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Outdoor Learning Made Easy

Winter Forest School Activities: Outdoor Learning Ideas for Early Years (Plus Cold Weather Safety)

by | Nov 29, 2025 | Blog | 0 comments

Outdoor Learning and forest school

Winter is a truly magical season for Forest School. Frosty mornings, shimmering ice, animal tracks in the mud, and crisp winter air offer children unique learning opportunities that can’t be recreated indoors. Contrary to the idea that winter limits outdoor learning, it actually enhances it—encouraging resilience, curiosity, and sensory discovery.

This blog shares Winter Forest School activities perfect for Early Years Practitioners, along with essential cold-weather safety tips to keep outdoor learning comfortable and safe. These ideas work whether you have access to a woodland, school field, or even a small outdoor area.

Explore winter-ready outdoor learning resources:
👉 https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/outdoor-learning-resources/
Explore outdoor training options:
👉 https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/outdoor-learning-training/

❄️ Why Winter Is Great for Outdoor Learning

Many children experience nature differently in winter:

  • Sounds travel further in the cold air, improving listening skills

  • Fewer leaves mean clearer visibility of birds and nests

  • Ice, frost, and mud introduce new textures for sensory exploration

  • Winter encourages problem-solving, resilience, and independence

  • Natural resources like pinecones, evergreen leaves, and berries become abundant

  • Wildlife behaviour changes, sparking curiosity and scientific thinking

Winter outdoor learning strengthens emotional wellbeing too—fresh air, calmness, and movement help children regulate during a busy season.

Top Winter Forest School Activities

❄️ 1. Frost & Ice Investigations

Winter invites children to explore ice in many forms.

Ideas:

  • Freeze natural items (leaves, berries) in ice trays and explore their patterns

  • Compare thin vs thick ice

  • Make “ice decorations” by freezing water with nature inside

  • Watch ice melt and predict how long it takes

Supports early science, prediction skills, and descriptive language.

🔍 2. Winter Animal Tracking

Mud and frost reveal fantastic clues left by wildlife.

Try:

  • Look for bird prints, fox prints, or paw marks

  • Compare size, shape, and number of tracks

  • Recreate tracks using sticks or clay

  • Set up a simple bird-feeding station and record visitors

Explore animal-related resources here:
👉 https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/?s=animal

🎄 3. Evergreen Nature Hunt

Evergreen trees and plants become more visible in winter.

Activity prompts:

  • Compare pine, spruce, and fir

  • Collect fallen pine needles (never pull from trees)

  • Create natural winter wreaths using found materials

  • Sort evergreen vs deciduous leaves

Great for Understanding the World and early science.

🔥 4. Winter Campfire Warm-Up (If Appropriate)

Winter is an ideal time for a cosy fire session if you are trained and permitted.

Ideas:

  • Warm berry tea

  • Toast crumpets or marshmallows

  • Storytelling around the fire

  • Winter mindfulness listening circle

Always follow Forest School fire safety guidance and site risk assessments.

❄️ 5. Snow Play (If You’re Lucky!)

Snow offers natural opportunities for creative outdoor learning.

Try:

  • Snow painting with natural food dyes

  • Creating snow characters with loose parts

  • Making tracks and comparing them

  • Building snow shelters for toy animals

Encourages sensory play, teamwork, and problem-solving.

🪵 6. Den Building for Shelter

In winter, den building has a special purpose—warmth and wind protection.

Ideas:

  • Build dens using sticks, tarps, and evergreen branches

  • Talk about insulation and windproofing

  • Test dens by sitting inside and feeling for draughts

This links beautifully to science and teamwork.

🌬️ 7. Wind Streamers & Weather Measuring

Winter winds provide great opportunities for weather observation.

Try:

  • Create wind streamers from natural materials

  • Observe cloud movement and winter sky colours

  • Measure temperature daily using a weather chart

  • Compare still vs windy days

Weather-themed outdoor activities:
👉 https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/?s=weather

🌨️ 8. Winter Sensory Stations

Winter is full of sensory richness—crunchy leaves, icy puddles, cold air, and new smells.

Stations could include:

  • Touching ice, frost, bark, and pinecones

  • Listening to winter birds

  • Smelling pine, mint, or winter herbs

  • Watching melting ice

Supports emotional regulation, language, and mindfulness.

🌟 9. Winter Nature Art

Celebrate the season with simple, low-prep creative activities.

Ideas:

  • Make twig stars

  • Create nature collages using winter colours

  • Build frozen mandalas

  • Paint with mud, charcoal, or berry juice

Explore outdoor art ideas here:
👉 https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/?s=art

✨ 10. Darkness & Light Exploration (Short Days)

Winter offers a chance to explore light and shadow earlier in the day.

Ideas:

  • Torchlight scavenger hunts

  • Exploring reflective materials

  • Watching sunset colours

  • Creating shadow shapes at dusk

Perfect for early science and sensory discovery.

🧣 Cold Weather Safety for Winter Forest School

Winter outdoor learning requires careful preparation. Safety must come first.

✔️ Clothing

  • Layers: thermal base layer, fleece, waterproof outer

  • Hats, waterproof gloves, and warm socks essential

  • Avoid cotton—it gets cold when wet

  • Keep spare clothing on site

✔️ Time Limits

  • Shorter sessions in freezing conditions

  • Build in warm-up breaks regularly

  • Be mindful of wind chill

✔️ Warmth & Hydration

  • Warm drinks where permitted

  • Encourage movement to maintain body heat

  • Children still need hydration even in cold weather

✔️ Environment Check

  • Check for icy surfaces and slippery paths

  • Avoid standing water in freezing conditions

  • Inspect trees for loose branches in wind

✔️ Fire Safety

  • Follow all Forest School fire policies

  • Keep fire small and controlled

  • Always have water and first-aid kit ready

✔️ Health Considerations

  • Monitor for cold hands, shivering, tiredness

  • Ensure all children are medically cleared for cold-weather play

  • Communicate clothing requirements to parents clearly

📚 Winter Outdoor Learning Resources from Muddy Puddle Teacher®

Make winter planning easier with curriculum-linked resources:

These resources support safe, engaging outdoor learning all year round.

❄️ Final Thoughts: Winter Transforms Forest School

Winter invites children to experience nature in a deeper, slower, more reflective way. Through frost investigations, animal tracking, winter art, and seasonal mindfulness, children build resilience, curiosity, and a love for outdoor learning—no matter the weather.

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