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45 Outdoor STEM Activities For Kids

Welcome to our list of amazing outdoor STEM activities to keep your kids busy outside! Get kids outdoors to enjoy the natural world while developing problem-solving, creativity, observation, engineering skills, and more. We love easy and doable STEM projects for kids!

What Is Outdoor STEM?

These outdoor STEM activities can be used for home, school, or camp. Get kids outside and get kids interested in STEM! Take STEM outdoors, on the road, camping, or to the beach, wherever you go, but take it outside this year!

So you might ask, what does STEM stand for? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Additionally, you might hear about STEAM , which includes an “A” for art!

We love STEM for kids because of its value and importance for the future. The world needs critical thinkers, doers, and problem solvers. STEM activities help kids better understand science, adapt to the latest technology, and engineer new solutions to solve problems of all sizes. Try our Real World STEM challenge !

Outdoor STEM is one of the best ways to get kids involved and keep them engaged. Below you will find nature STEM activities, outdoor science activities, and ideas for STEM camping activities. We even include some cool outdoor science experiments!

Helpful STEM Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources to help you introduce STEM more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Engineering Design Process Explained
• What Is An Engineer
• Engineering Words
• Questions for Reflection (get them talking about it!)
• BEST STEM Books for Kids
• 14 Engineering Books for Kids
• Jr. Engineer Challenge Calendar (Free)
• Must Have STEM Supplies List

Click below to get your free printable STEM challenges!

You’ll find fantastic Nature STEM challenge cards that are meant to be done outdoors!

Outdoor STEM Activities

These outdoor STEM activities provide new ways to incorporate favorite electronics, get dirty, look at nature differently, and explore and experiment. Don’t spend too much time sitting indoors when the weather is beautiful outdoors!

Click on the links below to learn more about each activity.

Outdoor Science Experiments

• Love fizzing and exploding experiments? YES!! All you need are Mentos and coke .
• Or here is another way to do it with diet coke and mentos .
• Take this baking soda and vinegar volcano outdoors.
• Bursting Bags is a great outdoor science experiment.
• Simple outdoor science and a cool chemical reaction with an easy DIY Alka Seltzer rocket !
• Explore surface tension while you blow geometric bubbles !
• Try this color-changing slime outdoors and watch what happens!
• Set up a leakproof bag science experiment .
• Make a bottle rocket and blast off!
• Blow bubble snakes and learn about surface tension.

Nature STEM Activities

• Build an insect hotel .
• Make a cloud viewer and determine if the clouds you can see will bring rain.
• Set up a bird feeder , grab a book, and identify the birds around your house or classroom.
• Start a rock collection and learn about the rocks you find.
• Build your own mason bee house for a few simple supplies and help the pollinators in the garden.

Outdoor Engineering Projects

• Explore physics through play with this homemade Toy Zip Line .
• Design a homemade pulley system and learn about simple machines.
• Make a paper helicopter and see if it flies.
• Craft a paddle boat and watch it move!
• Test the wind with a DIY Anemometer.

• Develop those design and planning skills when you build a stick fort .
• Build a solar oven and even try s’mores on it.
• Design and build a water wall .
• Explore forces as you fly a kite .
• Alternatively, track the time with a DIY sundial .

More Outdoor STEM Activities

Set up an outdoor STEM camp, explore nature-inspired STEAM, learn about the weather, or study plants.

• Want to set up a STEM camp? Check out these summer science camp ideas !
• Love science? Check out all our summer science experiments .
• Find all our nature activities and plant activities .
• Here’s our list of things to do outside for easy outdoor activities for kids.
• Get creative with these outdoor art activities .
• Design and craft a   DIY kaleidoscope for kids or try this spectroscope .
• Record the moon’s phases for the month, or track the weather !

Printable Engineering Projects Pack

Get started with STEM and engineering projects today with this fantastic resource that includes all the information you need to complete more than 50 activities that encourage STEM skills!

Do you have instructions for the Stem challenges please? Particularly catapults.

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~ Projects to Try Now! ~

Outdoor Math Games – 50 Ideas That Really Work

Getting maths into the outdoors is one of the biggest concerns many practitioners have. It is probably the thing I am asked about the most where maths is concerned.

This post is by far the most comprehensive quantity of high-quality outdoor math activities for children aged 3 to 6 that you will be able to find all in one place.

Why do maths outside?

The benefits of maths outdoors are many, which include:

• You can do things on a bigger scale
• Maths can become really active and physical
• You can use a wider range of found objects
• You have the space for large games
• Some children prefer being outdoors and will access maths opportunities more freely than indoors

Outdoors offer both an opportunity to learn new things, as well as practice basic math concepts they already understand with bigger and more active resources.

Here we go – let’s get stuck into some of the best and tried and tested outdoor math activities that will get your children loving maths outside.

Table of Contents

Number Stones

I have created quite an array of different types of number stones. These are actually great for use either inside or out. Lots of the math games I will demonstrate below can be played with these, although you can use many other things such as sticks, leaves, or conkers.

I just bought lots of white pebbles from a hardware shop and some acrylic paint.

If you’re looking to buy similar pebbles, something on Amazon like this will work.

For acrylic paint, some bog-standard primary colors like these will do the job.

I painted the stones with acrylic paint in different ways, and sometimes used a Sharpie pen if I needed to put an outline on them.

The number stones I have created include:

Sets of 1-10 Stones

These are alternately colored, yellow, white, yellow, white, to begin the idea of odd and even in a visual way. Great for ordering or using to label.

If you don’t want to create your own stones, you can also buy beautiful number stones, thus saving you time. Yellow Door painted number stones are a good choice (check out the latest price on Amazon here.)

Matching Numeral To Quantity Stones

Have some stones with numbers on, and some with quantities. It could be dots, or it could be something like insects.

These are brilliant for one to one correspondence in particular. If you want to find out what one to one correspondence is, and the best ways to teach it, then check this out.

Animal Stones

I have some ladybird stones, some leopard ones, as well as some zebra and bee stones. Any animal that has a multi-colored pattern can be copied. These stones are great for games.

2s, 5s And 10s Stones

Great for higher-ability children in the early years, and for challenging younger kids who are starting to count in different ways.

These are perfect for ordering numbers in a range of ways.

Outdoor Models and Images

Mathematicians think in pictures.

Models and images seem to work really well outside because you can make them big, and they can be the focus of active games.

The benefits of using models and images include:

• They present maths as pictures
• They are visual
• They allow for problem-solving
• They allow for the manipulation of physical objects
• They can be used again and again, often in different ways

Chalkboard Paint

A lot of the resources that I have created are using black chalkboard paint . This is one of the ultimate resources in the early years. It is great for painting large surfaces for mark-making, such as fences, sheds, pallets, or old furniture.

I imagine any can of chalkboard paint would work, but I use American Crafts DIY Chalkboard Paint (check out the current price on Amazon) . It does the job great.

I have painted several pieces of MDF from a hardware shop and then used these for games. However, you could just as easily chalk the games on the floor. I also once painted tree stumps with lots of games using acrylic paint. They lasted for at least a year, even out in the rain.

Addition Triangles

These are great for exploring number bonds. They represent the part-part-whole model used in Singapore Maths.

I have painted my addition triangles onto a piece of MDF. Using the animal stones (or another resource such as leaves and sticks), you can explore number bonds.

For example, start with five stones in the top circle. Split them up into different quantities, and put the stones in the two lower circles. For example, it could be 1+4, or 2+3.

Higher-ability children could try to record what they have found.

2 Sets For Addition

This math game is another good one when children are beginning to add. You can use painted stones, or just found objects from the area.

Place some objects in either circle and then simply count how many you have got altogether. This is an excellent way of adding two sets and finding the total.

Trellis Models And Images

One of the best things I ever tried was sawing up a big trellis that I found at a garden center. I am pretty sure I saw this on Pinterest but cannot remember where. I cut it up into many different models, such as:

• A ten frame
• A five frame
• A two-part addition frame
• A four-part frame

There are so many games that you can play using these. Children really love finding objects to experiment with in the frames.

Ten frames are a key resource to introduce to young children both inside and out . To find out more about what ten frames are and the many ways to use them, take a look at this .

Board Games Outside

Board games are fantastic for a range of mathematical skills. They encourage:

• Counting for a purpose
• Recognizing numbers
• Problem-solving
• Find more/less

Some examples of fantastic outdoor board games include:

Noughts And Crosses

This seems to be known more by the modern generation as tic tac toe.

It is a brilliant game for problem-solving and simple counting, as well as turn-taking. You can easily create simple boards on wood or logs, and use painted stones or objects such as pine cones and conkers.

I have recently seen a board made out of rope.

It is good for simple counting, doing mental math and subitizing, as well as thinking ahead.

Connect Four

Another classic game from the old days.

If you play this game on the floor it is actually easier to get four in a row than if you play the standard plastic version.

Create a large grid board, and then use different objects for each player. It could be stones vs. conkers. Put one on at a time, and try to get four in a row. You can actually have more than 2 players if you want as well. Great for counting, subitizing numbers, tactics and problem solving.

Racetrack 1-6 Game

Have a dice with numerals on it and a board that is a simple grid, with numerals 1 to 6, and some other boxes. Pick which number you think will win, and put your colored stone at the top of the grid for that number. Then roll the dice multiple times. Every time you roll it, put a stone on the right numeral on the grid. The first number is the number that fills up its grid.

This is a fantastic activity for number recognition. If you want to find out my favorite 16 games to teach recognizing numerals, then take a look at this article.

Racetrack 1-12 Game

This is quite a bit harder, and has a lot of probability and calculating involved. But this game makes math problems and math equations more enjoyable to solve.

Have a racetrack that is a 12 x 4 grid. Have the numbers 1-12 written on the bottom of the grid.

You will need two dice, ideally a dots dice and a numeral dice.

To start with every player predicts which number they think will win. They use something such as a colored stone to signify this by putting the stone at the top of the grid in the number column.

Then you take turns to roll a dice. For example, you might get 3+4. Put a stone on the first box in the 7 column. Keep going, adding stones to the number columns. The ‘winner’ is the first number to come out 3 times and make it to the top of the grid.

This game is excellent for multiple things:

• Calculating
• Counting on
• Probability – Numbers 6 and 7 are the two most likely to win. They have the most combinations of numbers possible. Number 1 can never win as you can never throw a 1 with two dice. Children may start to get a bit of an idea of this when they play.
• Thinking about ‘more’. I.e. how many more a number needs to win.

Number Line Race

This is a great way of exploring a number line.

Have a long number line either chalked on the floor (or painted on a piece of wood). Each child has one ‘counter’ such as a colored stone.

The idea is that everyone starts at the beginning of the line. The first child rolls a 1-6 dice. They move their stone along the line to that point (e.g. 5). Then the other children go. For the next go, you simply keep moving along the number line. The winner is the person that gets to the end first.

This is good for number recognition, and also problem solving (such as how far your opponent is ahead of you)

Blank Number Line Race

I also have a number line that has blank spaces on it. Children can add their own numbers to it.

They could be 1, 2, 3, etc., or they could mix it up. They could go backwards. Or they could start from a number that’s not 1. You could also do a game counting in tens.

Active Outdoor Math Games

Here are some physical outdoor games that can get children really engaged.

Stepping Stones

This is an excellent game of cooperation and teamwork.

I use rubber spots for this game with numbers on them. You can find similar spots to these at Amazon here.

You need one more spot than you have children, so if you have a team of six children you will need 7 spots (with numbers 1 to 7 on).

The children are in a line. The child at the front has all the spots (they have a hard job). The person at the back of the line actually has the hardest job, as they have to bend down and pick the spots up.

The idea is that the floor is now lava. You cannot stand on it. However, you can stand on the spots that are the stepping stones over the lava.

The child at the front finds number 1 and puts it on the floor. They stand on it. Then they put down number 2 in front of them, and step on that. Then number 3 etc. As there is a free stepping stone behind them, the others start to step onto the stones.

When number 7 is on the floor, the children should be standing on stones 2 to 7. Then it is the turn of the person at the back to pick up stone number 1 and pass it down the line.

They help each other to pass it down and the process starts again. The person at the back keeps on bending down and picking up the spare stepping stone.

I like to get them to say the number as they stand on it. This game is good for number recognition and ordering.

Using water spray-bottles

This is dead easy. Have water spray bottles and a dice. (A spray bottle lo oks a bit like this if you weren’t sure!)

Roll the dice and spray the bottle that number of times. It could be on the fence or on wallpaper. If you are brave you add a bit of paint to the water in the bottles.

Sticks Activities

There are so many learning opportunities can you perform with sticks including:

• Making 2D shapes.
• Ordering through size
• Making pictures – such as houses, vehicles, rockets, etc.
• Counting them
• Making ten-frames, or number lines

Balloon Games

Balloons are great for physical development, cooperation, and turn taking. Some great outdoor maths games with balloons include:

• Have a small group of children in a circle (approximately 4 to 6 children). Write numbers on a balloon in pen. Maybe put about 6 numbers on the balloon. One child hits the balloon up into the air, then another hits it up and continues. When you hit the balloon, say the number that you hit.
• Have lots of balloons, each with one number on them. Start with one balloon, keep it up, and when you hit it say the number. Then add another balloon to the circle, then another. Keep saying the number as you hit each balloon.
• Have one balloon again (this time with no numbers written on it). The first person says ‘One’ as they hit the balloon. Then the next person says, ‘two’. Continue like this.
• The harder version is counting back from 10 to 0. The first person hits the balloon and says ‘ten’. Then the next person says ‘nine’ as they hit it, and so on.

Maths Ball Games

All sorts of counting and number activities can really be brought to life with ball games . Here are some great examples:

Have Bibs With Numbers

This is one of the most fun outdoor math activities on this list!

Have shirts or bibs with numbers on that the children wear. The child-size version of these number sports vests would work well, as an example.

If you don’t have anything like this, you can write numbers on stickers and they stick them on their tops.

Stand in a circle.

The first child says a number that someone else is wearing and throws the ball to them. That person says ‘thank you’. Then that person chooses someone else, says their number and throws it to them.

This game can be done as a rolling game if they are struggling with catching.

Great for numeral recognition in a fun context. 

Write Numbers On The Balls

Either put stickers with numbers on onto balls, or write directly onto them if you don’t mind having permanent number balls. We use large rubber balls that look a bit like this (check them out on Amazon).

Again this could be a rolling game or a throwing game, depending on the skills of the children.

Start with one ball, but you want to quickly extend it to at least two and hopefully more.

One child says someone’s name and throws a ball to them. That child catches it and says the number.

Then they say someone else’s name and throw it to them. Repeat.

If you have two or three balls going at once there is lots of communication and teamwork required.

Pass The Number Balls Around The Circle

Using the same balls that you created for the last game, play a simple numeral recognition game.

The children sit in a circle and pass the balls around. When they are holding a ball they say the number that is written on it, before passing the ball to the next person.

This game is good because even if you don’t recognize all the numbers, you can listen to the person next to you and copy what they have said. Hopefully, in this way, you are absorbing what the numbers are in some way.

For those who know the numbers already, it is great for speed and quick recognition practice.

Symmetry – Building Half A Giant Outside

This is a great provocation for using outdoors with natural loose parts – things like sticks, leaves, conkers, reels, and building blocks. Just whatever you can find in the outdoor space. To find out the many resources you can use for loose parts play, take a look at this list of at least 100 ideas .

There is a simple way to do it, and a trickier way.

The simple way is for the adult to draw the silhouette of a huge giant on the floor with chalk. Draw a central line down the center of the body, from the top of the head down to the feet.

Now children ‘build’ the giant. Whatever they place on one side – for example, 4 conkers for hair – they try to copy on the other side.

There are harder ways of trying this game out. One harder variation is just draw a central line on the floor with chalk and nothing else. Then, once again, they try to build the giant on one side, and copy it on the other. This will create a much more random creation, and really get them thinking

Washing Lines

There are so many things you can do with washing lines , and it really is so simple to set up. Pretty much all you need is a piece of string.

You can put the string:

• Between two fences
• Between two walls
• I know several teachers who have put wooden broomsticks into pots and then filled the pot with concrete so that the brooms stand up. These are great for creating a washing line between two brooms

If you put a washing line up outside, the big thing to be careful of is that children do not run into it by mistake. The big threat is things like neck injuries.

Some ways to combat this include:

• Having the string next to a wall or fence
• Have it above their head height, maybe with a platform for them to stand on to peg things on to it
• Have it in an area where running is not possible

Anyway, here are some fantastic outdoor washing line activities:

• Hanging up the giant’s clothes. The trick is to bring some large adult clothes in, and you will be amazed at how the children are convinced they are giant clothes. Hang them next to baby clothes, and talk about the differences in size
• Hanging up pairs of socks
• Finding objects outside, such as sticks and leaves and pegging them up. You can peg found objects up in patterns, or you can add or subtract from them. For example, you could have three red leaves and add two brown leaves. How many have you got altogether?
• Ordering numbers. Ideally use something natural, like pegs with numbers on them or wood slices with numbers on them.

Parachute Games

Parachutes are another fantastic resource that can be used either adult-led outside or can be used independently if you model the games and how to use them to the children.

The parachute that I use looks like this:

These are really resilient and can create years of fun and learning. (Check out the latest price of this parachute on Amazon).

Here are some excellent maths parachute games:

• Number dive. Have some numbers underneath the parachute. Have several children holding the parachute. Pick a child to go first, and say ‘1,2,3 – lift!’ Everyone lifts the parachute high into the air. Then shout a number. That child dives under the parachute, grabs the number, and brings it out to safety. Repeat for other children. If the children are doing it by themselves, then the child that has just gone picks the person to go next, and also what number they will get.
• Shape Dive! This is the same as number dive but with shapes.
• Singing counting songs . This works really well if you have some toys to go with it. For example, five monkey toys so you can sing 5 Cheeky Monkeys Jumping On The Bed. Great for singing the song, and taking off one monkey at a time. (Check out these gorgeous monkey finger puppets you could use for this activity here.)
• Bean bag bounce. This is an excellent number bonds game. Have ten bean-bags on the parachute. You have a few seconds where everyone tries to bounce the bean-bags off the parachute. Count back by going 5-4-3-2-1-0. When you get to zero, see now many bean bags are left on the parachute. You will always have a number bond. If there are two on the chute, then there will be three on the ground. If there are four on the chute, there will be six on the ground.
• Hit The Number! Have some rubber numbers (or something similar) and balance them on top of the parachute as everyone holds it together. Have a rubber ball for this game as well. The adult says a number, and everyone tries to roll the ball onto that number. This is a game of cooperation as well as number recognition. You can potentially make it harder by saying things like ‘one more than three’ (and trying to roll the ball onto number four).

Outdoor Games Top-Tips

• Make everything big!
• Make it active
• Use lots of models and images for games
• Use found objects like stones, sticks and leaves
• Use balls, and floor games, and things like balloons

Outdoor math games have loads of fantastic benefits.

It makes maths fun!

It consolidates prior learning in an active and concrete way.

It helps children to link maths learning to the real world.

It is also extremely cheap and quite simple to set up. Pretty much all of these outdoor math activities use resources that are easy to source, and cost next to nothing or are free.

So why not give outdoor math games a go today?

If you are reading this and are based in the UK, then you may well be interested in my Practical Early Years Maths Training Courses that I run around the UK. Check them out to find a venue near you. All sessions are hands-on, practical, and based on numerous ideas to help you find success in teaching maths.

Outdoor Loose Parts Ideas – The Essential Guide

21 Circle Time Games – That Actually Work!

• Maths Outdoors

There’s about 90 blog posts with ideas and suggestions to support you to develop your maths provision outside, be this in the early years or primary school. Most are open-ended and can be easily adjusted to the level at which you work.

Note: for some visitors to this website, the photos in each blog post take an age to upload. They will appear. Be patient.

Maths Week Scotland webinar

25 Outdoor Maths Games for Everyone . A range of ideas and games for making maths accessible to all. Below is a brief video with some top tips for getting outside and enjoying maths in a more expansive space.

The Freebies

• 30+ Outdoor maths books, packs, downloads and videos . Many are free to download, some you have to pay for.
• Enjoy the video below which gives a flavour of my approach:

Useful posts to get you started teaching maths outside

• Messy Maths and Outdoor Classroom Day. Some basic advice to get going outside
• 100 maths sessions outside. An interview with Andrea Stevenson, a primary teacher who completed over 100 maths sessions outside in three months, having never previously taught outside. Some good advice.
• Messy Maths is published . Answering some question about my award-winning book. Worth getting if you work with children, aged 3-6yrs old.
• Maths investigations from Tyntesfield Primary . Careful thought to questioning can lead to some very creative explorations as demonstrated by the staff during a training day.

Outdoor number explorations

• The black spot . It’s pirate maths outside for young children. Great for subitising too!
• 20 something maths pictures . A simple yet challenging activity for children in Primary 1 or Primary 2 that involves collecting 20 objects.
• Number bonds with sticks . Exploring how tapping with sticks can aid children learn more about number.
• Celebrating 100 days at school. This is focusing on the theme of 100 outside.
• What’s your picture worth? Exploring multiplication and calculating the value of a child’s art work through the quick creation of pictures outside.
• Leaf multiplication Exploring compound leaves as a route to understanding multiplication.
• Multiplication pebbles . Using painted number pebbles and dots to help children learn the concept of multiplication.
• Leaf fraction walls Sorting leaves to create fraction walls and discussing the ins and outs of naturally found objects when meeting the rigour of pure maths.
• Using sticks to understand fractions . Creating fractions wall and a get together in a nature reserve to explore fractions.
• Fractions, decimals and percentages outdoors . A games based approach with a Primary 5 class.
• Algebraic equations . When natural objects are substituted for numbers. So many possibilities.
• The stripy sticks, subtilising and other challenges . Lifting the learning through a more unusual approach to subtilising.

Outdoor measurement

• Stick pic problems . Using cut sticks of specific lengths to create pictures. This enables the combined length of different elements of each picture to be calculated. For older classes an additional challenge is to convert the answers to millimetres or metres.
• The outdoor measuring continues with Primary 4. Find out what they got up to.
• Outdoor stick stacking challenge invented by a Primary 4 class. How high are your poles?
• Making maths sticks . Grow your own sticks and use practical measuring skills to cut them to size.
• Measuring sticks . A one-metre stick. Just add 10cm stripes with masking tape.
• A simple stick measuring game for little children. Great for assessing whether a young child understands aspects of length.
• Kids measure in miserable weather . Exploring data handling and comparisons standard and non-standard units of measure.
• What area of woodland do you need to capture your carbon footprint? A visual illustration of the impact of individual lifestyle choices on the amount of woodland needed to capture the carbon. A great way for older children to use their area and ratio skills and knowledge in an outdoor and real-life context.

Outdoor patterns and relationships

• Nature pyramid patterns . Nice little exploration of creating pyramids through creating rules and using natural objects. Open-ended and suitable for a broad age range.
• The number pebble game . Exploring attributes of numbered pebbles in a game similar to Black Jack or Uno.
• An outdoor memory game . 3D pairs game. So simple. So outdoorsy.
• Nature mastermind . A nifty adaptation of this popular game using natural materials. Definitely for upper primary and beyond.
• Stick logic . Exploring the number of triangles it is possible to make with 9 sticks.
• Rainy day rubbings . Exploring pattern our environment through tin foil. Great for wet days and early years classes.
• Exploring fractals in nature: looking at the range of fractal formations.
• How to make a fractal dragon with sticks . Practical exploration of how to create fractal formations.
• Scale and geometric patterns with sticks . Why little and large sticks are fan-ta-stick.
• A leafy tower of Hanoi . A problem solving challenge using leaves
• Leaf logic . A game based upon the attributes of leaves. Adapted from logic blocks.
• The Fibonacci sequence and nature . Some practical activities to help children explore this number pattern outside. Remember Fibonacci Day is 23rd November (1,1, 2, 3)
• Happy Faces : How many different faces can you make with sticks, stones and cones.

Properties of 2D shapes and 3D objects – outside

• A maths stick picture . A group activity that gets children talking about what they see and notice in different and changing arrangements of sticks.
• Group masking tape art Exploring shapes within shapes and discussing what we can see within a picture. This is an interdisciplinary activity where the maths is threaded through what is happening. Increase the challenge by asking children to include properties of shapes, e.g. example of parallel lines, intersecting lines, right angles. Thus you can link it tightly to what children need to know.
• Masking tape shape explorations . This is a similar activity but at an individual level so that the rubbings can be used to explore the environment
• 2D shape art Very beautiful shapes created from dried leaves and cardboard. Another art project with an element of maths.
• The mathematics of festive crafts . Creating beautiful 3D objects for hanging up outside or in.
• Creating 3D skeletons using sticks . Time to practice your lashings to see what structures emerge.
• An outdoor shape activity with sticks . Creating pictures that evidence a range of shapes and properties of sticks.

Outdoor angles, symmetry and transformations

• Angles and numerals . Is it possible to create the set of numerals from 1 to 9 and have the same number of angles to match the numeral?
• Investigating right angles with sticks . How many right angles can be made with six large and six small sticks?
• Right angles – a series of lessons to help children link their indoor and outdoor experiences.
• Looking at different angles in nature . Exploring acute, obtuse and right angles outside.
• Exploring reflections outside , before a mirror is handed out.
• From reflections into symmetry outdoors . Exploring reflection outside with young children.
• Stick insect symmetry – using sticks to create symmetrical insects. Surprisingly good fun. Use rainbow sticks to increase the challenge even more. Are all insects symmetrical in real life? Go on a mini beast hunt and find out.
• Wet weather nature symmetry circles . Tiny approach to exploring line and rotational symmetry outside using petals and other parts of flowers.
• Investigating symmetry outdoors using Photo Booth . This is surprisingly challenging but very creative and often children rise to the occasion.
• Plant ID in a parallel universe . Photo Booth comes alive using the mirror line function to make plant identification with a difference.
• Kaleidoscope images and symmetry. Using Photo Booth to explore a range of features outside.
• Operation bearings – top secret . A World War II approach to learning about bearings outside.
• Compass Points . 15+ suggestions for different activities to develop this practical skill. Can be downloaded for ease of use.

Handling data outside

• Daisy footprints . Does the size of your footprint or the place where your boot lands that will flatten the most daisies? Useful open-ended investigation for a range of ages.
• Information or data handling outdoors . Exploring a range of possibilities with a group of teachers.

Resource-based outdoor maths explorations

• A pocket outdoor maths kit – for emergency encounters of the mathematical kind. What would be in your kit? Ideal for early years practitioners and classroom assistant or older children working with younger children.
• The joy of a pocket-sized cotton tens frame . Utterly brilliant for a go-anywhere approach to using tens frames for supporting children’s mathematical thinking.
• Give your old tarp a mathematical makeover . Cut some shapes in an old holes tarp and lift the mathematical possibility. Oh and great for play in the early years. More than just shape explorations are possible.
• 10 maths challenges that use cones, This is a useful example of how resource-full natural materials are for exploring maths concepts outside. If you don’t have cones, you could substitute pebbles, shells, or other small loose part.
• Introducing Sammy, the one-metre rope snake . Exploring a standardised unit of measurement in a flexible way.
• White line pebble maths Wonderfully simple resource to make to explore lines, angles, networks and shapes.
• The stripy sticks – a subtilising challenge . Lifting the learning through a more unusual approach to subtilising.
• Rainbow maths sticks . Applying the logic of a domino set to creating a set of coloured sticks.

Environmental maths explorations

• The Macquarie play spiral – walking into the centre of maths
• Must a triangle always have straight sides? Defining properties of shape can be more complicated outside.
• Exploring rotation Definitely aimed at nurseries but useful for any teacher with a child obsessed with how things spin, turn and rotate!
• Embedding money outdoors – adding a little sparkle to your outdoor space.
• Original playground markings . A DIY approach to open-ended mathematical markings.

Broader explorations of maths

• Sketchnoting Capturing maths and other educational thoughts. Examples that include maths concepts. I also advocate teachers showing children how to sketch note so they can do their maths journals using this technique.
• Can I go on the computer, Mum? A parent’s experience of playing a game and giving her son the opportunity to create a game and change the rules. The outcome was much more positive.
• Making environmental print meaningful at Stramash Fort William How one outdoor nursery created signs that were personalised and relevant to each child at nursery. It’s about using non-standard measurements to measure distance.
• Amazing mazes . A wonderful exploration and creation of mazes by a group of P6 children with additional support needs. Thank goodness for brain diversity and creativity.

STEM explorations

• 15 minibeast outdoor maths challenges . Beastly fun going on a hunt for little creatures that help us understand maths in the world around us. This approach can be adapted to exploring other aspects of nature too.
• 10 primary maths ideas that need snow This is perfect for a mathematical celebration of snow that relies on very little resources. Go out and learn!
• 5 ideas for using syringes in a mathematical way outside . Surprising uses for a little resource. Includes a variety of maths skills
• Investigating symmetry outdoors using Photo Booth . This is surprisingly challenging.
• Making a kite . An understanding of the symmetry in terms of mass, pattern and shape is essential.
• Art, design, maths and playground markings . Brilliant mathematical playground markings – how would you adapt this idea?
• Creating 3D nets using sticks . Time to practice your lashings to see what structures emerge.
• Outdoor reflections . Exploring the art and science of reflections as an entrance into learning about symmetry.

Maths celebrations and events

• Mud Pi Day – 20 Ideas to celebrate maths outdoors This is a handy blog post if you are organising a whole school maths event… outside! A shared post with Judy Duncan, a very experienced primary teacher who works outside most days.
• Crianlarich Primary Mathematical Trailblazers – three hours of maths explorations outside one wet autumn day. A good example of a range of activities that can be undertaken with mixed age groups working together.
• Teach Meet Beyond and the outdoor numeracy notes . An outdoor workshop delivered by teachers for teachers.
• Messy Maths Outdoors – lots of ideas from a workshop I ran for a Learning through Landscapes conference in 2012.

If you are looking for more maths resources and ideas

• Checkout the compilation of outdoor maths resources, downloads and videos . Many are free to download.
• Join the Outdoor Maths in Primary and Early Years Facebook group . I set this up for educators to support each other and as a place to chat about all things outdoor maths related.
• Buy my multi-award winning Messy Maths book .

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Nov 21, 2017

Real, relevant and fun for children. Good for a maths play day!

Crianlarich Primary – Maths Trailblazers

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3 hours of maths fun in the rain.

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14 Best Outdoor Math Activities That Make Learning Fun

1. Nature’s Numbers Hunt

2. sidewalk chalk math, 3. garden measurement, 4. outdoor math bingo, 5. shape hunt, 6. water balloon math toss, 7. math relay races, 8. time-telling with sundials, 9. nature patterns and sequences, 10. math treasure hunt.

Mathematics , a subject crucial for cognitive development, can sometimes be challenging and less appealing to young minds. However, it transforms when taken outside amidst the playfulness of nature and the freedom of open spaces. Outdoor math activities break the monotony of traditional learning methods , making math both engaging and enjoyable . They provide a hands-on experience where children can connect mathematical concepts to the real world.

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This blog delves into fun and creative outdoor math activities. Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, these activities are simple to organize and rich in learning outcomes. 

Rainy day? No problem! Keep your kids learning math with SplashLearn indoors. Explore interactive indoor math adventures and make the most of any weather.

Nature’s Numbers Hunt is one of the best outdoor math activities that combines the thrill of a scavenger hunt with the foundational skill of counting. In this activity, children are given a list of natural items to find in specific quantities, such as 5 pine cones or 3 red leaves. As they explore and collect, they practice counting and number recognition , turning a simple walk in the park into a fun math adventure.

Age group: 3-6 

Learning Focus: Counting , number recognition.

Sidewalk Chalk Math brings creativity to outdoor math activities. With just a box of chalk, any pavement becomes a canvas for learning. Draw hopscotch grids with equations or create large number lines for kids to jump along. This activity makes math visually stimulating and physically engaging as children hop, skip, and jump their way through basic arithmetic and number sequences.

Age group: 4-8

Learning Focus: Basic arithmetic, number sequences.

Garden Measurement is a hands-on approach among math outdoor activities , where kids engage directly with nature. They can measure the growth of plants, the length of garden beds, or even the amount of rainfall in a container. This activity teaches them how to measure and understand different units and instills a sense of responsibility and connection with the environment.

Age group: 5-10

Learning Focus: Measurement, understanding units .

Outdoor Math Bingo is a versatile addition to math activity to play outside. Create bingo cards with various math challenges that kids can solve outdoors. These challenges could range from simple arithmetic to finding shapes or counting objects. As children explore their surroundings to complete their bingo cards, they engage with various math concepts in a playful and dynamic way.

Age group: 6-12

Learning Focus: Diverse math concepts depending on the challenges.

Shape Hunt is an excellent way to introduce geometry through math activities outside. In this activity, children are encouraged to find and identify different shapes in their environment. This could be the circular shape of a tire swing, the rectangular outline of a park bench, or the triangular form of a tree’s leaves. It’s a fun way to develop shape-recognition skills and an understanding of basic geometric principles.

Age group: 3-6

Learning Focus: Geometry, shape recognition.

The Water Balloon Math Toss combines the excitement of a water game with the arithmetic challenge. In this activity, children solve math problems to earn the chance to toss a water balloon. This makes practicing math fun and adds a sense of reward and motivation to the learning process, making it a favorite among outside math activities.

Learning Focus: Arithmetic, reward-based learning.

Math Relay Races bring a competitive edge to learning. Set up relay races where each leg of the race involves solving a math problem. This could include puzzles , mental arithmetic, or logical challenges. It’s a great way to encourage speed and accuracy in problem-solving while fostering teamwork and healthy competition among participants.

Age group: 7-13

Learning Focus: Speed and accuracy in solving problems, teamwork.

Teach kids about time-telling by creating a simple sundial. Place a stick (gnomon) in the ground, and as the sun moves, the shadow will indicate the time. This activity teaches time concepts and introduces the idea of angles and the Earth’s rotation.

Age group: 6-10

Learning Focus: Time-telling, understanding angles

Nature Patterns and Sequences are a cornerstone of fun outdoor math activities. This activity involves creating or identifying patterns and sequences using natural items, such as leaves, stones, or flowers. It encourages children to observe the natural world closely and apply algebraic thinking to recognize and form patterns and sequences.

Learning Focus: Patterns, sequencing, algebraic thinking.

The Math Treasure Hunt turns solving math puzzles into an exciting adventure. Set up a treasure hunt where each clue is a math problem that needs to be solved to find the next location. This activity makes math problem-solving thrilling and enhances logical reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Age group: 7-12

Learning Focus: Problem-solving, logical reasoning.

11. Counting Stars

Counting Stars is a serene and educational activity that combines math learning with basic astronomy. On a clear night, children can count stars, learn about large numbers, and learn basic astronomical concepts. This activity not only introduces children to the vastness of the universe but also to the concept of infinity in a physical math activity setting.

Learning Focus: Counting, introduction to astronomy, and large numbers.

12. Stick Tally Challenge

The Stick Tally Challenge is an engaging outdoor math activity that combines nature exploration with learning basic counting and representation skills. In this activity, children gather sticks during an outdoor walk and use them to create tally marks . This hands-on approach helps them understand the concept of tallying and counting in a fun and interactive way. It’s an excellent method for teaching kids how to represent numbers visually and keep track of counting in groups of five.

Age group: 4-9 

Learning Focus: Basic counting, representation of numbers, fine motor skills.

13. Outdoor Number Line

Create a giant number line in an open space using chalk or rope. Assign different math problems or equations to specific points on the number line. Kids can jump or hop to the correct answer, helping them practice addition , subtraction , or multiplication while having fun in a physical math activity setting.

Learning Focus: Basic arithmetic, number line concepts.

14. Math Picnic

Organize a math-themed picnic where the food items are used to teach various math concepts. For instance, use slices of pizza to teach fractions or count the number of grapes in a bunch. This hands-on approach combines outdoor enjoyment with math learning.

Learning Focus: Fractions, counting, and simple arithmetic

7  Benefits of Outdoor Math Activities

Engaging in outdoor math activities offers many benefits for children. These activities not only make learning math more enjoyable but also contribute to their overall development. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Hands-On Learning: Outdoor math activities provide a tangible, hands-on approach to learning math concepts. Children can touch, see, and experience mathematical ideas in the real world, making abstract concepts more concrete.
• Enhanced Engagement: The novelty of learning outdoors sparks interest and enthusiasm among children. They are likelier to be engaged and motivated when math is integrated into fun outdoor experiences.
• Connection with Nature: Outdoor activities foster a connection with the natural world. Children learn about math by observing natural patterns, shapes, and phenomena, which can inspire a greater appreciation for the environment.
• Reduction of Math Anxiety: For some children, math can be intimidating. These activities offer a relaxed and non-threatening environment to build confidence in their math skills.
• Multi-Sensory Learning: Outdoor math engages multiple senses – sight, touch, and sometimes even hearing or smell. This multi-sensory approach helps children retain information better.
• Life Skills : Math activities in the outdoors often involve practical skills such as measurement, time-telling, and money calculations. These skills are essential for everyday life and are learned in a real-world context.
• Positive Attitude Towards Math: By associating math with enjoyable outdoor experiences, children are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards the subject, leading to improved academic performance.

In the great outdoors, we’ve discovered the beauty of math. Now, let’s bring that wonder indoors with SplashLearn. Our indoor math adventures are designed to make math a year-round delight. Join us on this educational journey and help your child embrace the magic of numbers, both indoors and out.

Frequently Asked Questions  (FAQs)

What is meant by outdoor activities in mathematics learning.

Outdoor activities in mathematics learning involve engaging in math-focused games, explorations, and practical applications in an outdoor setting, enhancing real-world understanding.

Why do we teach maths outside?

Teaching maths outside offers a dynamic, hands-on learning experience , fostering engagement and practical application of mathematical concepts in the natural environment.

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Fun Maths Activities and Investigations for KS1 and KS2 in Primary School

Anantha Anilkumar

Over the years, we’ve created lots of different fun maths activities and investigations to add to primary teachers’ toolboxes. Some of these maths activities mirror our online one to one maths tutoring programme, while others are more suitable for whole class teaching. We share here as part of our continual support for KS1 and KS2 teachers working in UK classrooms.

The purpose of these numeracy activities, especially the event-based ones, is three-fold:

1. To support you, the teacher, with problem solving and reasoning questions (with answers) and save you writing your own. 

2. To give learners the opportunity to see more everyday maths in context, and experiences of how maths reasoning really matters in the real world. 3. To add some variety and relevance to the maths lesson slides, questions and worksheets you may be doing with your class every day. We love what the White Rose maths hub resources provide in terms of weekly planning, but sometimes we may be looking for some more exciting, hands-on and fun maths activities, whether for Year 1 or Year 6.

Topical Maths Activities For The Term

Maths investigations linked to key calendar dates this term, designed to develop reasoning and problem solving in your pupils

Some of you may question the place that fun has in a child’s education , and whether fun maths lessons will achieve the long term goal of retention and retrieval. While we’ve all had a class which requires an upbeat tempo of fun games as part of their learning process, many children will experience cognitive overload if important new maths concepts are introduced through a game. You will know your pupils best in this context. 

The majority of maths activities and investigations shared below use a fun concept or relevant idea to develop children’s number sense, fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills in the pursuit of learning maths.

Follow the links below to find out more about the kind of maths activities and maths investigations we’ve got available to you.

Fun maths activities KS2 (with some KS1 in there too)

Fun outdoor maths activities 13 flexible and fun activities to do outside, many of which can be adapted for early years to Year 6; most of these involve some kind of physical activity and fine motor skill development, as well as treasure hunts for angles, ways to incorporate data handling, graphs and measurement into the school fair, and using mathematical skills to make mathematical connections to nature. 

Fun back to school maths activities teaching ideas to help you get back in the groove of maths lessons after a long summer break. These are summer maths activities the whole class can get involved in, some practising quick mental maths skills, others involving more complex reasoning, plus the odd card game maths activity as well.  

Fun end of term maths activities : We all know that by the end of the summer term the atmosphere in class tends to get a bit overexcitable. Here are some ideas to harness that excitement into some fun and lively maths investigations that recap children’s knowledge from across their year’s work from 2d shapes to averages and algebra.

Fun maths games for kids at home : This might almost be our favourite collection – one to hand out to parents for homework and homeschool; it includes home-made board games, fun ways to practise times tables and lost of fun games that help children with their maths skills and require only a pencil, a piece of paper and a pack of playing cards to get going. Essential for anyone undertaking any kind of home learning with their children. 

We’ve also now extended our maths games collections to include KS1 maths games , KS2 maths games , and even KS3 maths games .

Fun maths lessons for KS2 : a collection of our favourite fun maths lessons, suitable for Year 3 to Year 6 (ideal for after SATs) which include human bar charts, sharing 3D shapes, and planning the teacher’s next holiday! 

Fun maths starters KS2 : 15 of the best maths starters to help you introduce a new topic, consolidate previous work, or just to use as part of a maths meeting with your class, improving their mental maths – includes a printable version to use in school. 

Fun SATs revision games : Even 11-year-olds need a break sometimes, so we asked some fantastic teachers on Twitter what their favourite top tips for keeping SATs revision fun were, and here’s your answer – loads of great ideas in here for anyone teaching Year 6 .  Fun maths club activities : Provided you’re armed with some creative, open ended, and ideally practical maths club activities to give children, maths clubs are not nearly as hard to set up and run as you might first imagine. The benefits are manifold; this article has all you need to get started including several really fun group games specially designed for primary school maths clubs.

Fun maths investigations for topical events

KS2 maths investigations : For many years now, Third Space has been creating maths investigations for Year 6. We’ve now adapted them to be suitable across KS2. In the main, these tend to be open ended maths investigations, focused around key events in the primary school calendar. Some of these are also slightly shorter activities but they all require pupils to do extensive problem solving and reasoning based around events in everyday life. Here are some favourite KS2 maths problems solving investigations from each term:

Here’s our complete list of topical maths investigations for year 5 and year 6.

Autumn Term maths investigations year 6 and year 5

• Autumn maths activities
• Halloween maths activities
• Bonfire Night maths activities
• Christmas maths activities and Christmas maths quiz

Spring Term maths investigations year 6 and year 5

• Heart Month Months activities
• Shrove Tuesday Maths activities
• Pancake Day Maths activities
• World Book Day Maths activities
• International Women’s Day Maths activities
• British Science Week Maths activities
• Holi Maths activities
• Easter/Lent Maths activities

Summer term maths investigations year 6 and year 5

• Share-a-Story Month activities
• FA Cup Maths activities
• Walk to School Week activities
• Ramadan Maths activities
• Child Safety Week activities

And if that’s not enough we’ve even got  maths activities  for Year 5 and Year 6 for events you’re likely to celebrate in primary school but don’t come round every year… 

• Red Nose Day Maths activities
• World Cup Maths activities
• Election Maths
• Jubilee Maths activities

Mixed ability maths investigations

We know most of you now teach mixed ability maths classes so something we’re often asked for is year 6 maths activities with a low threshold high ceiling . Take a look at these open ended maths investigations for Year 6 and the rest of Key Stage 2. You’ll also be able to download one of our favourite free teaching resources – 8 low threshold high ceiling activities including the famous fox chicken grain puzzle. 

We’ve also collected the best KS2 maths challenges here for any of your pupils who are working at greater depth in KS2 maths and need further extension in your maths lessons.

Holiday maths activities

We all know about the summer brain drain and how easily children forget what we’ve taught them but it can be difficult to know what to do about it. These summer holiday maths activities were created with parents in mind, you can also use these KS1 and KS2 holiday maths activities to give your pupils lots of fun maths challenges to do over the holidays. 

• Year 3 holiday homework: Don’t Forget Your Maths Pack Year 2 to Year 3
• Year 4 holiday homework: Don’t Forget Your Maths Pack Year 3 to Year 4
• Year 5 holiday homework: Don’t Forget Your Maths Pack Year 4  to Year 5
• Year 6 holiday homework: Don’t Forget Your Maths Pack Year 5 to Year 6

National curriculum maths activities for KS1 and KS2

The final way we’ve organised our KS2 maths activities for you is by national curriculum topic. We’ll continue to add to this section so bookmark this page and check back if it’s useful. Get started:

• 35 times tables games
• KS1 and KS2 place value games and activities  
• 3 minute number facts activity  

DO YOU HAVE PUPILS WHO NEED MORE SUPPORT IN MATHS?

Every week Third Space Learning’s maths specialist tutors support thousands of students across hundreds of schools with weekly primary school tuition designed to plug gaps and boost progress.

Since 2013 these personalised one to one lessons have helped over 150,000 primary and secondary students become more confident, able mathematicians.

Learn about the emphasis on building a positive maths mindset or request a personalised quote for your school to speak to us about your school’s needs and how we can help.

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• Charlotte Riggs
• June 29, 2022

Outdoor learning activities for KS1 and KS2

When the sun is shining, there’s nothing better than taking your learning outside!  

There’s certainly a lot to love about learning outside. It’s not only proven to build concentration and reduce stress , but it also gives children the chance to explore the world around them. This, in turn, can help to ensure they’re ahead of the game when it comes to topics such as biology, art and maths.

To help you get started with your outdoor learning, we’ve come up with some fun activities and games to help them explore the natural world and all its wonders, specifically designed for KS1 and KS2!

Outdoor learning activities for KS1 (ages 5-7)

Outdoor learning activities are a great way to engage KS1 learners in their learning!

1. Make a human clock

This activity is a great way to teach younger children how to tell the time. To get started, ask your children or pupils to create a large circle out of items they find outdoors, such as sticks, stones and the like.

Then, ask the children to form pairs, with one child being the hour hand and the other being the minute hand, and ask them to form specific times on the clock. If older children are playing, you could include 24-hour times for an added level of challenge. Taking a photo of their ‘clocks’ can help them to see how close they were to the right time!

2. Learn about shadows

Teaching children about shadows is a great way to explore light — while engaging their creativity!

Ask your children or pupils to create puppets or cardboard designs of anything they like, such as a robot, a dog or a cat. Then, head outside on a sunny day and ask them to position their shapes on the floor to make a shadow; they could prop their designs up with pebbles if needed.

Then, take photos of the shadow the object forms, or ask each child to outline it with twigs and stones. 

Leave the figures outside and head back every few hours to take another photo. This will show them how the shadow has moved during the day, showing them the effect of the sun’s daily orbit!

You could even take children back to their creations the next day to show them how shadows are in the same place at the same time of day.

3. Create a maths scavenger hunt

Ask children to collect items from outside, such as flowers, leaves, pebbles and twigs. Then, depending on their maths level, ask them simple maths questions about their items. For example:

• You collected four pebbles; how many more would you need to make ten? 
• What would a third of the number of rocks you collected be?
• If you added your twigs and leaves together, how many items would you have altogether?

Outdoor learning activity ideas for KS2 

These outdoor activities are specifically designed to bring the KS2 curriculum to life. Why not give them a go at home or in the playground?

1. Play outdoor bingo

Ask your children to fill out a bingo card with as many species and animals as they can find outdoors (they may need a little help with species names, but try to encourage them to spell the names themselves!). 

Then, return to the classroom or head home, and create a list of all the species spotted. Include all of the species the children found (and a few extra) before enjoying a full game of outdoor bingo! 

To make things even more exciting, you could give bonus points for the correct spellings being used. You could also add a little competition into the mix, such as challenging pupils to create the most unique card, to keep them engaged!

2. Create an outdoor garden

No list of outdoor learning activities would be complete without making your very own outdoor garden!

This doesn’t have to be overly complex, of course. But you might just be amazed by how enthralled young minds can become when creating and maintaining a garden!

Whether it’s in your garden or at school, encourage your children to grow simple plants such as flowers or watercress. Be sure to let them know what’s happening at each stage of growth, explaining the role of photosynthesis and the importance of nutrition found in the soil.

You could encourage children to follow the progress of their plants by recording changes in their height and appearance. Seeing their outdoor garden established by the end of the year can be a huge source of excitement for them!

Once the garden is fully grown, you could take things one step further by creating a flower-pressing activity to let your children or students create their own preserved keepsake from their garden.

It’s a simple lesson, but you can be confident that learners will be amazed by what they grew!

3. Make a biology scavenger hunt

There are a huge amount of differences between plants and animals. As such, one of the best outdoor learning activity ideas you could try for KS2 students is a biology scavenger hunt! 

Print out a guide on different types of leaves and flowers. Then, ask your students or children to go around the garden, park or playground finding as many of these as they can. 

This activity is a great way to help students understand the basics of differentiation. Plus, it’s also a highly hands-on activity, helping to keep busy minds active!

Final thoughts

It may seem a little tricky to know where to start when it comes to outdoor learning activities, but we hope the above list will provide you with some great ideas to start with! 

It’s important to find activities that help children to learn more about the natural world and, in an ideal scenario, also learn about core subjects. Luckily, all of these ideas for outdoor learning activities will help you meet both of these targets. 

Give your child or students the chance to unleash their own learning potential; outdoor learning activities are great fun, highly engaging, and effective ways to teach children new skills. Plus, there’s not as much tidying up after – so it’s really a win-win for everyone involved!

For even more ways to take your learning outside, why not download the Doodle apps? They can all be used offline, making them ideal for learning in the park, in the garden or even on the beach!

Discover even more outdoor learning ideas

• Outdoor maths activities and games for EYFS, KS1 and KS2
• Top 10 outdoor literacy lessons
• The benefits of outdoor learning

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10 Engaging Forest School Ideas to Inspire Outdoor Learning and Growth

Introduction

Forest schools have become increasingly popular as educators and parents recognize the benefits of outdoor learning and the importance of connecting children with nature. This guide provides ten engaging and inspiring forest school activities and outdoor learning ideas to help owners enhance their programs and offer fresh, exciting activities for children. From building dens to embracing mindfulness, these activities are designed to cultivate creativity, teamwork, and resilience while fostering a love for the environment.

Den Building

Den building is a classic forest school activity that encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. In this activity, children use natural materials such as sticks, leaves, and logs to construct their own shelters. Encourage children to work together, considering different shapes and designs for their dens. This activity helps develop motor skills, spatial awareness, and a sense of accomplishment.

Benefits : Improved teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and motor skills.

Tips and Tricks : Provide guidance on safe construction techniques and ensure children have access to a variety of materials. Consider choosing a woodland area, using tarpaulins or ropes for added stability.

Suitable Age Range: KS1 and KS2 (ages 5-11)

Nature art allows children to express their creativity using materials found in the forest. Provide children with a variety of natural objects such as leaves, sticks, pinecones, and stones, and encourage them to create their own masterpieces. This activity can be done individually or in groups, with children working together to create large-scale collaborative art pieces.

Benefits : Enhanced creativity, fine motor skills, craft skills and appreciation for nature's beauty.

Tips and Tricks : Encourage children to think about color, texture, and patterns when creating their art. Consider using biodegradable string or clay to hold elements together.

Suitable Age Range: Toddlers, KS1, and KS2 (ages 2-11)

Forest Scavenger Hunt

A forest scavenger hunt is a fun and engaging way to help children explore and learn about their natural environment. Create a list of objects or clues for children to find, such as different types of leaves, insects, or bird nests. This activity promotes observation skills, teamwork, and an understanding of the forest ecosystem.

Benefits : Improved observation skills, teamwork, and ecological awareness.

Tips and Tricks : Tailor the scavenger hunt to the specific forest environment, and adapt the difficulty level based on the age and ability of the children.

Mud Kitchen

A mud kitchen is an outdoor play area where children can mix, pour, and explore with mud, water, and other natural materials. Set up a designated area with pots, pans, and utensils, and encourage children to create their own mud concoctions. This activity promotes sensory exploration, imaginative play, and an understanding of natural materials.

Benefits : Enhanced sensory exploration, imagination, and understanding of natural materials.

Tips and Tricks : Provide a variety of containers and utensils for children to use, and ensure the mud kitchen is located in a safe and suitable area.

Suitable Age Range: Toddlers and KS1 (ages 2-7)

Wildlife Observation

Wildlife observation teaches children about the animals that inhabit the forest and their behaviors. Encourage children to quietly observe animals from a safe distance, using binoculars if available. Discuss the animals' habitats, diets, and roles within the forest ecosystem.

Benefits : Increased understanding of wildlife and ecological awareness.

Tips and Tricks : Create a wildlife observation log for children to record their sightings and observations. Teach children about the importance of not disturbing animals and their habitats.

Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful way to engage children's imaginations and foster a love for nature. Share stories related to the forest, its inhabitants, and folklore. Encourage children to create their own stories inspired by their surroundings and experiences in the forest.

Benefits : Enhanced imagination, listening skills, and appreciation for the natural world.

Tips and Tricks : Use props, such as puppets or found objects, to bring stories to life. Encourage children to act out their stories or create illustrations to accompany their narratives.

Plant Identification and Gardening

Teaching children about plant identification and gardening fosters a deeper connection with nature and an understanding of the forest ecosystem. Introduce children to common plants, trees, and flowers found in the forest, discussing their uses and importance. Create a small garden area where children can plant seeds, tend to plants, and observe the growth process.

Benefits : Increased ecological awareness, gardening skills, and sense of responsibility.

Tips and Tricks : Choose plants that are native to the area and suitable for the forest environment. Provide children with gardening tools and gloves for safety.

Forest Mindfulness and Yoga

Incorporating mindfulness and yoga into forest school programs encourage children to develop self-awareness, focus, and relaxation techniques. Guide children through simple yoga poses and breathing exercises, drawing attention to the sounds and sensations of the forest. Encourage children to reflect on their experiences and emotions.

Benefits : Improved self-awareness, focus, and emotional regulation.

Tips and Tricks : Choose age-appropriate yoga poses and mindfulness exercises. Encourage children to find a comfortable and quiet spot in the forest for their practice.

Fire Building and Cooking

Fire building and cooking are valuable skills that can be taught in a safe and controlled environment. Teach children how to safely build and maintain a fire, emphasizing fire safety and responsible practices. Once the fire is established, engage children in outdoor cooking activities, such as roasting marshmallows or preparing simple meals.

Benefits : Development of practical life skills, fire safety awareness, and teamwork.

Tips and Tricks : Always supervise children closely during fire building and cooking activities. Ensure that a designated fire pit or area is used, and have water or sand available to extinguish the fire.

Suitable Age Range: KS2 (ages 7-11; younger children can participate with close supervision and age-appropriate tasks)

Nature Journaling

Nature journaling encourages children to observe, reflect, and document their experiences in the forest. Provide children with journals and drawing materials, guiding them to record their observations, thoughts, and feelings about the natural world. This activity promotes observation skills, creativity, and emotional expression.

Benefits : Improved observation skills, creativity, and emotional expression.

Tips and Tricks : Encourage children to use a combination of writing, drawing, and collage to document their experiences. Share journal entries as a group to promote discussion and learning.

Conclusion: Forest School Ideas

Incorporating these engaging forest school ideas into your program will give each child more inspiration to connect with nature, but also help them develop valuable life skills in early years, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. By offering a diverse range of activities, children can explore, learn, and grow in a nurturing and stimulating environment. Embrace the power of outdoor learning and create unforgettable experiences that will shape the minds and hearts of the next generation.

Other resources

• After school club activity ideas : Other after school club ideas
• Benefits of arts and crafts : Blog post on the benefits of arts and crafts
• Forest school activities Woodland Trust: Resource pack for outdoor learning activities KS1 and KS2
• Forest school booking system : A fully customizable, easy-to-use online booking system for forest school owners who want to reduce admin work and automate the booking process

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