There are plenty of fun outdoor learning activities for pupils that you can set your class to complete at home. If you’re thinking about changing up their homework from something written-based to something more interactive, then these are perfect!
In this blog, we’ll explore what outdoor learning is, why it should be encouraged and five exciting outdoor learning activities that will spark your pupils’ curiosity and expand their horizons.
What is outdoor learning?
Outdoor learning is all about hands-on, meaningful experiences in nature. This can include a variety of exciting activities and challenges, often set in open spaces like parks, forests, or dedicated residential sites.
These adventures aren’t just fun—they’re designed to nurture children’s intellectual development, boost their emotional resilience, and enhance their social skills. At the same time, it helps kids foster a deeper connection with the natural world around them.
Now, let’s explore some creative outdoor activities that pupils can enjoy right at home!
Outdoor learning activities for pupils
Outdoor learning is a fantastic way for children to have fun, explore nature, and develop essential skills all at once. From observing wildlife to stargazing, here are our top five outdoor learning ideas to inspire and excite young learners!
1. Make art with nature
Create your own unique masterpiece inspired by the outdoors. Nature provides an endless supply of materials for crafting for every season. In Spring and Summer, you can collect fallen petals from fresh flowers, while Autumn and Winter bring lots of colourful leaves, pinecones, and bare branches.
Important note: As you gather, tread lightly—leave enough for wildlife, avoid disturbing nests or hibernation sites, and use eco-friendly materials to craft with care and respect for the natural world.
How-To:
Gather Materials: Go on a nature walk to collect a variety of natural items. Ensure pupils gather materials responsibly, without harming the environment.
Create a Collage: Arrange the collected items on a piece of cardboard or paper to create a nature collage. Pupils can use glue to secure the pieces in place.
Leaf Rubbings: Place leaves under a sheet of paper and use crayons to rub over them, revealing the intricate patterns of the leaves.
Nature Mandalas: Arrange leaves, petals, and stones in circular patterns to create mandalas. This activity not only promotes creativity but also introduces concepts of symmetry and design.
Benefits:
This outdoor learning activity enhances creativity, fine motor skills, and an appreciation for nature’s beauty. It also provides a tactile and sensory experience that can be very calming and meditative for children.
2. Animal diary
Next up on our list of outdoor learning activities is keeping an animal diary. This is a fantastic outdoor learning activity for pupils to observe and document the creatures they encounter in their local environment!
Pupils can explore at different times of day and year for a variety of encounters. For example, early mornings are great for bird watching, while dusk is ideal for spotting nocturnal animals like bats or foxes. During the summer months, kids can also look for insects pollinating flowers.
Top tip: Remember to observe wildlife from a safe distance and respect their habitats.
How-To:
Choose a Study Spot: Find a spot in the backyard or a nearby park where wildlife is often seen.
Observe Regularly: Set aside a regular time each day for observation. Pupils should quietly observe animals and take notes on their behaviours.
Record Findings: In a notebook, pupils can draw the animals they see, write down the time of day, weather conditions, and any other interesting observations.
Research: Encourage pupils to research the animals they observe to learn more about their habits, diets, and habitats.
Benefits:
For any budding naturalists in your class, creating an animal diary fosters patience, enhances observation skills, and nurtures a curiosity for biology, while also helping pupils develop key scientific documentation practices.
3. Go exploring
Exploration is at the heart of every adventure! Whether it’s a trip to the local park, a hike through the countryside, or even a closer look at your own garden or neighbourhood, there are always new places for pupils to discover. They may spot insects in the grass, birds nesting in the trees, or small mammals scurrying through underbrush.
How-To:
Create a Nature Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of items to find, such as a specific type of leaf, a feather, a smooth stone, or a bird. Pupils can check off each item as they find it.
Map the Area: Provide pupils with a simple map of the area and have them mark where they find interesting items or features.
Journal the Experience: Encourage pupils to write about their explorations, including what they saw, heard, and felt. They can also sketch interesting finds.
Benefits:
Exploring enhances physical activity, spatial awareness, and observational skills. It also fosters a sense of adventure and curiosity about the natural world. Our MASTER! programme is perfect for nurturing these qualities, guiding pupils to develop practical outdoor skills through hands-on activities.
4. Grow a plant
This is definitely one of the most popular outdoor learning activities —and for good reason! Pupils get a hands-on opportunity to learn about the life cycle of plants, from seed to sprout to bloom. Throughout the year, they can observe how different plants flourish in each season such as daffodils in Spring and sunflowers in Summer. Herbs like sage and rosemary are abundant in Autumn, while evergreen plants like ivy and holly thrive in Winter.
Top tip: Use apps like Stellarium PLUS, or Cosmic Watch to easily track stars, planets, and constellations. These apps provide interactive sky maps, allowing pupils to point their devices at the sky to identify celestial objects in real-time.
How-To:
Choose a Plant: Select a plant that is easy to grow and appropriate for the local climate. Herbs, flowers, or vegetables like tomatoes are great options.
Prepare the Soil: If planting in the ground, ensure the soil is well-prepared. Alternatively, use pots or containers.
Plant and Water: Follow the instructions for planting the seeds or seedlings. Make sure the plant receives adequate water and sunlight.
Track Growth: Keep a plant diary to record the growth progress. Pupils can measure the plant regularly, note changes, and even draw pictures of its development.
Benefits:
Growing a plant teaches responsibility, patience, and the fundamentals of botany, including scientific concepts like photosynthesis. It also provides pupils with a rewarding sense of accomplishment as they watch their plants thrive.
5. Night sky observation
Discover the wonders of the night sky! This astronomical outdoor activity will leave your pupils in awe of the vastness of space and its many mysteries. Simply encourage them to step outside after sunset, look up, and let their imaginations take flight. At different times of the year, they may spot constellations like Orion in winter or the Big Dipper in spring. For a closer look at planets, Venus and Jupiter are often visible on very clear nights.
How-To:
Choose a Clear Night: Pick a night with clear skies and minimal light pollution for the best viewing experience.
Identify Constellations: Use a star chart to help identify constellations, planets, and other celestial objects.
Record Observations: Keep a night sky journal to document what is seen. Pupils can draw constellations, note the position of the moon, and describe any interesting sightings.
Learn About Stars: Research the stories behind constellations or the science of stars and planets to deepen understanding.
Benefits:
Night sky observation sparks curiosity about science and the universe, encouraging pupils to explore concepts like astronomy. It also enhances observational skills as children focus on identifying patterns, tracking the movement of stars, or spotting planets.
Why encourage educational outdoor learning activities?
Why do we like to encourage outdoor education? Well, there are many reasons, but overall they provide outstanding learning benefits for children. In England’s largest outdoor learning project, 90% of children reported feeling happier and healthier while participating in lessons outdoors.
By incorporating outdoor learning as part of the school curriculum, educators create opportunities for pupils to develop in ways that are both meaningful and memorable. Here are even more compelling reasons why children should experience outdoor learning:
Puts learning into context
Outdoor education activities allow pupils to apply their learning in real-world contexts. These hands-on challenges help them understand that what they’re learning is not just for school, but is purposeful and relevant to everyday life.
Improves communication skills
Whether it’s collaborating on a group project, or simply working together to solve problems, being outside encourages active conversations and teamwork. These interactions help pupils build confidence in expressing their ideas and listening to others, all while developing essential social skills.
Great for your pupils’ wellbeing
Spending time in the outdoors has proven benefits for physical and mental wellbeing. So, whether you’re including outdoor activities in your lessons at school or encouraging them at home, you’re supporting the growth of your pupils massively! For more insights, check out our latest blog on how outdoor activities boost health and happiness.
Enhances creativity
When students step outside the classroom, their imagination runs wild! Think of nature as a blank canvas for creative exploration. Surrounded by new sights, sounds, and textures, pupils are inspired to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas to solve problems or create something entirely new.
It’s engaging
Pupils learn lots more when they’re interested. If they’re gripped by a topic then there’s a high chance they’ll absorb information more easily and will also challenge themselves in lessons more because they want to learn! Outdoor education activities can also have the same effect. It’s a new challenge that gets them out and about and is different from what they’re used to doing at school, and they love it!
Join PGL for some outdoor learning activities!
If you’re interested in getting your pupils involved in more, then our residential school trips offer them an experience they’ll never forget!
With fantastic group activities galore, your pupils will never tire of the wide range of adrenaline-fuelled challenges and entertaining activities into the evening too.
We provide a wide range of school trips for primary schools and secondary schools that are all about outdoor education, including Multi-activity, UNITE!, PIONEER! MASTER!, GROW! and our new wellbeing-focused THRIVE! programme.
So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today to discuss your next school trip.
