Acorn Quest: Information for Teachers
“The students developed a sense of responsibility — planting acorns, tracking their growth, and seeing themselves as caretakers of the future. It sparked genuine wonder, and that kind of learning is hard to measure but incredibly powerful.”
Maria O - 4th and 5th Class teacher from the 2024 pilot program
Sign your Classroom up
for Acorn Quest 2025/26
Kerry Primary Schools
For participation in Autumn 2025 / Spring 2026 we invite any interested teacher or Principal to register their interest now. This will allow us to understand numbers and plan for the year. Taking part is free and we provide everything you need to get going (see below!).
Typically we suggest 3rd or 4th class as about the best age to take part but we know some schools have multiple years in the same classroom so what ever suits best.
Due to limited resources we can only support teachers and students in Co. Kerry this coming year.
We provide one Acorn holder* for everyone in your classroom
(*plus acorn if needed)
Help and support with you every step of the way
At the start of each month we will share a helpful new video showing your students what to do and what to expect that month. Together we will go from having a handful of acorns, some acorn holders and some empty jam jars until 6 months later we are planting strong oak saplings into pots. Our videos are created with the help and partnership of local transition year students. They contain helpful hints plus interesting facts about trees and nature. Each video is just 3 or 4 minutes in length. Based on feedback from teachers and students we’ve evolved the process a little from what is described in these 2024 videos.
Month 1
We introduce the students to Acorn Quest and how to get started. We provide the acorn holders and if required the sprouting acorns. The students provide some glass jam jars or similar sized containers. Once the jam jars are set up they will only need a safe spot to sit on in the classroom. Students may begin to see growth in some jars within the first week.
Month 2
In month 2 some of the acorns will still be dormant, some will have started to grow some roots and one or two may have begun to split getting ready to form a shoot. We emphasise how acorns like people are all unique and grow and evolve at different speeds. We also share facts about why trees form an important part of the web of life.
Month 3
In month 3, we notice many differences between acorns. Some may still be inactive, while others will have grown leaves. The only requirement from the students and teacher are to keep the water in the jam jars touching the base of the acorn. Students learn about the how the names of trees can be found in place names around us.
Month 4
In month 4 ,many of the acorns will have begun to sprout. Once we are keeping the water touching the base of the acorn 99% of them will eventually start to germinate. Students learn about the cultural significance of oaks in Irish history and how important tress were under Brehon Law.
Month 5
In month 5, we explain what supplies the students will need to gather in order to transplant their seedlings the following month. In our video we suggest each student bring in one medium sized old flower pot from home and explain what size will work best.
Month 6
In month 6, we show the students how to move the seedlings into potting soil in a pot. We go through the reasons why the seedlings cannot grow any more in just water and we talk about how to care for the new baby oaks.
Additional Teaching Resources
The Tree council of Ireland have created sets of Class workbooks which you might consider using alongside the Acorn Quest project. Workbooks come with age appropriate content for Junior and Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd Class, 3rd and 4th Class and 5th and 6th Class. Teacher notes are available and the workbooks come in both English and Irish. See this link for full details and downloads. Reproduced here with kind permission from The Tree Council.
Teachers Notes
A full set of teacher notes is provided to help link the worksheet to the Irish Curriculum and give helpful suggestions for how to extend the material as needed.
Feedback from the 2024 pilot program
— Would you recommend the project to other teachers in Kerry, and why?
“Yes, I would absolutely recommend the Acorn Quest project to other teachers in Kerry. It’s a beautifully designed, nature-based learning experience that ties in literacy, science, and environmental awareness in a meaningful, hands-on way. It connects children to their local environment and fosters curiosity and care for the natural world — something that’s more important than ever.”
— How hard was it to run the project?
“The project was very manageable. The materials were clear, engaging, and age-appropriate, and it offered flexibility depending on the needs of the class. It worked well within the curriculum and didn’t require extra resources beyond what we already had. If anything, it energized our outdoor learning and gave us a refreshing break from traditional classroom routines..”
— What unique or special learning did you think the students got from Acorn Quest?
“The students gained a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the life cycle of native trees, particularly the oak. But more than that, they learned to slow down, observe, and value the world right outside their door.”
“The Acorn Quest project reminded us that education isn't just about facts — it’s about shaping thoughtful, future-minded citizens.”
”As the saying goes, “A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in.”
Our students planted those seeds — both literally and metaphorically.”