Outdoor Learning Activities, Ideas and Training for Primary Schools & Nurseries
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, we help schools and Early Years settings use the outdoors in two powerful ways: through Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Play.
Outdoor Learning is about taking curriculum objectives outside and using the outdoor environment as a platform to make lessons more active, practical and memorable. We help teachers turn everyday maths, English, science and wider curriculum objectives into purposeful outdoor experiences using movement, space, real materials and simple sustainable resources.
Outdoor Play is different. This is where we focus on what we call Pure Play — play that begins with the child, not with an adult-created or commercially created idea. A branded toy already tells a child what it is and how it is meant to be used. A stick, a crate, a piece of bark or a cardboard box does not. The child decides what it becomes. A piece of bark might become medicine in a game of doctors, a stick might become a microphone, and a crate might become a hospital bed, a bus or something completely imagined by the child.
At MPT, we believe the outdoor environment should give children something different from indoors. Indoors can provide stimulus, resources and structure. Outdoors can provide the blank canvas. That is why we promote simple, stripped-back provision using loose, natural, free and upcycled resources.
Our training & resources helps educators understand how to create these environments, how to take curriculum teaching outdoors, how to extend children’s play without taking over and, just as importantly, how to know when to step back and let the child lead.
Outdoor Learning makes teaching more active. Outdoor Play protects imagination. Together, they create richer learning.
A typical misconception is that Outdoor Learning is like Forest School. Outdoor Learning is very different. Forest School is holistic like bush craft, Girl Guides and Scouts. High quality Outdoor Learning is about taking your curriculum outdoors such as maths, story building and maths. If you are new to this area of teaching learn more by exploring The Beginners Guide to Outdoor Learning and for EYFS, The Complete Guide to Early Years Outdoor.
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Welcome to The Muddy Puddle Teacher® Try a FREE Magazine
Our free weekly Muddy Puddle Teacher Magazine written by owner, founder and teacher Sarah Seaman PGCE/MA is a brilliant starting point if you want regular outdoor learning ideas without feeling overwhelmed.
Each week, the magazine shares topical and seasonal inspiration for Early Years, KS1, KS2, Forest School and home settings. It is designed to give you simple ideas you can use in the week ahead, linked to what is happening in the season, the weather, special days, nature, school life and children’s interests.
The magazine is perfect for teachers who want quick outdoor learning ideas, childminders looking for fresh inspiration, parents wanting weekend and holiday activities, home educators planning nature-based learning and Forest School leaders wanting seasonal prompts.
Sign up for the free magazine and start building outdoor learning into your week.
What Does Outdoor Learning Look Like at The Muddy Puddle Teacher?
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher, we do not take children outside simply because we think children should spend more time outdoors.
Outdoor learning is our platform. The outcome is better learning.
Before planning an outdoor lesson, we encourage teachers to ask:
What do I actually want outdoor learning to achieve for these children?
Do you want to help a child with SEND access an objective that feels difficult in the classroom? Do you want children talking, explaining and debating more? Are you trying to re-engage a class that switches off when learning becomes too passive? Are children struggling to listen and sustain attention? Are behaviour difficulties making lessons harder to deliver? Or are you simply looking at a generation of children who love screens and thinking:
How can I get them moving more without losing valuable curriculum time?
That is where outdoor lessons become powerful.
Outdoor Learning as a Tool for SEND
For some children with SEND, the traditional classroom can place several demands on them at once. Sit still, listen, process language, ignore distractions, record an answer and demonstrate understanding in the expected way.
Outside, we can sometimes change the route into the same objective.
We can make learning larger, more physical, more concrete and more visual. A child may be able to move a number rather than write it, build a concept rather than describe it, sort real objects rather than complete a worksheet, follow a physical sequence rather than hold several verbal instructions in working memory.
The curriculum objective does not have to disappear.
We change how the child reaches it.
That is a major focus of MPT outdoor pedagogy.
Outdoor Learning to Improve Oracy
Outdoor learning creates genuine reasons to communicate. Children have to explain ideas, negotiate with one another, give directions, solve problems, describe what they notice, justify decisions and work collaboratively.
Instead of asking a child to answer a question because the teacher has asked it, outdoor learning can create a situation where the child needs language to make the task work.
A group building a structure may need to explain why one piece is unstable. Children completing a maths challenge may need to justify where they have placed something. A geography activity may require one child to direct another around a route.
That is oracy embedded into learning rather than bolted onto it
Take it Outdoors for Children Who Have Disengaged
Sometimes children are not struggling because the curriculum is beyond them.
They have simply stopped engaging with the way it is being delivered.
Another worksheet, another slide, another question in a book can begin to feel very passive.
Outdoor learning changes the dynamic.
The objective may be exactly the same, but now children might be moving, searching, collecting, constructing, measuring, discussing or solving.
We are not making the learning easier.
We are changing the way the child experiences it.
That can be particularly powerful for children who have begun to see themselves as somebody who “doesn’t like learning”. Discover this article: Behaviour and the Outdoors.
Lessons Outdoors for Attention and Listening
Taking a class outside does not magically make every child listen.
In fact, teachers need strong outdoor routines.
But when outdoor learning is taught well, children have a reason to listen because the instruction leads directly to an action.
Listen to the direction, move to the location, find the object, work with your partner, build the representation, complete the challenge.
For some children, that relationship between listening and doing can make instructions much more meaningful.
Our training therefore does not simply teach outdoor activities. We help teachers think carefully about instructions, transitions, gathering points, signals, groupings and how to structure an active lesson successfully.
Outdoor Learning and Behaviour
Behaviour is another reason schools often come to us.
Sitting still for long periods is difficult for many children.
Movement can become something adults spend the day trying to stop.
Sit down. Stop rocking. Stop getting up. Face the front.
Outdoor learning gives us opportunities to make movement part of the teaching.
Children can walk, carry, arrange, collect, throw, build, measure and physically represent ideas while still working towards a curriculum objective.
Movement stops being the thing interrupting the lesson.
It becomes part of the lesson.
That does not mean outdoor learning replaces boundaries or behaviour expectations. It means we consider whether the method of teaching is helping children succeed.
Let the Outdoor Classroom Help with Behaviour
Behaviour is another reason schools often come to us.
Sitting still for long periods is difficult for many children.
Movement can become something adults spend the day trying to stop.
Sit down. Stop rocking. Stop getting up. Face the front.
Outdoor learning gives us opportunities to make movement part of the teaching.
Children can walk, carry, arrange, collect, throw, build, measure and physically represent ideas while still working towards a curriculum objective.
Movement stops being the thing interrupting the lesson.
It becomes part of the lesson.
That does not mean outdoor curriculums replaces boundaries or behaviour expectations. It means we consider whether the method of teaching is helping children succeed.
Lessons Outdoors Balance the Screen-Loving Children
Children are growing up in an increasingly digital world.
Screens are not going away, and technology has an important place in education.
But children also need to move.
They need to use their bodies, talk face-to-face, manipulate real objects, experience weather, judge distance, work collaboratively and interact with the physical world.
We do not believe schools should have to choose between learning and movement.
Why not do both?
If a maths objective can be practised while children are moving around the playground, if science can be investigated through something children can actually touch, or if vocabulary can be developed through a real experience rather than another image on a screen, then the outdoors gives teachers another powerful teaching option. Fore more help in this area head to this article: Screen-free Education Support.
We Start with the Child, Then the Objective
This is where MPT training goes beyond giving teachers hundreds of outdoor activity ideas.
We want teachers to become confident enough to look at their class and ask:
What do these children need from this lesson?
Perhaps they need more movement.
Perhaps they need more talk.
Perhaps they need something concrete.
Perhaps they need collaboration.
Perhaps they need less writing before they can demonstrate what they actually understand.
Perhaps they need to experience something before being asked to describe it.
Then look at the curriculum objective and ask:
Could the outdoors help me achieve that?
Sometimes the answer will be yes.
Sometimes it will be no.
Outdoor lesson Plans is not about forcing every lesson outside.
It is about having another teaching platform available and understanding when that platform can improve the learning. Make a start and explore the Outdoor Maths Hub.
Outdoor Learning Is Not a Reward
At MPT, outdoor learning is not something children earn when they have finished their “real work”.
It is real work.
A child demonstrating fractions using physical objects is learning mathematics.
A child orally rehearsing a story while moving through a story trail is learning English.
A child investigating shadows outside is learning science.
A child mapping the school grounds is learning geography.
The fact that they are moving, talking and enjoying the experience does not make the learning less rigorous.
So, What Are We Really Trying to Achieve?
Ultimately, The Muddy Puddle Teacher approach to outdoor learning is about using the outdoors to help create children who are more engaged, more active, more communicative and better able to access learning.
We want it to support SEND inclusion, strengthen oracy, provide movement, improve engagement, create meaningful curriculum experiences, help teachers manage different learning needs and give children more opportunities to experience the world beyond a screen.
The outdoors is the platform.
The child is the reason.
Learning is the goal.
Why Out-of-the-Classroom Lessons Can Be Powerful for SEND
Teaching outdoors can provide something very different from classroom learning.
It can offer:
more space, movement, practical experience, real objects, reduced desk-based demand, sensory experiences, opportunities for regulation, larger-scale learning and different ways to demonstrate understanding.
A child who struggles to explain an answer on paper may be able to:
build it, move it, point to it, sort it, show it, act it out or communicate it another way.
Outdoor learning can create more routes into the curriculum.
Outdoor Play at MPT – What is Pure Play?
Outdoor Play at The Muddy Puddle Teacher is very different from simply putting toys outside.
Our approach is built around what we call Pure Play.
Pure Play is play that begins with the child.
There is no adult-created outcome, no commercial character telling the child what the toy represents and no themed setup deciding the direction of the game before the child even arrives.
The child creates the meaning.
Imagine a branded toy house.
The toy already tells the child what it is.
Now imagine a piece of bark.
That piece of bark could become medicine in a game of doctors, a phone, treasure, a plate, a ticket, a bed, a map or something completely different.
The child decides.
That is Pure Play.
Why We Believe Pure Play Belongs Outdoors
At MPT, we believe the outdoor environment should offer children something different from indoors.
Inside, children naturally experience more stimulus.
There are books, toys, furniture, labelled areas, adult-selected resources and commercial materials.
That is not a problem.
The indoor environment has a purpose.
But if the outdoors simply copies the indoors, then children are being offered the same kind of play in two places.
We want the outdoors to be the blank canvas.
A place with less adult stimulus, less commercial stimulus and more possibility.
Indoors can give children stimulus.
Outdoors can give children space to create their own.
Why We Only Use Free, Loose and Upcycled Resources
We deliberately avoid bought, fixed-purpose outdoor toys.
Instead, our outdoor play approach uses free, loose, natural and upcycled resources.
That might include crates, planks, cardboard, fabric, ropes, sticks, stones, old pots, pans, tubes, containers and reclaimed materials.
Sustainability in EYFS matters.
The reason is simple.
The less the resource tells the child what it is, the more imagination the child has to use.
A crate can be a car, a bed, a stage, a shop counter or a wall.
A stick can be a wand, a spoon, a microphone or a measuring tool.
A cardboard box can be almost anything.
The object stays simple.
The play becomes complex.
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Choose Your Pathway
What do you need help with today?
I am new to outdoor learning – where do I start?
Try exploring our Beginners Guides to Outdoor Learning, Beginners Guides to Outdoor Play, Beginners Guides to SEND Outdoors, Beginners Guides to Forest School and our Supporting Parents to get Children Outdoors Guide. You could also make a start downloading now and take a 60-day free trial.
I am looking just for free stuff for now
Sure, we love to help you get your children outdoors. Explore our FREE Outdoor Learning Hub. Where you will find free handbooks, blogs, information, podcast and the chance to sign up to our free weekly magazine.
I want some lesson ideas to take outdoors
No problem. We have thousands of lesson ideas waiting for you. All created by expert teachers and outdoor learning specialists. We provide activities for babies to Year 6 and specialist resources for SEND learners. As well as Forest School Resources and parent ideas for weekends and holidays.
I need outdoor learning training
Accredited CPD, INSET days and practical staff training for schools and nurseries. Face-to-Face or Online Options. Whole School and Individual options. All based around the trademarked Muddy Puddle Teacher Approach. Outdoor Learning and Outdoor Play Programmes.
I teach EYFS
Outdoor play, sensory learning, continuous provision and child-led learning ideas. From babies to reception, we specialise in how you easily manage but also gain optimum learning opportunities outdoors via play and focus teaching. New to this area? Browse the Beginners Guide to Outdoor Play Hub for free advice. You could also make a start downloading now and take a 60-day free trial.
What is Outdoor Learning?
Outdoor learning is a way of teaching and learning that takes place outside the traditional classroom. It uses natural environments—like school grounds, parks, and woodland areas—to bring lessons to life through hands-on, real-world experiences.
Rather than sitting at desks, children learn by exploring, investigating, and engaging with the world around them. This might include measuring in maths using natural materials, developing literacy through storytelling outdoors, or building problem-solving skills through play and teamwork.
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher, we take this a step further. We offer a unique, structured approach to outdoor learning, specifically designed for nurseries and primary schools. Our method supports teachers in delivering the curriculum outdoors in a way that is practical, engaging, and easy to implement—without needing extensive equipment or extra time.
Outdoor learning supports the whole child. It helps to build:
- confidence and independence
- physical health and wellbeing
- creativity and curiosity
- communication and social skills
At its heart, outdoor learning makes education active, meaningful, and memorable—helping children connect what they learn in the classroom with the real world around them. Make a start downloading outdoor lesson ideas now and take a 60-day free trial.
Or read some of our expert-created out-of-the-classroom handbooks and guidelines to help you navigate the barriers to teaching more outside.
Subitising Numbers 0-10 (Nature Posters) (Flashcard)
Use Subitising Numbers 0-10 (Nature Posters) to gather up loose parts play that will encourage children to add nature to their outdoor learning in the early years. Number work has never been so fun, allow children to...
Muddy Lanyard Challenges Numbers 1- 20
Our much-loved Muddy Lanyard Challenges are very popular and a versatile tool to use outdoors, give direction and in any weather. Simply hand one ut to a group of children or an individual child and let them discover...
Numbers in Stones (Tuff Spot/Display)
This versatile resource is going to save you time and improve the quality of your outdoor provision. Use on tuff spots and add leaves to give direction while combining great fine-motor work with numeracy. Discover more...
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Outdoor Learning & Play for Early Years (EYFS)
Transform your setting with inspiring outdoor learning in EYFS that truly engages young minds. Our carefully designed resources support high-quality outdoor provision in EYFS, making it easy to create exciting, purposeful environments where children thrive. Through meaningful early years outdoor play, children build confidence, develop key physical skills, and strengthen communication and problem-solving abilities—all while learning through exploration and fun. Want to know how to make a start at teaching outdoors? Try these 100 Outdoor Ideas for EYFS, KS1 & KS2 you can start now!
Whether you’re enhancing your current outdoor space or starting from scratch, our EYFS outdoor play resources help you deliver rich, curriculum-linked experiences every day. Designed by experts and loved by practitioners, our solutions make outdoor learning in EYFS simple, effective, and impactful—so you can focus on what matters most: helping children learn, grow, and flourish outdoors. Learn 10 easy outdoor learning activities.
Make a start downloading outdoor lesson ideas now and take a 60-day free trial.
Discover all of our thousands of early years outdoors ideas using the posts below. Find outdoor learning lesson plans, resources and award winning outdoor play lanyards. We pride ourselves on the stripped-back outdoor play approach we use to help children reignite their imaginations and learn to play, creatively with nature. Explore the posts below now for instant ideas.
Find a Trained Muddy Puddle School & Nursery Near You
See Our Muddy Puddle Teacher® Trained Schools
We are proud to have trained schools, early years settings and educators across the UK and Europe using The Muddy Puddle Teacher® approach. Explore the map to see just some of the schools and settings who are bringing outdoor learning, play and inclusive teaching to life with us.
From small nurseries to large primary schools, our training helps educators use the outdoors to support curriculum learning, wellbeing, SEND, behaviour, creativity and confidence — whatever the weather. Make a start downloading outdoor lesson ideas now and take a 60-day free trial.
Start Your Free Trial
Do you want to make your classroom fun and engaging, but do not have the time? Our teachers have done all the work for you; all you have to do is teach. Download your resources now.
Outdoor Learning Lesson Plans & Ideas KS1 & KS2
Bring the curriculum to life with engaging outdoor learning activities designed for KS1 and KS2. Our ready-to-use lesson plans for outdoor learning take the stress out of planning, giving teachers creative, curriculum-linked outdoor lesson ideas that inspire curiosity, teamwork, and active learning. From maths trails to literacy adventures, our resources make it easy to turn any outdoor space into a dynamic classroom. Discover 100 outdoor learning ideas.
All of our resources are created by teachers and founded by MP Award winning teacher Sarah Seaman PGCE/MA. Explore her range of books with Bloomsbury. Packed with practical, high-quality outdoor learning resources, our lesson plans help you deliver meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom walls. Learn more about the key to success when you teach outside of the classroom. Whether you’re new to outdoor learning or looking to expand your provision, our expertly created materials save time, boost engagement, and support outstanding teaching across KS1 and KS2.
Explore the posts below to find teacher-created, curriculum linked outdoor activities and outdoor lesson plans on all subject areas.
Click on the posts below to get more innovative KS1 outdoor ideas and KS2 outdoor lesson plans in all areas of the curriculum.
Outdoor Learning Training, Outdoor Play & INSET Days
Empower your team with high-impact outdoor learning training UK designed to transform practice and raise outcomes. Our expert-led courses deliver quality outdoor learning training that is practical, inspiring, and tailored to real classroom needs. Whether you’re developing confidence or refining your approach, our CPD outdoor learning sessions equip staff with the skills, knowledge, and ready-to-use ideas to deliver outstanding outdoor provision. Explore, What does outdoor learning training look like?
Our accredited outdoor learning training and INSET days focus on effective outdoor play, curriculum links, and creating engaging learning environments that work for your setting. With hands-on guidance and proven strategies, you’ll leave with a clear action plan to embed outdoor learning across your school or early years provision—boosting engagement, wellbeing, and achievement. We have a glowing 4.9 stars on google reviews, we are the experts when it comes to outdoor learning and outdoor play.
Outdoor Learning Explained: Benefits, Research & Practical Examples
What Is Outdoor Learning? A Simple Guide
Outdoor learning is an approach to education that takes place outside the traditional classroom. Instead of sitting at desks, learners explore, discover, and engage with the natural environment—whether that’s a forest, park, beach, or even a school playground.
At its core, outdoor learning is about experiential education. It encourages people to learn by doing—observing wildlife, building shelters, solving real-world problems, and connecting with nature in a meaningful way. This hands-on approach helps deepen understanding and makes learning more memorable.
Why Outdoor Learning Matters
Outdoor learning offers a wide range of benefits for both children and adults:
- Improves physical health through movement and fresh air
- Boosts mental wellbeing by reducing stress and increasing focus
- Encourages creativity and curiosity through open-ended exploration
- Builds confidence and resilience by facing new challenges
- Enhances social skills through teamwork and communication
In a world where screen time is increasing, outdoor learning provides a valuable opportunity to reconnect with the environment and develop essential life skills.
What Does Outdoor Learning Look Like?
Outdoor learning can take many forms, including:
- Forest school sessions
- Nature walks and environmental studies
- Team-building activities and outdoor challenges
- Gardening and sustainability projects
- Outdoor classrooms and lessons across subjects such as maths and English
It can be structured or unstructured, guided by educators or led by learners themselves.
Outdoor Learning for All Ages
While often associated with schools, outdoor learning is not just for children. It is equally valuable for adults, families, and organisations looking to improve wellbeing, teamwork, and connection with nature.
Why Outdoor Lessons Works
- 88% of teachers say pupils are more engaged outdoors
- Exposure to nature improves concentration and reduces attention fatigue
- Children are more physically active during outdoor lessons
- Outdoor learning improves behaviour and reduces classroom disruption
- Time in nature significantly reduces stress and improves wellbeing
- Outdoor learning supports development of social and communication skills
- Regular outdoor learning is linked to improved academic outcomes
Learning Outside the Classroom & Outdoor Play FAQ's
What is outdoor play?
Outdoor play is play based learning activities that are conducted outside utilising the benfits of an outdoor space. Explore 100 Outdoor play ideas in our blog.
What are the benefits of outdoor learning?
Outdoor learning improves engagement, supports mental wellbeing, builds confidence, and helps develop key life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. It can also enhance academic understanding through real-world experiences. Discover more benefits to outdoor learning
Is outdoor learning part of the curriculum?
Yes, outdoor learning can support many areas of the curriculum, including science, geography, maths, and literacy. It’s often used to bring subjects to life in a more practical and engaging way. Try some top 30 outdoor ideas to start your journey.
Is outdoor learning safe?
When properly planned and supervised, outdoor learning is very safe. Explore saftery advice, risk assessments, trained staff, and clear guidelines ensure that activities are both safe and beneficial.
What age groups is outdoor learning suitable for?
Outdoor learning is suitable for all ages—from early years through to adults. Activities can be adapted to suit different abilities, learning goals, and group sizes.
What is a forest school?
Forest school is a specific type of outdoor learning that takes place in a woodland setting. It focuses on child-led learning, exploration, and developing confidence through regular sessions in nature. Learn more about the joys of forest school.
Does outdoor learning require special equipment?
Not necessarily. Many outdoor learning activities use natural materials found in the environment. Some sessions may include simple tools or resources, depending on the activity.
How often should outdoor learning take place?
This can vary depending on the setting. Some schools incorporate outdoor learning weekly, while others use it more regularly. Even occasional sessions can have a positive impact.
Can outdoor learning take place in urban areas?
Yes, outdoor learning doesn’t require remote wilderness. School grounds, local parks, and community spaces can all be used effectively for outdoor learning.
How can we get started with outdoor learning?
Start small by taking lessons outside, using natural materials, or exploring local green spaces. Working with experienced outdoor learning providers can also help you build confidence and structure your approach. Explore more resources in our planning hub.