Outdoor Learning Activities for EYFS, KS1 & KS2
Outdoor learning is one of the most powerful ways to engage children in meaningful, hands-on education. Whether you are working in EYFS, KS1 or beyond, taking learning outside helps children develop confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them. On this page, you’ll find a wide range of outdoor learning ideas and resources designed to support teachers, early years practitioners and schools in delivering high-quality outdoor provision.
Outdoor learning doesn’t need to be complicated or require expensive equipment. In fact, some of the most effective outdoor activities use simple, natural materials and focus on child-led exploration. From literacy and maths to creative play and physical development, outdoor learning can support every area of the curriculum while also improving wellbeing and engagement.
One of the biggest benefits of outdoor learning is that it allows children to learn through real experiences. Instead of sitting at a table, children can explore concepts through movement, play and investigation. For example, maths can be taught through measuring sticks, counting natural objects or creating number trails. Literacy can be developed through storytelling, mark making in mud, or creating outdoor role play areas. These types of activities make learning more memorable and meaningful.
For early years settings, outdoor learning is particularly important. The EYFS framework encourages practitioners to provide rich outdoor environments where children can explore, take risks and develop independence. Outdoor learning supports all areas of development, including communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. It also helps children build resilience and confidence as they navigate new challenges.
Seasonal outdoor learning is another effective way to keep activities fresh and engaging. Each season offers unique opportunities for exploration, from autumn scavenger hunts to winter nature investigations and spring growth activities. By adapting your outdoor provision throughout the year, you can create a dynamic learning environment that reflects the natural world.
On this page, you’ll find a wide range of outdoor learning ideas, including maths, phonics, science and forest school activities. All ideas are designed to be practical, easy to implement, and fully aligned with the primary curriculum. Explore our super-useful beginner’s guide to setting up outdoor lessons.
If you’re new to outdoor learning, this page is a great place to start. If you’re already experienced, you’ll find new ideas to enhance your practice and inspire your learners. Explore the resources below to discover practical, easy-to-use outdoor learning ideas you can implement straight away in your setting.
Outdoor Maths Activities
Outdoor maths activities are a great way to make learning practical and meaningful. By taking maths outside, children can explore numbers, problem-solving and reasoning in a real-world context. Discover some free outdoor maths ideas on our blog.
From counting and number recognition to measurement and problem-solving, outdoor maths helps bring concepts to life.
Explore recently added outdoor maths activities here:
Counting in multiples (Take it outside!)
Why not make counting a little more exciting in your classroom? Also, take the opportunity to get your juniors a little more active. These packs of ideas will help your class embed and practice multiples.
Outdoor Multiplication KS2 (Ideas Pack)
Use the Muddy Mutlpications pack to get innovative ideas that will embed and broaden the children’s knowledge. Great for mastery.
Counting through negative numbers (Take it out of the class)
Make multiplications a part of your day the kids love! No longer will multiplications be something your class struggles with. Children embed learning better when they enjoy it and we know how to make it fun. Let us save you time so you can do the teaching.
Outdoor English & Phonics Activities
Outdoor English activities encourage creativity, communication and engagement. Taking phonics, reading and writing outside can transform learning and inspire children who may struggle in a traditional classroom setting.
These activities are ideal for developing early reading skills, storytelling and independent writing.
Explore outdoor phonics and English activities here:
Houses and Homes – KS1
Take House and Homes Topic outside the muddy way! Enhance and dive deeper into the childrens learning by using natural and upcycled materials whole embedding their learning in this area. Start with this amazing hook idea! Tell the children that we are going to be...
*FREE*Upcycled Role Play – Tots
Use Upcycled Role Play - Tots to help add some drama into your provisions. Upcycling teaches children how to respect nature and to reuse and recycle things such as cardboard boxes. Our muddy resources support all curriculums and we use only natural resources so...
*FREE*Outdoor Mark Making Lesson Plan
Use Outdoor Mark Making Lesson Plan to engage children with the very important phase of using their hands to make marks whether that be with a stick, leaf or paintbrush. Muddy Puddles will give you the most innovative days of doing this. Mark Making EY is a must for...
Outdoor Science Activities
Outdoor environments provide the perfect setting for hands-on science learning. Children can explore nature, investigate changes and develop curiosity through real-life experiences.
From seasonal changes to habitats and simple experiments, outdoor science helps children understand the world around them.
Explore outdoor science activities here:
Year 1 Animals Including Humans (Brilliant Birds)
Completely 100% outdoor scheme of work for Year 1 Animals Including Humans! Use Year 1 Animals Including Humans Scheme of Work to help bring this area of the Science curriculum to life. This Unit comes accompanied with real footage from Matlock Farm Park who are...
*FREE*Daily Outdoor Challenges KS1 – Nature Theme
Daily Outdoor Challenges KS1 Nature Theme Let the Muddy Puddle Teachers help you with the lockdown and get free whole school ideas from us. Once a day for the lockdown period. Balance the indoor screen-based work with the outside space where children can move, be...
Plants and Seasons (Year1) Science Unit – Outdoor Scheme of Work
Plants and Seasons (Year1) Science Unit - Scheme of Work This unit has been created so that you can observe plants, trees and seasons across the year, through all fourseasons. We feel this area of the curriculum is best done over four full days, one day in every...
EYFS Outdoor Learning Activities
Outdoor learning is a key part of the EYFS framework, supporting play-based, exploratory learning. These activities help develop communication, physical development and understanding of the world.
Our EYFS outdoor learning ideas are simple, engaging and easy to set up. Looking for rainy day ideas? Use this low-prep rainy day ideas pack to help.
Explore EYFS outdoor learning activities here:
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KS1 Outdoor Learning Activities
Outdoor learning in KS1 helps children build confidence, independence and key skills across the curriculum. Activities are designed to support maths, English and topic work in a fun and engaging way.
Explore KS1 outdoor learning activities here:
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KS2 Outdoor Learning Activities
Outdoor learning for KS2 provides opportunities for deeper thinking, problem-solving and teamwork. These activities help bring learning to life and make lessons more memorable.
Explore KS2 outdoor learning activities here:
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Seasonal Outdoor Learning Activities
Seasonal outdoor learning allows children to connect with nature and experience changes throughout the year.
Winter Outdoor Learning Activities
Explore ideas for colder months, including nature exploration, problem-solving and creative outdoor play.
Explore more Winter Outdoor Education Resources
Summer Outdoor Learning Activities
Take advantage of warmer weather with active, engaging and hands-on outdoor learning ideas.
Discover Summer Active Resources Outside
Forest School Activities
Forest school activities focus on child-led learning, exploration and developing independence in a natural environment. These activities encourage curiosity, resilience and confidence.
Explore forest school activities here:
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Ready-to-Use Outdoor Learning Resources
Looking for ready-made lesson plans and activities?
We provide a wide range of outdoor learning resources designed to save you time and make planning easier. Our resources are fully curriculum-linked and ready to use with EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Ready to make a start use our 100 Outdoor Learning Activities you can do today!
Browse whats new outdoor learning resources and lesson plans here:
Mud Kitchen Bunting – Early Years Outdoors
Create an inviting, purposeful mud kitchen space with our Mud Kitchen Bunting – Early Years Outdoors, designed to enhance outdoor role play and learning through simple, visual prompts. This bunting helps define the mud kitchen area while encouraging communication,...
Farm Visit Animal Spotter Sheet
Make farm visits more meaningful and engaging with our Farm Visit Animal Spotter Sheet — a simple, child-friendly resource designed to encourage observation, discussion, and curiosity during real-life farm experiences. This spotter sheet supports children to look...
Clay Art Activities – Farm Animals Theme
Bring creativity and hands-on learning together with our Outdoor Clay Art Activities – Farm Animals Theme, a practical and engaging resource designed to support creative exploration through clay and natural materials. This farm-themed clay pack invites children to...
Outdoor Learning Bunting
Early Years Outdoors Continuous Provision Create an inviting, language-rich outdoor environment with our Outdoor Learning Bunting, designed to support meaningful learning in early years outdoors spaces. This versatile resource helps define outdoor areas, spark...
Clay Art Arctic Theme
Inspire creativity and curiosity with our Clay Art Arctic Theme Swatch Book — a practical, hands-on resource designed to support clay work and creative exploration inspired by Arctic environments. This swatch book provides children with visual and tactile inspiration...
Early Years Outdoor Creative Pack – Clay & Art Dinosaur Ideas
Support rich, meaningful Early Years outdoor creativity with this carefully designed Outdoor Creative Pack, filled with open-ended clay and art ideas that work seamlessly within outdoor continuous provision. This pack focuses on process-led art, encouraging children...
Ready to Grow with Us?
If you’re looking to confidently deliver outdoor learning in your setting, explore our training courses designed for teachers across the UK.
View outdoor learning training here:
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