Classroom Resources

A garden of activities

The Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Wild About Wildflowers! activity guide encourages Florida’s third- and fourth-grade students* to learn about native wildflowers and their place in the environment through fun, engaging activities.

This rich, versatile resource will help students achieve a variety of Florida educational standards in math, science and language. When presented from start to finish, the guide gives students a comprehensive introduction to wildflowers, as well as to flowers in general.

Through the lessons, students discover how plants reproduce, adapt to their environments, and interact with insects, animals and other plants. Activities include hands-on outdoor exploration, interactive modeling games, writing, arts and crafts, and research opportunities. Each section contains a glossary and vocabulary puzzle, as well as a resources page with books and websites that expand and enhance activities. Web quests are included to encourage students to use technology to expand their knowledge.

*While activities have been designed to meet specific third- and fourth-grade standards, many can be adapted to other grade levels. All activities are suitable for informal settings.

Collage of wildflowers and pollinators with text: Wild About Wildflowers: a classroom activity guide by the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

Bring wildflowers into your classroom

Wild About Wildflowers! is a free activity guide developed by the Florida Wildflower Foundation to help students and learners of all kinds discover Florida’s native wildflowers. Fully updated in 2026, this expanded edition is organized into nine units that progress from the anatomy of a single flower to the broader ecological and cultural roles wildflowers play — covering flower parts, life cycles, pollination, seed dispersal, adaptations, plant and animal interactions, the importance of wildflowers to people and ecosystems, wildflower identification, and the stories behind wildflower names.

Designed for grades 3 and 4 and aligned with Florida science, math and language arts standards, the guide is easily adaptable for other ages and settings — making it a practical resource for classroom teachers, environmental educators, nature center staff and anyone who wants to bring Florida’s botanical world to life. Each unit includes hands-on activities, vocabulary, discussion questions and a curated list of books and web resources. Fill out the short form below to access the full guide.

Access your FREE copy

To access the full activity guide, please fill out this brief request form.

By submitting this form, you agree to receive our email newsletter with updates on native plants, events, grants, programs and more. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Teachers also may apply for wildflower garden grants that serve as outdoor classrooms when used with the activities. Click to learn more about our Seedlings for Schools grant program.

Download your FREE copy

To access a PDF of the full activity guide as well as ancillary PowerPoint files, please fill out this brief request form.

Teachers also may apply for wildflower garden grants that serve as outdoor classrooms when used with the activities. Click to learn more about our Seedlings for Schools grant program.

More resources

Florida Wildflower Foundation resources:

Order seeds for your garden:

Wildflower videos:

Choosing wildflower species for your garden:

UF/IFAS Extension offices: 

  • In addition to offering many more gardening resources, UF/IFAS Extension offices can do a soil analysis for you if provided with a soil sample. To find your local extension agent or office, visit solutionsforyourlife.ifas.ufl.edu/map/.

Classroom and garden activities:

Classroom environmental education:

Butterflies and other insects:  

Birds:   

Amphibians and reptiles:

  • Kids’ Corner University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation (Amphibian and reptile coloring and activity books)
  • How to Make a Treefrog House University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
  • Gopher Tortoise Program Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Help document gopher tortoise sightings)

Links to school gardening resources:

Links to Florida wildflower and native plant information:

Grants and other resources:

Children’s books on gardening and nature in Florida:

Children’s books on nature:

(Resources updated 8/2025)