Outdoor Learning PSHE: Outdoor PSHE Activities for EYFS, KS1 and KS2
Some of the most meaningful PSHE learning happens when children are talking, moving, collaborating and solving problems together.
That makes the outdoors a powerful place for PSHE.
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, we believe outdoor learning can help children explore important themes such as:
- emotions
- relationships
- confidence
- communication
- teamwork
- resilience
- belonging
- wellbeing
- empathy
- problem-solving
- self-regulation
- responsibility
Outdoor PSHE should not mean simply taking circle time outside.
Instead, the outdoor environment can give children opportunities to experience the skills we want them to develop.
Children can work together, make decisions, communicate, manage disagreements, take appropriate risks and reflect on how they respond when things do not go to plan.
Looking for ready-to-use outdoor learning ideas?
Explore The Muddy Puddle Teacher® outdoor learning resources, training and membership and start taking more of your curriculum outdoors. You could also make a start by signing up to our FREE outdoor learning magazine.
If you are completely new to taking learning outside, start with our Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Learning and then return here for everything you need to develop outdoor learning across Key Stage 1.
Outdoor Learning PSHE
Some of the most meaningful PSHE learning happens when children are talking, moving, collaborating and solving problems together.
That makes the outdoors a powerful place for PSHE.
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, we believe outdoor learning can help children explore emotions, relationships, confidence, communication, teamwork, resilience, belonging, wellbeing, empathy, problem-solving, self-regulation and responsibility.
Outdoor PSHE should not simply mean taking circle time outside.
Instead, the outdoor environment can give children opportunities to experience the skills we want them to develop.
Children can work together, make decisions, communicate, manage disagreements, take appropriate risks and reflect on how they respond when things do not go to plan.
[BUTTON: Explore Outdoor PSHE Resources]
Outdoor PSD in EYFS
In the Early Years, personal, social and emotional development happens throughout children’s everyday play and relationships. Discover more : Early Years Outdoor Play Handbook.
Outdoor environments can be particularly useful because children have more space to move, collaborate and explore.
Young children can begin to develop turn-taking, sharing, emotional vocabulary, independence, confidence, communication, cooperation and problem-solving.
EYFS Outdoor PSHE Idea: Build It Together
Give a small group of children a challenge:
Can you build a den big enough for everyone?
Provide open-ended resources such as crates, sheets, planks, cardboard, pegs and loose parts.
The PSHE learning is not really about the den.
It is about listening to each other, negotiating, sharing resources, managing frustration, making decisions and solving disagreements.
Adults can support with questions such as:
How could we make sure everyone gets an idea?
What could we do if two people want the same thing?
How did you solve that problem?
EYFS Outdoor PSHE Idea: Emotion Hunt
Introduce a few familiar emotions.
Ask children to move around the outdoor space and find something that reminds them of happy, calm, excited, worried or cross.
There is no single correct answer.
One child might choose a sunny patch for happy, another might choose a quiet tree for calm.
Use the objects or places as starting points for conversation.
EYFS Outdoor PSHE Idea: My Calm Place
Explore your outdoor area together and find spaces where children might feel calm.
Ask:
Where do you like being when you want some quiet?
What can you hear here?
How does your body feel?
Over time, children can begin to recognise environments and strategies that support their own regulation.
Outdoor PSHE in KS1
In KS1, children can begin to think more explicitly about relationships, feelings, choices and how their behaviour affects others.
Outdoor activities can make these ideas less abstract.
Instead of only talking about teamwork, children can practise teamwork.
Instead of only discussing resilience, they can experience a challenge that requires them to keep trying.
KS1 Outdoor PSHE Idea: Team Challenge
Give groups a simple task such as:
Move these five objects from one side of the playground to the other without carrying them in your hands.
Let children decide how to solve the problem.
Afterwards, discuss:
Did everyone get a chance to speak?
What happened when you disagreed?
Who helped the group?
What made your team successful?
The reflection is just as important as the activity.
KS1 Outdoor PSHE Idea: Feelings Walk
Take children on a slow walk around the school grounds.
Stop at different points and ask:
How does this place make you feel?
What do you notice in your body?
Do different places make us feel differently?
Use this to explore emotional awareness and the idea that different people can experience the same environment differently.
KS1 Outdoor PSHE Idea: Kindness Mission
Give children simple outdoor kindness challenges.
They could help somebody with a task, invite somebody to join them, notice when somebody needs support, say something encouraging or work with someone they do not usually choose.
Bring the group back together and discuss:
How did kindness change the activity?
How did it feel to receive help?
Discover more : KS1 Outdoor Learning Hub
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Outdoor PSHE in KS2
As children move through KS2, PSHE can involve more complex conversations around identity, relationships, responsibility, resilience, choices and wellbeing.
Outdoor challenges can help children practise these skills in situations where there is not always one obvious solution. Learn more about this key stage: KS2 Outdoor Learning Hub.
KS2 Outdoor PSHE Idea: Leadership Challenge
Give groups a practical task.
For example:
Build the tallest free-standing structure using only the materials provided.
Assign or rotate different roles such as leader, timekeeper, equipment manager, observer and encourager.
Afterwards, ask:
What makes a good leader?
Did the leader do all the talking?
What happened when someone had a different idea?
Which role was hardest?
This can lead into valuable conversations about leadership, communication and collaboration.
KS2 Outdoor PSHE Idea: Resilience Challenge
Create a problem that will probably require several attempts.
For example:
Can your group transport a ball through an obstacle course without touching it directly?
Do not rush in with the solution.
Let children experience frustration, mistakes, disagreement, adaptation and success.
Then reflect.
Ask:
What did you do when the first idea failed?
What helped you keep going?
When is it helpful to change your plan?
This turns resilience from a word on a display into something children have actually experienced.
KS2 Outdoor PSHE Idea: Wellbeing Mapping
Ask children to map areas around the school that support different aspects of wellbeing.
They might identify places where they feel calm, like to socialise, enjoy being active, feel safe, can have quiet or enjoy nature.
Then ask:
Does our school environment support everyone’s wellbeing?
What could we improve?
Children might suggest quieter spaces, seating, planting, sensory areas, friendship spaces or active areas.
This gives PSHE a real-world purpose and allows children to contribute ideas about their school community.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Learning PSHE
What is outdoor learning PSHE?
Outdoor learning PSHE involves using outdoor experiences, movement, collaboration and real situations to help children develop personal, social and emotional skills.
What are some easy outdoor PSHE activities?
Simple ideas include teamwork challenges, kindness missions, emotion walks, outdoor reflection activities, cooperative games, resilience challenges and wellbeing mapping.
Is outdoor PSHE suitable for EYFS?
Yes. Young children develop personal, social and emotional skills constantly through outdoor play, relationships, negotiation, sharing and problem-solving.
What outdoor PSHE activities work well for KS1?
KS1 children can take part in simple team challenges, emotion hunts, kindness activities, communication games and outdoor wellbeing walks.
What outdoor PSHE activities work well for KS2?
KS2 pupils can explore leadership, resilience, communication, teamwork, wellbeing, decision-making and responsibility through more complex outdoor challenges.
Can outdoor learning support children’s wellbeing?
Outdoor environments can provide opportunities for movement, social interaction, quiet reflection and connection with nature. Different children will respond differently, so wellbeing activities should provide choice rather than assume every child is the same.