Looking for PE woodland games for primary school children? This pack helps teachers take PE outdoors with simple woodland-inspired games that build teamwork, agility, balance, coordination, confidence and communication. It is perfect for KS1 and KS2 teachers who want outdoor PE ideas that are active, fun, low-prep and easy to run in a school field, playground or woodland area. Want to know more about this approach? Explore our Beginners Guide to Forest School
New to Outdoor PE? Start here
If outdoor PE feels overwhelming, start small.
You do not need a full woodland, expensive equipment or a complicated lesson plan. You can use your playground, school field, nature area, outdoor classroom or any safe open space.
Try:
- One simple woodland movement game
- One teamwork challenge
- One clear rule, such as: “Move safely, look around you and work as a team.”
Outdoor PE works best when children have space to move, explore, practise, repeat and build confidence.
Download these resources and hundreds of other Forest School Activities. Take a 60-day free trial.
Try this tomorrow
Woodland Animal Movements
Ask children to move around the outdoor space like different woodland animals.
They could move like:
- a fox creeping quietly
- a squirrel darting quickly
- a hedgehog curling up low
- a deer leaping gently
- an owl gliding silently
- a rabbit hopping
- a badger crawling slowly
Time: 10–20 minutes
Prep: Low
You need: Open space, cones or natural markers
Learning: Movement, balance, coordination, body control, vocabulary and imagination
Add simple instructions such as:
- Freeze like a statue
- Move silently
- Change direction
- Travel low to the ground
- Move with a partner
- Find a safe space
This gives children an easy, active and imaginative way to warm up outdoors.
PE Woodland Games Ideas
Here are a few simple woodland-inspired games you can use for outdoor PE.
1. Foxes and Rabbits
Choose a few children to be foxes. The rest are rabbits.
The rabbits move around the outdoor area collecting “food” such as cones, leaves, beanbags or picture cards. The foxes try to gently tag them before they return to their burrow.
Use hoops, chalk circles or marked spaces as rabbit burrows.
Children practise:
- running
- dodging
- changing direction
- spatial awareness
- teamwork
- stopping safely
You can adapt the game by adding safe zones, partner work or different movement rules.
2. Woodland Treasure Relay
Set up a relay where children collect natural treasures or PE equipment from one side of the space and bring them back to their team.
They could collect:
- cones
- beanbags
- leaves
- sticks
- picture cards
- hoops
- soft balls
Add challenges such as:
- hop to the treasure
- balance it on a cone
- move with a partner
- crawl like a badger
- tiptoe like a fox
- jump back like a rabbit
This is a great way to practise movement skills, teamwork and following instructions.
3. Build the Nest Team Challenge
Children work in teams to collect safe natural loose parts or PE equipment to build a “nest.”
They can use:
- hoops
- cones
- sticks
- leaves
- beanbags
- ropes
- fabric
- chalk
The challenge is to build a nest that is:
- big enough for the team
- strong-looking
- well-designed
- safe to stand near
- made together
Ask children:
- How did your team decide what to do?
- What worked well?
- What would you change?
- How did you help each other?
This supports cooperation, communication, problem-solving and physical movement.
4. Owl Listening Game
Children stand or sit quietly in the outdoor space.
One child is the owl and closes their eyes or looks away. Another child moves carefully through the space to collect a woodland object.
The owl must listen carefully and point to where the sound is coming from.
This activity supports:
- listening
- focus
- self-regulation
- quiet movement
- turn-taking
- sensory awareness
It is especially useful after a high-energy game to help children calm and reset.
Want ready-to-teach outdoor PE resources?
The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club helps busy teachers save planning time with:
✅ ready-to-use outdoor PE activities
✅ woodland games and nature-based movement ideas
✅ KS1 and KS2 outdoor learning planning
✅ SEND-friendly active learning resources
✅ seasonal games, teamwork challenges and curriculum-linked ideas
Download these resources and hundreds of other Forest School Activities. Take a 60-day free trial.
Why take PE into the woods or outdoors?
Outdoor PE gives children space to move, breathe, explore and build confidence.
Woodland-inspired games help children:
- improve balance and coordination
- practise running, dodging, jumping and crawling
- develop teamwork
- listen and follow instructions
- build resilience
- use imagination
- connect with nature
- regulate energy and emotions
- enjoy being active outdoors
For many children, outdoor PE feels less pressured and more playful than traditional indoor PE.
Who is this resource for?
This PE Woodland Games Pack is ideal for:
- KS1 teachers
- KS2 teachers
- PE leads
- Forest School leaders
- outdoor learning coordinators
- teaching assistants
- nurture groups
- SEND groups
- after-school clubs
- homeschoolers
- holiday clubs
It can be used during PE lessons, Forest School sessions, outdoor learning days, wellbeing afternoons, sports week, transition sessions or active break times.
Curriculum links
This pack can support learning in:
- PE
- physical development
- PSHE
- speaking and listening
- teamwork
- problem-solving
- outdoor learning
- SEND provision
- science and nature connection
Children can practise agility, balance, coordination, cooperation, communication, movement vocabulary, self-regulation and confidence.
SEND-friendly ways to use this pack
Woodland PE games can work well for SEND learners because they are active, visual, practical and flexible.
You can adapt the activities by:
- using picture cards
- reducing the size of the playing area
- giving children a clear role
- using first/then instructions
- offering a walking version of running games
- pairing children with a trusted partner
- creating quiet rest spaces
- using visual boundaries
- giving children a choice of movement
Children can join in through running, walking, collecting, pointing, balancing, building, listening, moving with support or taking a helper role.
Safety tips for outdoor PE woodland games
Before starting, check your outdoor space.
Think about:
- clear boundaries
- uneven ground
- slippery areas
- sticks or branches
- weather conditions
- safe footwear
- enough space between children
- clear stop signals
- adult positioning
- how children will carry natural materials safely
Keep the rules simple and repeat them often.
A good outdoor PE rule is:
“Look after yourself, look after each other and look after nature.”
To view all of our Level 3 Forest School Leader-created resources, explore the Forest School Hub.
More PE Woodland Games Ideas
Woodland Statues
Children move around the space. When the adult calls out a woodland word, they freeze in a matching pose.
Try:
- tree
- fox
- owl
- mushroom
- rabbit
- leaf
- acorn
- hedgehog
This supports balance, body control, listening and creativity.
Squirrel Stores
Children pretend to be squirrels collecting food for winter.
They collect beanbags, cones or picture cards and carry them back to their team base.
Add maths by asking children to count, compare or sort what they have collected.
Tree Tag
Choose safe bases such as cones, hoops or marked areas. Children move between bases while one or two children try to tag them gently.
Add woodland language by calling the bases “trees,” “burrows” or “nests.”
Quiet Creatures
Children move across the space as quietly as possible.
Challenge them to move like:
- a silent fox
- a careful deer
- a tiny mouse
- an owl in flight
This is brilliant for body control, focus and regulation.
Explore our Outdoor History Resources further with this Forest School Vikings Activities Pack.
FAQs
What are PE woodland games?
PE woodland games are active outdoor games inspired by nature, animals, trees and Forest School-style learning. They help children practise movement skills such as running, jumping, balancing, crawling, dodging and teamwork.
Can I use woodland games without a woodland?
Yes. You can use woodland-inspired PE games in a playground, school field, outdoor classroom, garden area or small outdoor space. You do not need an actual woodland to make the activities work.
What are good outdoor PE games for KS1?
Good outdoor PE games for KS1 include woodland animal movements, foxes and rabbits, squirrel stores, tree tag, treasure relays, quiet creatures and build-the-nest challenges.
What are good outdoor PE games for KS2?
Good outdoor PE games for KS2 include team relays, strategy tag games, woodland obstacle courses, survival challenges, map trails, listening games and problem-solving movement tasks.
Can woodland PE games support teamwork?
Yes. Woodland PE games are brilliant for teamwork because children can work together to collect, build, solve problems, complete missions, take turns and support each other.
Are woodland PE games suitable for SEND learners?
Yes. Woodland PE games can be very supportive for SEND learners because they are practical, sensory, active and flexible. Children can join in through movement, collecting, building, listening, pointing, choosing or taking a helper role.
Do I need lots of equipment?
No. You can use simple resources such as cones, hoops, chalk, beanbags, ropes, leaves, sticks, pine cones and natural loose parts. The games are designed to be low-prep and easy to adapt.
How can I keep outdoor PE safe?
Set clear boundaries, check the ground, use a stop signal, model safe movement and make sure children understand how to move around others. Adapt games to the weather, space and needs of your class.
Can PE woodland games link to Forest School?
Yes. PE woodland games link well to Forest School because they encourage movement, teamwork, nature connection, problem-solving, confidence and outdoor exploration.
Ready for more outdoor PE ideas?
Get ready-to-use outdoor PE games, woodland activities and curriculum-linked outdoor learning resources inside The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club.
Download these resources and hundreds of other Forest School Activities. Take a 60-day free trial.
To view all of our Level 3 Forest School Leader-created resources, explore the Forest School Hub.
