Nature-based learning ideas for outdoor classrooms

Today we are forgetting about our four walls and whiteboard, because some of the best learning happens with muddy hands, fresh air, and a curious mind. From minibeast safaris to fossil digs, outdoor learning is one of the most effective ways to spark creativity, build resilience, and connect children with the world around them.

At YPO, we’re big believers in education that starts with exploration. We’ve teamed up with three passionate educators who have worked with us to bring the classroom into nature and trust us, it’s filled with feathers, fossils, and learning through play.

Whether you’ve got acres of woodland, a grass area or just a tuff tray on tarmac, we’re here to help you create nature-based learning that can be done everywhere. Here’s how to build brilliant, bite-sized adventures outside, backed by real teachers for educators everywhere, simple setups, and tried-and-tested resources.

Product of the Month: Forest School Starter Pack

Let’s start with a favourite: the Forest School Starter Pack. This all-in-one kit has been chosen as our Product of the Month for good reason, it’s the ultimate resource for outdoor adventures.

With everything from magnifiers to butterfly nets, this practical kit invites children to slow down, observe, question and discover. From EYFS to KS1, it supports:

• Scientific discovery and early investigation
• Teamwork, cooperation and shared goals
• Confidence-building through independent exploration

💡Educator tip: Create a “Bug Explorer” trail using string, sticks and the Mini Beast Viewers. Ask learners to record their finds in notebooks or on a visual tally sheet—add magnifiers for bonus engagement!

What’s included, Product Code D79989:

• 1 x Magnifiers in stand (set of 6) 
• 6 x Mini Beast Viewers 
• 6 x Powerscopes 
• 1 x Large Bug Aquatic Container 
• 1 x Giant Magnifying Pot 
• 3 x Butterfly Nets 

These open-ended resources are designed for versatility. One day they’re studying worms in the soil, the next they’re identifying pond skaters or capturing a spider’s web in the morning dew. Nature provides the learning and this Forest School Kit gives you the tools.

From Safari to Sea: Molly’s Multi-Zone Outdoor Adventure

For Outdoor Classroom Day, EY Teacher Molly transformed her outdoor space into an immersive learning environment. She created three themed zones: Safari, Farm and Ocean, each offering children the chance to explore animals, habitats and storytelling through sensory-rich play.

Two products Molly used for her outdoor learning set up are Millhouse’s outdoor Imaginative Play Building and Yellow Door’s Little People Like Me. These open-ended tools allowed children to freely interpret roles and scenarios, fostering creativity, empathy, and problem-solving.

“The children moved through each habitat, learning about animals, building stories, and developing teamwork without even realising they were learning.” – Molly, create_make_and_play

Instagram: create_make_and_play

Safari Zone featured sand, toy binoculars, and animal tracks to identify.

Farm Zone included hay bales, sorting activities with toy vegetables, and animal puppets.

Ocean Zone used shells, sensory rice, and blue fabric waves for under-the-sea storytelling.

💡 Try This: Use themed colours or textures in each zone to set the mood. Pair with storybooks or laminated vocabulary cards to support language development.

This approach hits multiple developmental and learning goals in one go, from understanding the world and biodiversity to building narrative structure and social development.

Shape Play Meets Nature: Natasha’s Bird-Themed Tray

Educator Natasha knows how to take a simple tuff tray and turn it into a mini ecosystem of learning. Her bird-themed small world setup is a beautiful fusion of early maths, science and sensory play.

Filled with natural materials like dandelions, feathers, bark, and pebbles, a perfectly fitting grass insert and the Cosy Deep Spot Tray invited open-ended play and discovery. Children used tweezers to fill the Cosy Geo Shape Outdoor Tracing trays , strengthening their fine motor skills while exploring pattern and spatial awareness.

“We talked about nests, eggs, and migration. The kids naturally asked questions and shared their own ideas. It was learning through play at its best.” – Natasha, tufftray_adventures

Instagram: tufftray_adventures

Learning Wins:

• Shape recognition

• Language enrichment through storytelling

• Environmental science with real-world links

💡 Extend It: Add a magnifying glass and bird feathers chart to turn it into a mini birdwatcher's station. Ask children to sort feathers by size, colour, or texture.

Fossil Dig Fun: Dino Discoveries in the Mud

Another brilliant setup by Natasha involved turning a simple sensory tray into a full-blown archaeological site. The children took on the role of mini palaeontologists, gently brushing away mud to reveal hidden dinosaur bones and fossils.

“We learned new words like ‘extinct’ and ‘excavation’. The children were completely absorbed into the activity, dusting, guessing, and storytelling for over 45 minutes.” – Natasha, tufftray_adventures

All the of the products needed for this invitation to play can be found in the Yellow Door Outdoor Explorer Kit, Product Code D58533.

Instagram: tufftray_adventures

Learning Outcomes:

• Critical thinking through prediction and identification
• Historical awareness with basic timeline concepts
• Hand-eye coordination and perseverance through detailed work

💡 Top Tip: Add clipboards and chalk to let children sketch their finds or “catalogue” discoveries like real scientists. It builds early literacy skills in a playful context.

Cascade Outdoor Table: Outdoor Water Play set up by Mia

Outdoor learning doesn’t need to be a grand production—sometimes the simplest setups create the most impactful learning moments. We love our Cascade Outdoor Table, part of the Outlast Range, and a must have for outdoor provision. Built from Accoya—an incredibly durable, weatherproof, and environmentally friendly wood—the Cascade Table is more than just a water table; it’s a launchpad for STEM exploration, sensory play, and collaborative teamwork.

“It’s my go-to for messy play, water investigations, and even sensory setups with mud or ice. And it still looks brand new after months outside.” – Mia, miss_e_early_years

Why Educators Love It: Easy to drain and clean. No sharp edges, toxins, or treated wood. UV-resistant plastic edging. Collaborative water play & natural experiments. Modular design.

Instagram: miss_e_early_years

Learning Outcomes:

• STEM Exploration: Discover concepts like water flow, volume, and gravity through hands-on play.
• Teamwork & Social Skills: Collaborate on pouring, tipping, and experimenting with water.
• Sensory Development: Engage the senses with tactile play, building fine motor skills.
• Language & Communication: Build vocabulary around water play (pour, flow, splash) and inspire imaginative storytelling.

💡 Top Tip: Add floating and sinking experiments to spark curiosity and deepen understanding of water science.

Engineering Adventures with Polydron: Amy’s Outdoor Learning Setup

Primary School Teacher Amy, the_geordie_teacher,  has been teaching basic DT skills to her class with the XL Polydron Set, bringing hands-on engineering to her outdoor classroom. The open-ended design possibilities have sparked incredible creativity and problem-solving, with children working together to build everything from bridges to shelters using the durable, interlocking shapes. In the fresh air, this versatile resource encourages teamwork, spatial thinking, and a deeper understanding of basic engineering concepts. It’s outdoor learning that’s not just practical—it’s powerful.

TikTok: the_geordie_teacher

Learning Outcomes:

• Teamwork and Collaboration: Working together to design and build structures.
• Problem-Solving: Adapting designs and finding solutions during the building process.
• Spatial Awareness: Understanding how shapes connect and fit in 3D space.
• Engineering Basics: Learning about structure, balance, and support through play.

💡 Top Tip: Encourage children to draw their design ideas on mini chalkboards before building with Polydron. This helps them visualise the process and think critically about their structures before building them.

Why Outdoor Learning Matters

Nature-based learning isn’t just a trend, it’s an essential part of helping children grow into confident, creative, connected learners. At its core, nature-based learning is an educational approach that uses the natural environment as a framework for teaching and exploration. It goes beyond occasional outdoor play, weaving nature into daily learning experiences that nurture curiosity, resilience, and a deep connection to the world around us.

The benefits are far-reaching:

• Encourages environmental awareness and responsibility
• Boosts communication, collaboration, and social skills
• Supports sensory processing and emotional regulation
• Builds investigative thinking and real-world understanding
• Promotes movement, balance, and coordination

In a world where screen time is rising and green space is shrinking, the role of outdoor education is more vital than ever.

Even the simplest activities—like collecting leaves, drawing in mud, or hunting for shapes in clouds—can foster awe and lifelong curiosity.

You don’t need acres of land or a huge budget to get started. What matters is offering open-ended invitations to explore.

Here are some easy wins you can create and develop in your setting:

• Create a “Nature Detectives” challenge: How many textures, shapes, or bugs can you find?
• Set up a “Weather Station” with rain gauges and wind ribbons
• Use natural materials to form letters or numbers on the ground
• Paint with mud, leaves, or flower petals for outdoor art

Build Your Outdoor Toolkit

Browse our Primary Outdoor Learning range and Early Years Outdoor Learning & Activities to find versatile, weatherproof resources to help you create your nature learning space. Whether it’s Forest School essentials, tuff trays, or exploration resources, YPO offers a large selection where you are sure to find something for your setting.