm – 2.45pm | Recommended age range: 5 – 10 years old

How have animals adapted to their homes? Discover for yourself as you get hands on with taxidermy animals from different habitats.

Identify animals that live in a range of extreme environments, explore the features of real taxidermy animals to discover their amazing adaptations, and discuss some of the challenges these creatures face in our changing world… and what we can do to help.

Drop-in activities

Minibeast Hunting

10am – 12pm, 1pm – 2.30pm  | Recommended age range: 5-10 years old

Stop by the Horniman’s Wildlife Garden to discover the wonderful world of minibeasts with members of our fantastic volunteer team. Use equipment to find, identify and draw minibeasts, and closely investigate their habitats.

Please note: This is an outdoor activity; in the event of adverse weather, it will be cancelled.

Art Portfolio

10am – 12pm  | Recommended age range: 6+ years old, but all ages welcome

Explore patterns and shapes in nature, and discover amazing textiles crafted around the world. Learn about cultural significance of patterns and designs, and how they are created. Learners will have a fantastic opportunity to develop their observation and still-life sketching skills. Bring your own sketchbook – or borrow paper and pencils from us.