Outdoor Classroom Ideas: 10 Ways to Support KS1 Learning Outside

We all know the benefits that outdoor learning can have on a child’s development, but often, coming up with outdoor classroom ideas can be a bit of a struggle. In this blog we share 10 suggestions with you that you can try with your children, from a phonics nature hunt to transitional art, each activity has educational benefits that support the KS1 curriculum.

1. Create your own story stones
Subject: English
Story stones are a fantastic resource with which to prompt children in storytelling. These can be bought pre-made in a variety of themes for children to choose from but why not make your own?
Simply head outside to collect stones and encourage your little ones to draw different characters, objects and locations on the stones. Once dry they can be selected at random to build a story with, practicing speaking, language and storytelling skills.
Bonus idea: why not create word, letter or phonic themed stones and task children with thinking of words beginning those letters or words?

2. Tell the time with a sundial
Subject: Maths
This hands on activity involves both science and maths together. To create your sundial you simply need a stick and a clock face template (you can also draw this on the ground with chalk). With the number 12 facing north, the sun will cast a shadow on the stick that represents the time.
A fun and interactive way for children to develop their time telling skills.

3. Go on a mini beast safari
Subject: Science
Another great activity that can be facilitated anywhere, whether this be a home garden or school playground. Encourage children to head outside with bug pots and magnifying glasses to explore habitats and find different bugs. Why not include a record sheet like our mini beast scavenger hunt to record observations?
Bonus idea: Try this out at different times of the year and in different weather to record the changes over time

4. Build an outdoor animal shelter
Subject: Design Technology
Provide your children with a variety of resources such as yarn, recycling resources like egg cartons, scrap paper and task them to build a shelter for a particular animal or mini beast.
Bonus idea: Why not add to this activity by asking children to forage for appropriate items to supplement their shelters. Ask questions whilst they are building to test their understanding of the animal/mini beast to prompt critical thinking.

5. Hunt for fossils
Subject: History
A great activity for history subjects like the Egyptians and Jurassic times. Using an area of soil or land, bury fossils or decorated stones and encourage your children to dig them up like real archaeologists.

6. Test your map reading skills
Subject: Geography
Why not split your class into two and task one with creating a map to an object and the other half to read the map to locate the object. At the end the children can switch places to try both roles.
Designing and reading these maps with compass directions and symbols are key for geographical understanding and spatial awareness
Bonus idea: Depending on the stage of your child’s development why not also ask them to add in typical map landmarks like buildings, train lines or hills.

7. Try transitional art
Subject: Art & Design
Transitional art is a great concept for children that requires thinking creatively and outside the box. Start by going on a nature hunt to find various pieces that can be used in your masterpieces. Next, clear a section of space on the ground outdoors, you can even frame the space with sticks to create a border. Then arrange the collected pieces of nature to create different images, patterns and art pieces! There is no right or wrong so children can really get creative!
Bonus idea: Why not encourage an element of teamwork and collaboration and task children with taking it in turns to add a new piece of nature to the artwork to create a collaborative masterpiece?

8. Put together a natural orchestra
Subject: Music
Consider the sounds you hear outside? Can these be recreated? Once children have considered this idea, get collecting various objects from indoor and out then sit together to see how you can best recreate different sounds you hear regularly.

9. Practice outdoor yoga
Subject: PE
What better place to practice yoga and meditation than outside amongst nature? The peaceful environment should encourage children to really relax and enjoy the practice.
This is a great way to refocus children between periods of learning and will help them to also get familiar with their bodies as they stretch and bend.

10. Pick up litter!
Subject: PSHE
Litter picking is a great way to introduce the PSHE topic of social issues and living in the wider world. As they hunt for litter to pick, children can gain a better understanding as to the importance of recycling and sustainability.
Bonus idea: Why not make this slightly more challenging and introduce a litter picking scavenger hunt or bingo? See who is able to find most of the items from our checklist to award them a prize!