Top 5 outdoor learning activity areas

Top 5 outdoor learning activity areas

By The YPO Team

Being outside and learning amongst nature is hugely powerful, especially as it can help develop children's confidence, boost self-esteem and increase concentration levels. At a time when many children are spending more hours indoors and on screens than ever before, outdoor learning gives children the chance to get some fresh air and connect with nature (something humans thrive on most when doing)

In a recent study, the National Trust found that 76% of children want to spend more time outdoors amongst nature, showing a clear preference for learning beyond the classroom walls. By embracing this, schools and early years settings can benefit from happier children and therefore more effective learning.

So, which activities work best outdoors, and how can you make the most of the space you already have? We’ve gathered plenty of practical inspiration to help you create a collaborative outdoor environment where children can learn, make, play, nurture and explore the great outdoors, whatever the size of your setting.

Read on for our top tips and ideas.

Starting an outdoor space from scratch?

If you're looking to revamp your outdoor area or you're starting a brand new one for the first time, you'll first need to consider looking into the logistics:

• Budget: What’s realistic to create in your budget? 
• The space: Is it large or compact? 
• When will it be used: for playtime, during lessons, or booked via classes?
• Key elements: What are the non-negotiable features in your school garden?
• Maintenance: How often and who will be looking after the plants, soil and cleaning?
  
  

After all the boring stuff is out of the way, you can start brainstorming ideas for your new space and how you'd like it to look. This is a perfect chance to get the children involved in a class project by creating an ideas collage!

First up, put out gardening magazines on a table (our favourites are BBC Gardeners’ World and Garden News) and encourage children to cut out pictures they’d like to see in their school garden, then stick them on a piece of card to make a collage. Alternatively, you could ask pupils to draw their dream school garden and write down what they think each area should be called. You’ll be inspiring the next generation of project managers, gardeners, architects, botanists, explorers and all-round nature enthusiasts!

Five outdoor learning areas for schools and nurseries

1. Growing garden  

Ready to grow plants, flowers and herbs? First, you’ll need a mix of planters and pots (planters are great for small-group projects, and pots are the best size for individual planting). Then, choose your seeds - look to sunflowers and marigolds for flowers that are easy and quick to grow. Having a herb corner with mint, thyme and parsley is also a lovely idea, as children will love the scent and watching them grow (oh, and they’re pretty tough when handled by little fingers). 

What you’ll need: 

307315 - Children’s Plant Pots 

306722 - Children’s Gardening Gloves

D41989 - Children’s Wheelbarrow

816498 - Children’s Watering Can 

816499 - Gardening Bucket 

451020 - Organic Compost

1. Music wall

A music wall is a lovely addition to your outdoor areas, inviting children to experiment with different sounds. Whether children are creating beats with pots and pans or tapping wooden utensils together, it’s a fun way to build creativity and coordination. You don't need real instruments to enjoy the fun, using everyday items like colanders, metal buckets and baking tins work just as well as instruments and add an element of discovery.

What you’ll need: 

D78597 - Music Walls Trio

1. Investigation station

Little adventure seekers at the ready! Having an investigation station means a dedicated outdoor storage area where children can find all the tools they’ll need to explore and learn, grouped in buckets, crates, boxes, or on a wall with shelving. Our top tools? Magnifiers, binoculars, bug viewers for minibeast investigations, paintbrushes for painting rocks, bags and tweezers for finding natural materials, and activity sheets for nature hunts. 

What you’ll need: 

Outdoor Storage Space

309395 - Rainbow Magnifiers

450651 - Mini Binoculars

457159 - Bug Viewer

800015 - Jumbo Tweezers

567906 - Paint Brushes (3 Pack)

758507 - Zip Wallets (25 Pack) 

763217 - Folders (25 Pack)

1. Mud kitchen

Mud kitchens are great additions to school and nursery gardens, encouraging imaginative, sensory, physical and mathematical play. From boosting their coordination by mixing and stirring to increasing their curiosity about communication, people and the world around them, a mud kitchen is so much more than just pretend cooking. Children will love creating seasonal recipes like leafy spring salads, muddy summer smoothies, stick-filled autumn cupcakes, and watery winter soup, bringing mud kitchen fun to life all year round.

What you’ll need: 

D58977 - Mud Kitchen Cafe

D58968 - Mud Kitchen

1. Forest theatre

It’s showtime! Another fun area to consider for outdoor use is a forest theatre. A forest theatre is a place where children can take the stage for role play, drama class, and impromptu performances. You can use the area for storytelling, encourage group performances for older children, or use it as a platform for puppet shows, show-and-tell, or musical sessions. To elevate the area, include seating, props, and additional furniture, such as puppets, toys, and a dress-up rail for costumes.

What you’ll need: 

D43813 - Stage and Backdrop

D78618 - Cosy Crate Seats

D48021 - Shop and Puppet Theatre

820719 - Jungle Animal Puppets

D53606 - Dress Up Trolley

307442 - Firefighter Dress Up

307443 - Builder Dress Up 

307441 - Doctor Dress Up 

The opportunities for outdoor learning are endless - they don't stop here!

Explore more resources and get inspired with our full range of trusted educational outdoor learning resources, designed to support learning beyond the classroom.