Primary outdoors

Children are happier and healthier when they have regular opportunities to learn and play outdoors. Make curriculum linked outdoor learning a regular part of your practice and you will help ensure positive intellectual, emotional, and social development whilst building the foundations for a lifelong connection with nature and our planet.

We’ve created this page to support primary school educators in taking advantage of the benefits of outdoor learning and play. Find everything you need to take learning outdoors in your setting, including outdoor lesson ideas, guidance, training, and more.

School children running across their grassy school grounds with a bunch of colourful balloons on Outdoor Classroom Day.

Resources

Below, you’ll find a wide range of resources to support your primary outdoor learning and play practice. These include outdoor activities developed by primary school educators; tips, tricks, and advice from our blog; and more in-depth guidance on outdoor learning and play at primary school.

Exploring Litter

Exploring Litter

Use this primary maths activity to explore the different types of litter you can find in the school grounds. This…
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What’s our school made of?

What’s our school made of?

Use this primary science activity to explore the different materials that can be found in your school grounds. This outdoor…
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A Handful of Sounds

A Handful of Sounds

Use this primary literacy and language activity to focus pupils on their senses and encourage a wider use of vocabulary.…
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Portraits inspired by Arcimboldo

Portraits inspired by Arcimboldo

Use this primary art and design activity to explore the work of famous artist Arcimboldo. This outdoor lesson idea uses…
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Nature Bingo

Nature Bingo

Use this play activity to explore and learn more about your outside space. This outdoor lesson idea will improve vocabulary…
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Animal Senses: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Animal Senses: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Use this primary science activity to explore how animals use their sense of smell to identify each other. This fun…
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Training

We provide a wide range of online and in-person training courses to help you develop your primary outdoor learning and play practice. The training options below include courses for individual teachers, school staff teams, and wider organisations such as local authorities and multi-academy trusts.

If you are looking for a more consultation-based approach, our Advisory Visit service includes an audit of your school grounds, observation of how they are currently being used and consultation with staff and children to produce a set of recommendations around your ongoing practice and development. We can also provide bespoke consultation services as required – please get in touch to request this.

Projects

We work closely with international partners to develop and deliver outdoor learning and play projects that connect children and young people to the natural world. Take a look at some of the work we’re doing in primary schools.

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