Outdoor Classroom Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Outdoor Classroom Day. Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign to inspire and celebrate outdoor play and learning. It is led by Project Dirt and Save the Children. There are two designated days each year: in May and November. For official information and to learn more about the campaign, please visit their website (www.outdoorclassroomday.org.uk).

Thursday 21st May 2026 & Thursday 5th November 2026

May & November (twice yearly)

• 🤔 What is Outdoor Classroom Day?

  Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign that celebrates and promotes learning outdoors. It encourages schools and early years settings to take learning beyond the classroom and recognise the value of outdoor environments for children’s development and wellbeing.

• 🌳 Understanding Outdoor Learning in EYFS & KS1

  This theme provides rich opportunities to explore:

  • the natural world

  • physical development and movement

  • sensory experiences

  • problem-solving and exploration

  • environmental awareness

  This supports:

  EYFS

  • Physical Development (gross motor skills, coordination)

  • Understanding the World (nature, environments)

  • Characteristics of Effective Learning (exploration, thinking)

  KS1 (National Curriculum):

  • Science (working scientifically, plants, seasonal change)

  • Geography (fieldwork, local environment)

  • PE (movement, coordination, outdoor activity)

• 🌱 A Developmentally Appropriate Approach in the Early Years

  In the EYFS, outdoor learning is not an “add-on” or special event.

  It is:

  • a core part of everyday practice

  • embedded in continuous provision

  • led by children’s interests and exploration

  👉 Find out more about developmentally appropriate practice in EYFS by exploring our ‘Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’.

  Pathways available for:

  ↪ Babies | birth-18 months

  ↪ Toddlers | 18-36 months

  ↪ Preschool | 3-4 years

  ↪ Reception | 4-5 years

  ↪ Childminder | Mixed-Age Care

• 💛 Why Outdoor Learning Matters

  Learning outdoors supports:

  🏃 Physical Development

  Children develop strength, coordination and movement.

  🌿 Sensory Exploration

  Children experience varied textures, sounds and environments.

  🧠 Problem-Solving & Creativity

  Open-ended environments encourage thinking and imagination.

  💪 Resilience & Risk Awareness

  Children learn to manage challenge and build confidence.

  🌍 Connection to Nature

  Children develop respect and care for the natural world.

  😊 Wellbeing

  Outdoor time supports emotional regulation and happiness.

🌿 EYFS: Provision & Child-Led Ideas (0–5 Years)

These ideas are not activities to be planned or completed. They support learning through exploration, movement and real-world experience.

• 👶 Babies (0–18 months)

  Exploration is sensory and relational.

  Babies may:

  • experience outdoor sights, sounds and textures

  • observe movement (leaves, light, shadows)

  • respond to changes in environment

  Adults can:

  • provide safe outdoor sensory experiences

  • narrate simple observations

  • support calm, shared exploration

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Babies (0–18 Months)’ hub page.

• 🚶 Toddlers (18–36 months)

  Toddlers explore through movement and repetition.

  Children may:

  • run, climb and transport objects

  • explore water, sand and natural materials

  • repeat actions and movements

  Adults can:

  • allow freedom of movement

  • model simple language

  • support safe risk-taking

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Toddlers (18–36 Months)’ hub page.

• 🧒 Preschool (3–4 years)

  Children begin to explore ideas through play.

  Children may:

  • investigate natural materials

  • engage in imaginative outdoor play

  • explore cause and effect

  Adults can:

  • support curiosity through interaction

  • extend thinking through conversation

  • provide varied outdoor experiences

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Preschool (3–4 Years)’ hub page.

• 🎓 Reception (4–5 years)

  Children deepen exploration and apply understanding.

  Children may:

  • solve problems in outdoor contexts

  • explore patterns and relationships

  • use more complex language

  Adults can:

  • support reasoning and explanation

  • introduce challenges through provision

  • extend learning through interaction

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Reception (4–5 Years)’ hub page.

• 🧠 Key Principle Across EYFS

  Outdoor learning is:

  • a way of learning

  • a way of experiencing the world

🌱 Environment Enhancements & Invitations (EYFS)

These are optional enhancements that may be added to outdoor provision if they align with children’s interests.

• 🌳 Outdoor Continuous Provision

  You might enhance provision by:

  • maintaining open-ended outdoor spaces

  • allowing movement, exploration and independence

  • providing access to varied materials

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Outdoor Area resources

• 🪵 Loose Parts & Construction

  You might enhance provision by:

  • offering natural and open-ended materials (logs, sticks, crates)

  • allowing children to build and create freely

  • supporting problem-solving through play

• 💧 Water, Sand & Sensory Play

  You might enhance provision by:

  • providing water and sand play

  • allowing mixing, pouring and exploring

  • supporting sensory investigation

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Water play resources

  • Sand play materials

• 🔍 Exploration & Discovery

  You might enhance provision by:

  • encouraging children to explore the environment

  • observing nature and seasonal change

  • allowing time for curiosity-led discovery

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Scavenger hunt prompts

  • Observation cards

• 🗣️ Language, Interaction & Thinking

  You might enhance provision by:

  • modelling language during outdoor play

  • responding to children’s ideas and discoveries

  • encouraging description and questioning

• 🌍 Risk, Responsibility & Independence

  You might enhance provision by:

  • allowing appropriate challenge

  • supporting children to assess risk

  • encouraging independence

📘 KS1 Learning Activities for Outdoor Classroom Day

In Key Stage 1, outdoor learning can support structured learning across the curriculum.

• 🌿 Outdoor Learning Zones

  Children can:

  • explore different learning areas outdoors

  You may use our:

  • Outdoor Area Signs

  • “How Many Can Play” Signs

• 🔍 Sensory & Nature Exploration

  Children can:

  • observe and explore using their senses

  You may use our:

  • Senses Prompt Cards (See/Hear)

  • Sound Exploration Cards

• 🍃 Mud Kitchen & Imaginative Play

  Children can:

  • engage in creative, open-ended play

  You may use our:

  • Mud Kitchen resources

• 🔢 Outdoor Maths

  Children can:

  • apply maths in real environments

  You may use our:

  • Outdoor Maths Activity Cards

  • Shape & Pattern Cards

• ✏️ Outdoor Mark Making

  Children can:

  • develop early writing skills

  You may use our:

  • Outdoor Mark Making Cards

  • Sand writing resources

• 🦕 Investigation & Discovery

  Children can:

  • explore through themed investigations

  You may use our:

  • Dino Dig resources

  • Fossil finding activities

• 💧 Water Play & Science

  Children can:

  • explore scientific concepts

  You may use our:

  • Float or Sink resources

  • Capacity Challenge Cards

  • Sea animal water play resources

• 🏃 Movement & Physical Play

  Children can:

  • develop physical skills

  You may use our:

  • Movement Prompt Cards

• 🏖️ Sand Play Learning

  Children can:

  • integrate maths and literacy into play

  You may use our:

  • Sand play writing and number cards

  • Treasure maps

• 🌍 Explore More Resources | EYFS Enhanced Provision & KS1 Activities

  You may wish to explore:

  • Outdoor Area

  • Forest School

  • Woodland (Temperate)

  • Weather

  • The Environment

  • Minibeasts

• 🧠 Using Special Dates Thoughtfully

  A helpful question: “Does this support meaningful outdoor exploration?”

  If it supports:

  • movement

  • curiosity

  • real experiences

  → it is meaningful

• 🌳 In Summary

  Outdoor Classroom Day supports children to:

  • learn through movement and exploration

  • connect with nature

  • develop physical and cognitive skills

  • build confidence and resilience

  In the EYFS, this is most effective when it is:

  • continuous

  • play-based

  • embedded in everyday practice

  In KS1, it can be:

  • structured across the curriculum

  • enriched through outdoor contexts

• 🔓 How to Access Resources

  We offer a range of resources to support practitioners across EYFS and KS1, including printable materials and in-depth curriculum and pedagogy guidance.

  🟢 Free Membership

  You can access a selection of free resources by creating a free account.

  This includes:

  • selected printable resources

  • sample materials

  • weekly support emails for those who opt-in

  👉 [Create a free account]

  🟡 Premium Membership (Printables)

  Our Premium Membership provides access to our full library of printable teaching and provision resources.

  This includes:

  • themed resources (e.g. Gardening, Emotions, Seasons)

  • continuous provision materials

  • activity cards, displays and printable packs

  These resources can be used flexibly to support:

  • provision enhancements

  • small group work

  • classroom organisation

  👉 [View Premium Membership]

  🟣 Professional Membership (Curriculum & Pedagogy)

  Our Professional Membership provides access to our full Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite (Birth–5).

  ~ In addition to Premium Printable Provision access.~

  This includes:

  • age-specific pathways (Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, Reception)

  • planning guidance and templates

  • observation and assessment support

  • SEND and inclusion guidance

  • inspection-ready documentation

  These documents are designed to support:

  • confident decision-making

  • consistent practice across teams

  • clear articulation of EYFS pedagogy

  (KS1 curriculum coming soon!)

  👉 Visit EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite

  👉 [View Professional Membership]

  🧠 Choosing What Works for You

  You do not need to use everything at once.

  Many practitioners:

  • start with free resources

  • build their printable provision over time

  • use pedagogy documents to support team understanding and leadership

  Choose what best fits your setting, role and stage of development.

👉 To explore more early years events, visit our Special Dates Calendar.

A selection of Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Outdoor Classroom Day’

For our extensive catalogue of ‘Outdoor Area’ resources, please visit our ‘Outdoor Area’ page.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for May & November

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Outdoor Classroom Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by Project Dirt or Save the Children, who lead this campaign. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and to learn more about the campaign, please visit their website at www.outdoorclassroomday.org.uk.