Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to inspire and celebrate outdoor learning and play. It is more than simply moving your traditional classroom lessons outdoors but instead learning from the outdoor environment and taking lessons back to nature. In this blog we suggest 9 different outdoor classroom ideas for preschoolers, from art and craft projects to science investigation and everything in between. Read on for inspiration!
1. Nature Brushes
You will need:
Children will need to start by getting outside and searching for materials to paint with, this could be pine cones, leaves or even twigs. This is a great way of getting children to explore the outdoors and think critically about the objects they find – will the object make for a good brush? What kind of pattern will it make?
Your children can then decide how they want to use the materials they have found to create their painting. Will they wrap leaves together to create a brush or simply roll the pine cones in the paint and get messy?
2. Water Writing
You will need:
- A selection of pouring utensils
A perfect activity for a warmer day. Start by filling up different pouring utensils with water and practice mark making. This could be as simple as pre-mark making squiggles and lines or more advance by practicing letters or even words.
The beauty of this activity is no resources are wasted and any mistakes will soon dry up!
3. Habitat Project
You will need:
- A range of recycled materials e.g. tyres
- Natural resources like wood or hay
Making a habitat is a brilliant class project to teach children about different animals or insects and their needs. Children will first need to discuss what the chosen creature needs to survive, does it prefer a dark space, to be near water, small space or a large space?
Once all of this criteria has been discussed you can get building! Pick a spot in your outdoor space and construct your habitat. Consider using upcycled or recycled resources to make the project more eco-friendly.
4. Shadow or Mirror Drawing
You will need:
- A tuff tray
- A tuff tray paper pad or mirror mat
- Natural resources
- Pencils, paint and brushes
This is a brilliant activity to explore colour, shapes and shadows.
If doing shadow drawing, simply suspend natural objects above your paper and wait for the sun to shine, casting shadows of the objects onto your paper. Children can practice their fine motor skills by drawing the shadows and this can also be used to spark discussions into simple scientific concepts such as how shadows work.
If instead doing the mirror painting then you could either suspend objects above the mirror or instead paint the reflections you naturally see – for example why not try mimicking the clouds? Again this is a brilliant activity to spark discussions into scientific concepts – this time about reflections, whilst also observing nature and developing an appreciation for the environment around us.
5. Solar Smores
You will need:
- A box with a lid to trap the hot air inside
- Foil to line the box
- A skewer stick to prop the box open
Trap the energy of the sun in a solar oven and make S’mores! A fantastic way for children to explore STEAM whilst making a tasty snack!
Starting by lining your box with aluminium foil and place biscuits with marshmallows on top. Prop the lid open to reflect light into the box where heat will be trapped.Wait until the marshmallows begin to soften (this will depend on how much sunlight shines on the box and how hot it is. For best results, place the box in direct sunlight). The marshmallows will begin to swell as they heat up. Check if the marshmallows are ready by poking them lightly to see if they squish – once ready place another biscuit on top and the s’mores are ready to eat!
Tip: consider adding cling film over the top on the box to keep the heat in for quicker results. Cling film is perfect for keeping the heat in but letting the light shine through
6. Tree Rubbing
You will need:
- Paper
- Crayons, chalk or pencils
Tree rubbing is a simple way for children to learn about pattern and textures in the natural environment. It gives children the opportunity to learn about the different parts of trees and the varying characteristics. It is also a fun new way to experience art in a new setting.
Simply equip your children with paper and crayons and allow them to select a tree and get creative!
7. Bug Hunt
You will need:
Learn all about the minibeast in our eco system by heading out on a minibeast hunt. This is a great way to introduce children to creepy crawlies from an early age so that they can develop an appreciation for their contribution to nature and hopefully avoid feeling scared of them as they grow up.
Why not incorporate magnifying glasses or viewing pots to be able to analyse the bugs up close and discuss the different features and colours
8. Forest Faces
You will need:
- Natural clay
- A selection of foraged resources
- Trees!
Start by foraging outdoors and collecting natural art resources. Make sure children are observed whilst foraging and have them collect various loose parts to make their clay sculptures.
Then give each of your children a lump of clay and encourage them to knead the clay to soften it. This in itself is a great activity for children to develop their fine motor skills and muscles in their hands and wrists.
Encourage your kids to find a tree they like and press the clay into the tree, pressing and moulding the clay into a face shape – why not consider adding ears, a chin and a nose? Finally your children will need to choose items from their foraged collection to add to their clay faces and bring the characters to life. A perfect activity to combine outdoor exploration and expressive art and design!
9. Sink or Float Investigation
You will need:
- A tub or water table
- A checklist to record results
For this activity, children will need to head outside with a tub of water to collect natural objects and predict and then test if they will sink or float. A brilliant way to learn more about nature and the properties of different materials.
Why not use our free downloadable sink or float checklist to record the results and then discuss!
We would love to know which of these outdoor classroom ideas & activities you tried and if you enjoyed it. Share your experience with us on social media by tagging us or using the hashtag #ExploreWithEYR.
If you are looking to top up your outdoor learning resources then head to our outdoor selection where you will find loose parts, mud kitchen resources, gardening products and much more!
