Autumn Outdoor Learning Activities
I love autumn and believe it’s one of the best seasons to take learning outdoors, using nature as a valuable teaching tool. Whether you decide to bring your regular lessons outside underneath a school canopy and substitute man-made objects for natural ones, or if you craft special outdoor lessons specifically for this purpose, your students will be thrilled. The fresh air, vibrant colours, and hands-on experiences will have them looking forward to their next outdoor lesson.
Here are just a few ideas to inspire your autumn teaching plans:
Leaf Foraging
Distribute worksheets with diagrams of various types of leaves and natural objects, such as acorns and pine cones. Challenge the children to explore the playground and collect as many items as they can. To make it easier, stick to leaves and objects that are common in your playground. If your area lacks trees, consider planting leaves around the grounds for them to discover. This activity will engage their curiosity and help them connect with nature.
Natural Math Sums
Use twigs, acorns, or stones to teach counting and simple arithmetic. Children can use these natural objects to add, subtract, or group numbers, making math lessons more interactive and engaging. The outdoor environment provides a refreshing change of pace, encouraging them to stay active while learning in a fun and creative way.
Team Building Challenges
Divide the children into groups and assign them tasks that require teamwork and cooperation. One exciting option is organising treasure hunts. You can hide objects like “pirate treasure” or toy fossils in sand pits or designated areas, turning your lesson into a pirate or dinosaur adventure. These team-building activities not only teach collaboration but also fuel imagination and critical thinking.
So, what do you think? Will you be incorporating any of these ideas into your lessons this autumn? Or have you tried them before? I’d love to hear how they went and any creative twists you’ve added!
Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
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