Early Years Outdoors Learning Resource
Support meaningful early years outdoors learning with our Outdoor Creative Area: Winter Animals Theme — a carefully designed resource that brings creativity, nature, and seasonal understanding together in an outdoor environment.
This outdoor creative area encourages children in the early years to explore UK winter animals through hands-on making using clay and natural materials. By working outdoors, children develop fine motor skills, creativity, and a deeper understanding of animals and habitats, while benefiting from calm, focused learning in the fresh air.
Perfect for early years outdoors provision, this resource supports child-led exploration while providing gentle structure through visual prompts and open-ended materials.
What this early years outdoors area supports
Creative making in early years outdoors settings
Exploring UK winter animals and seasonal change
Understanding which animals are active in winter and which hibernate
Developing fine motor strength and hand control
Calm, focused learning outdoors
Curiosity about nature and wildlife
Key features
Designed specifically for early years outdoors continuous provision
Encourages creativity and self-expression through natural materials
Supports Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design
Ideal for winter outdoor learning in EYFS
Easy to adapt to different outdoor spaces
What children might create
Children may create foxes, robins, squirrels, owls, animal dens, nests, winter habitats, and textured clay patterns inspired by the natural environment.
Ideal for
Early years outdoors areas
Nurseries, preschools, and reception classes
Outdoor continuous provision
Seasonal enhancements to outdoor learning
Practitioners developing high-quality early years outdoors practice
The Outdoor Creative Area: Winter Animals Theme supports purposeful, creative, and engaging learning in early years outdoors, helping children connect with nature, develop key skills, and explore the world around them throughout the winter months.
