Outdoor Learning Activities for Nursery – Resource Pack 🌿✨
Bring early years learning to life with our Outdoor Learning Activities for Nursery resource pack – a treasure trove of hands-on, nature-based ideas designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence in your youngest learners.
Perfect for forest schools, outdoor classrooms, or even small garden spaces, this pack includes a wide range of engaging, low-prep activities that support the EYFS framework and encourage holistic child development.
🌟 What’s Inside:
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30+ easy-to-follow outdoor activities
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Linked to key early years areas: communication, PSED, maths, literacy, and physical development
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Seasonal and weather-friendly options
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Printable instruction cards for staff
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Ideas using natural, sustainable materials
🌈 Why You’ll Love It:
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Promotes sensory play, movement, and imagination
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Boosts language, independence, and wellbeing through nature
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Ideal for mixed abilities and neurodivergent-friendly settings
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Encourages risk-aware play and real-world exploration
Whether you’re new to outdoor learning or looking to enrich your practice, the Outdoor Learning Activities for Nursery pack makes outdoor play meaningful, manageable, and magical.
📦 Available as a digital download or printed pack.
🌱 Let the mud, mess, and magic begin!
Outdoor Learning Activities for Nursery: Fun, Engaging & Educational Ideas 🌿👶
Outdoor learning for nursery-aged children isn’t just about fresh air and fun (though there’s plenty of that!) – it’s a vital part of early years education that encourages curiosity, confidence, and connection to the natural world. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of outdoor learning and share engaging outdoor learning activities for nursery that are perfect for forest school sessions, outdoor classrooms, and playful garden spaces.
🌟 Why Outdoor Learning in Nursery Matters
Outdoor learning helps young children develop physical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills. From building gross motor strength by climbing logs to discovering mini beasts under rocks, the natural world becomes a powerful teacher.
Outdoor play promotes active learning, imagination, and resilience. It also encourages independence, problem-solving, and collaboration—skills children need for lifelong learning.
🍃 10 Outdoor Learning Activities for Nursery
These activities are designed to support the EYFS framework while making outdoor play a magical, educational experience.
1. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of natural objects (a leaf, a stick, a feather) and let children explore and collect them. This boosts observation and language skills.
2. Mud Kitchen Role Play
Children cook up muddy meals using pots, pans, and natural ingredients! This supports imaginative play, teamwork, and sensory development.
3. Storytime in the Wild
Read books under a tree or in a den. Pair stories with props or puppets to bring them to life outdoors.
4. Sensory Walk
Take shoes off (weather permitting!) and walk on grass, sand, leaves, and mud to explore different textures.
5. Nature Art
Use sticks, stones, leaves, and petals to create transient art. Children can make symmetrical patterns, collages, or self-portraits with natural materials.
6. Mini Beast Safari
Search for bugs and creepy crawlies! Provide magnifying glasses and simple ID charts to encourage close looking and scientific thinking.
7. Water Play Station
Set up a space with buckets, funnels, and sponges. Children can explore pouring, floating, sinking, and measuring.
8. Obstacle Course
Use natural materials (logs, stumps, crates) to create a simple course to crawl, jump and balance through.
9. Stick Letters and Shapes
Gather sticks and challenge children to create letters, numbers or shapes – a great way to bring literacy and maths outdoors.
10. Shadow Play
Use the sun to create and chase shadows, trace them with chalk or act out shadow stories.
🌦️ Adapting to the Weather
Don’t let a little drizzle stop the fun! With waterproofs and wellies, nursery children can learn in all weather conditions. Wet days are perfect for puddle jumping, mud painting, and rain listening!
