(Grades K-2) The Curious Case of the Tulip Bulb Plantmobile

An Arboretum Instructor delivers a mobile Field Trip in your classroom!

Boy in blue and white striped shirt with magnifying glass looking at a tulip bulb

Photo by Artur Komisarenko

Date

Available between Nov. 14-Dec. 5, 2025

Grade

K-2

Fee

$350-$1,025; see details below.

Maximum students per class: 32

Activities & Concepts

Calling All Plant Detectives! There's a mystery buried just beneath the soil... Why are tulips planted in fall? What's hiding inside a humble bulb? And how can something so small become a flower before winter break?

In this hands-on science investigation, students become bulb detectives as they crack the case of the tulip's hidden life through real-world plant investigations, observation and discovery—perfect for curious minds and all types of learners!

In this living science lab, students will:

Dissect a real tulip bulb to uncover the secret plant parts tucked inside.
Conduct a surprising "trick-the-bulb" experiment that brings a touch of spring into your classroom—even in mid-winter!
Plant their own bulb to take home, where it will grow and bloom in just a few weeks.
Explore the strange-but-true life cycle of a Minnesota bulb, and discover why fall is the best time to plant spring flowers.

This program builds foundational science skills through sensory exploration, scientific observation and real-world connections—linking botany to students' lives (and even their kitchens!)

2019 Minnesota State Science Standards

0L.1.2.1.2 Diversity of plants/habitat
0P.2.1.1.1 Sorting/categorizing natural objects
0L.2.1.1.3 Survival of living things
0L.3.1.1.1 Needs of plants in the places they live
1L.1.1.1.1 Comparing plants as they grow
1L.3.1.1.1 Modeling external plant parts
1L.4.2.1.2 Using media to explore offspring survival
2L.3.2.2.1 Function of plants/seeds

(Grades K-2) The Curious Case of the Tulip Bulb Plantmobile

Plan for your school program

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum serves as a research center and extension of the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).

VISIT

SUPPORT

ABOUT