Home Educator’s Day

Wed, 2 September 2026 10am-4pm

Join us for Home Educators’ Day as we dig into the magical world of plants, medicine and playful discoveries! How do plants heal us? What stories do herbs and folklore hold? And how can a simple seed spark such big discoveries?

Find out at Thackray Museum of Medicine’s Home Educator Day.

This packed programme is designed especially for home-educating families with children of all ages.


The following activities will be included with museum entry:

Thackray Science Live: Tree-mendous Tales

11.30am and 1:30pm | 25 mins | Ages 6+

Our much-loved Boffins are branching out with a live show all about the magical powers of plants! Expect folklore stories, curious creatures and lots of leafy laughs.

Craft: Seed Packet Creations

10am–4pm | Drop In | All Ages

Get crafty as you create your very own card seed packet and fill it with colourful seed paper shapes. Take your seed paper home, place it on a patch of soil and watch it transform into a beautiful bursts of nature over time.

RHS Workshop: How to make a Bird Feeder

10.30am–3.30pm | Drop In | All Ages

Create a pinecone bird feeder using natural materials with the help of the RHS, and welcome new feathered friends into your outside space!

Apothecary: Remedies with Mary Seacole

10.30am–12pm and 1pm–2.30pm | All Ages 

Meet Mary Seacole in the Apothecary Shop to learn all about her favourite herbal remedies and recipes.

Outdoor Play Space: Splash Station

10am–4pm | All Ages

Make a splash with our water filled channels, bends and chutes to discover how water helps gardens grow. Younger visitors can enjoy pouring, filling and splashing with watering cans and plant-themed toys.

Outdoor Play Space: Dig It

10am–4pm | All Ages

Gloves and aprons at the ready – dig deep, plant and play in our hands-on station using artificial plants and gardening tools. Built by Leeds Wood Recycling, this activity is perfect for budding gardeners.

Outdoor Play Space: Playful Potions

10am–4pm | All Ages

Mix, mash and muddle magical recipes in our mud kitchen. Using stones, potion pots and nature-inspired ingredients, cook up your own wonderfully wild creations.

The Great Garden Trail

10am–4pm | Ages 6+

Your garden is ready to grow. Follow the trail through our galleries, spot the hidden plants and find out more about their medicinal properties. Complete the quest and watch your gardening knowledge blossom!

Under-5s Explorer Bag: Fairy Finders

10am–4pm | Under 5s

Little explorers can follow a magical fairy door trail around the museum using their very own fairy map and colouring activity sheet.

Each bag is filled with folklore-inspired fancy dress, including foraged fairy wands and felt foxglove hats, so children can dress up and let their imaginations grow wild.


Hungry for more? Grab your Family Membership and enjoy a year’s worth of museum entry for free.

Type of event: Event , Family