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:
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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:
KS1 10 Phonics Tasks
Use this fun and an active pack of games to do daily phonics outside the muddy way!
Outdoor Comprehension eBook: Easter Owl
The Easter Owl – eBook – EYFS – Ages 4-5
Outdoor Writing Focus Group Work
Use Writing Focus Group Tasks to get those ideas and imaginations flowing!
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:
KS1 Identifying and naming plants
Although we do not use fire in our approach we do use BBQs! Here are some around the world recipes to help you take some of your DT outside.
Survivors topic Ideas
Do you have any Bear Grylls fans in your class? Use this inspiring idea pack to help you pick and choose ideas to take more of this topic outside using only natural resources. Does your class have what they need to survive?
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.
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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:
Muddy Christmas Dinner – Mud Kitchen Activity Pack
Bring festive fun to your mud kitchen with this engaging Muddy Christmas Dinner activity pack, designed to inspire imaginative outdoor play and rich vocabulary development. Perfect for EYFS, nurseries, preschools, forest school, and home learning, this resource...
Muddy Reindeer Feeding Station – Early Years Outdoor Tuff Spot Activity
Bring festive, hands-on learning to your provision with our Muddy Reindeer Feeding Station, a purposeful early years outdoor activity designed for sensory and messy play in tuff spots. Perfect for early years outdoor learning, this Christmas-themed activity encourages...
Christmas Colour Wheel – Early Years Outdoors
Bring festive learning outdoors with our Christmas Colour Wheel Activity, specially designed to support early years outdoors learning through hands-on, play-based exploration. Children take the colour wheel into the outdoor learning environment and search for...
Top 10 Outdoor Tips to Help Children Self-Regulate Over Christmas
The Muddy Puddle Teacher Approach 🌿🎄 Christmas is a magical time—but for many children it can also feel overwhelming. Changes to routine, heightened excitement, noise, lights, expectations, and social demands can all make self-regulation more challenging, especially...
Forest School Christmas Book Lesson Ideas
Forest School Christmas Book Lesson Ideas is a practical, easy-to-use resource designed to help you plan calm, meaningful outdoor sessions during the festive season. Created for early years and KS1, it links well-loved Christmas stories with hands-on Forest School...
Outdoor Learning Christmas Activities Mega Pack (EYFS-KS1)
This Outdoor Learning Christmas Activities Mega Pack is a thoughtfully created collection of nature-based, child-led activity ideas designed to help educators and families celebrate Christmas through outdoor learning. Inspired by a muddy puddle and forest school...
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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