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).

Understanding Outdoor Classroom Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's learn outside! 🌳☀️ Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign to inspire and celebrate outdoor play and learning, with two designated days each year: one in May and one in November. Led by Project Dirt and Save the Children, this initiative champions the idea that spending time outdoors is crucial for children's health, well-being, and development. It encourages schools and early years settings worldwide to take lessons outside, reconnecting children with nature and demonstrating the vast learning opportunities beyond the classroom walls.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a fantastic and practical theme for exploring nature, physical development, sensory learning, problem-solving, and environmental awareness. It's about harnessing the power of outdoor environments to enrich learning experiences, fostering a love for the natural world, and promoting holistic development. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning both adventurous and impactful.

Why Is Learning Outdoors Important for Young Children?

Integrating outdoor learning into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. The outdoor environment offers unique learning opportunities that cannot always be replicated indoors.

• Physical Development: Running, jumping, climbing, and exploring develop gross motor skills, coordination, and strength.

• Sensory Exploration: The outdoors provides a rich sensory experience – sounds, smells, textures, and sights that stimulate curiosity.

• Problem-Solving & Creativity: Natural materials and open-ended spaces encourage imaginative play, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

• Risk-Taking & Resilience: Children can test boundaries, learn about managing risks, and build resilience.

• Connection to Nature: Fosters an appreciation for the natural world, leading to environmental awareness and stewardship.

• Well-being: Spending time outdoors reduces stress, improves mood, and can enhance concentration.

Engaging Outdoor Activities for Outdoor Classroom Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make Outdoor Classroom Day a truly adventurous and hands-on experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on discovery, exploration, and learning in nature's classroom! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available on our 'Outdoor Area' page.

Here's some inspiration for taking your learning outside: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Designated Outdoor Areas: Clearly define and label different outdoor learning zones. Use our 'Outdoor Area - General Outdoor Signs and 'Outdoor Area - Pack 'How Many Can Play' Area Signs'.

• Sensory Scavenger Hunts: Go on a nature walk and use your senses. Use 'Outdoor Play - Senses - Can You See? and Can You Hear? Mindfulness Prompt Cards' to encourage observation and listening.

• Mud Kitchen Creations: Set up a mud kitchen for imaginative culinary play with natural ingredients. Enhance your set up with our variety of Mud Kitchen resources.

• Outdoor Maths Challenges: Take maths learning outdoors! Use our 'Outdoor Maths - Activity Cards - Birth To 3', 'Outdoor Maths - Shape Challenge Cards', and 'Outdoor Maths - Pattern Cards'. Count natural objects, find shapes in nature, or create patterns with leaves and stones.

• Outdoor Mark Making: Practice pre-writing skills using natural materials or in the sand. Our 'Outdoor Mark Making - Minibeast Pre-Writing Cards' are great.

• Dino Dig: Set up a "Dino Dig" area using sand or soil. Bury toy dinosaurs or "fossils" and let children excavate. Use our 'Dino Dig - Banner, Word Cards', Find Fossil Letters, Find Fossil Shapes, Find Fossil Numbers and more!

• Water Play Investigations: Explore the properties of water outdoors. Use 'Water Play - Float Or Sink Poster', 'Water Play - Float Or Sink Tick Sheets', 'Water Play - Float Or Sink Prompts' and 'Water Play - Capacity Challenge Cards'. Explore sea creatures in water play using 'Water Play - Find Sea Animals Cards', 'Water Play - Under The Sea Alphabet', 'Water Play - Under The Sea Numbers', and 'Water Play - Water Sound Posters'.

• Sound Exploration: Go on a sound hunt and try to replicate sounds heard. Use 'Outdoor Play - Sound - Can You Make This Sound? Prompt Cards'.

• Construction Challenges: Provide outdoor loose parts (sticks, logs, crates) and 'Outdoor Play - Construction Prompt Cards' to inspire building.

• Movement Activities: Encourage active play with 'Outdoor Play - Movement Prompt Cards'.

• Outdoor Picnic: Enjoy snacks or lunch outdoors. Use our Outdoor Picnic Area and Teddy Bears Picnic resources.

• Sand Play Activities: Integrate literacy and numeracy into sand play using 'Sand Play - Find In The Sand Cards', 'Sand Play - Sand Treasure Map', 'Sand Play - Letter Writing Cards', 'Sand Play - Number Writing Cards', and 'Sand Play - Shape Cards'.

These activities offer great inspiration for making Outdoor Classroom Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering physical development, sensory exploration, problem-solving skills, and a deep connection to the natural world.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

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

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!

SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ USING THE FOLLOWING MENU BUTTONS…

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.