Outdoor Activities
Grab your favourite pens and pencils and colour in these conkers! Conkers are so much fun, but if it’s too cold or wet outside to collect them, colour in instead. Go hunting for real conkers how many can you collect? Create a conker collage using leaves, twigs and bits of conker shell Conkers are the seeds of the horse chestnut tree Look carefully at your collected conkers do they have swirly patterns on their glossy shells?
A fun way to practise counting, sorting and weighing. Autumn is conker season! Collect a bunch to use in these fun maths challenges. Sort your conkers from smallest to biggest Weigh them Learn about 2D and 3D shapes
Go conkers and make these marvellous models. Gather conkers and get creative all you need is your imagination! Make sure you choose conkers of different sizes Remember to keep the shells you can use them on your models Get inspired by nature or let your imagination run wild! Don’t forget to use other woodland items to help bring your creations to life.
A fun autumn game using conkers
Make this super easy feeder for your garden birds. This is simple and fun. All you need is lard, bird seed and a cookie cutter or two. Easy peasy! Making these feeders is messy fun, so be prepared to get your hands dirty! This is a super activity for little (and big!) Nature Detectives Hang your feeders where you can see them and wait for your feathered friends to tuck in to
Creating funny creatures from natural features
Fun way to start your forest school session
To investigate the components of the water cycle • To understand how rivers erode, transport and deposit materials to produce particular landscape features
Get creative using black paper and bright colours. Black paper is brilliant for creating dramatic nighttime art. Experiment with chalk and bright paints that really stand out Use natural materials like real leaves to make a collage Create spooky, moonlit scenes using white pen What sort of picture did you make? Don’t forget to clear a space on your fridge or wall to display your artwork!
Use this handy iDial to identify minibeasts on the ground. Print and make the iDial, then take it with you on a hunt for creepy crawlies! Search under logs, rocks and in the soil Some creatures have no legs, some have six legs, and some have lots of legs! How many different minibeasts can you spot? Did you know? Creepy crawlies are invertebrates: this means they have no backbone!
Are you ready to hunt for these creepy crawly minibeasts? Grab your best detecting kit and head out into the woods or your garden. Search for creepy crawlies among leaf litter and under logs and stones You might spot some minibeasts flying through the air, so keep your eyes peeled Some minibeasts prefer dark, damp hiding places, others prefer sunshine and lush leaves Not all creepy crawlies are insects. Some, like slugs and snails, are gastropods, some, like centipedes, are myriapods, and some, like harvestmen, are arachnids.
Fun game with hoops and tennis balls
Fun game to improve fine motor skills
Think you know what a carrot looks like?
Help your little one spot these creatures while you’re in the woods. What will you discover when you go down to the woods today? How many different birds will your little one spy? Count the animals together Help your child look for animals in the trees and on the ground what can they see? Keep your eyes peeled and help your mini Nature Detective spot woodland animals when you’re out and about.
Write secret messages using dandelion sap! Dandelion sap makes super ink for penning secret notes it’s hard to see when it’s wet, but when it’s dry the message is revealed! Does it work better on white or coloured paper? Does the ink work on pebbles and leaves? Can you make ink from any other flowers or plants? Be careful dandelion sap can occasionally cause skin irritation, and it can stain your clothes.
How many day-flying moths can you identify? Lots of day-flying moths are brightly coloured and look a bit like butterflies. Use our ID sheet to help you identify them. Moths hold their wings flat when they re resting They usually have thin, comb-like or feathery antennae Moths often have fat, furry bodies Now you can tell the difference between a day-flying moth and a butterfly, get outside and ID them!
Begin making your first den
To appreciate the natural surroundings – To understand and define hibernation – To investigate environmental indicators signalling animals’ need to hibernate through exploring natural surroundings – To think creatively – To develop team work skills
Get crafty in the woods and build your very own den. Follow our top tips and create a wonderful woodland hideaway. Use branches, leaves and twigs to build a sturdy, cosy den Remember that you need a good foundation before you start Can you build a den big enough for you and your friends? Remember, never cut anything down or damage the wood to construct your den.
Use this table to record which colours you find where.
Create a colourful nest for this snuggly dormouse. Dormice spend their summers hiding in trees, then feast on hazelnuts and fruit ready for their winter hibernation. Colour in this dormouse and his nest. Create a collage using natural materials you find on the woodland floor Add felt or fake fur to your dormouse to make him super fluffy Did you know? Dormice are nocturnal
Transform into a dozy dormouse! Do you love naps and lazy lie-ins? Are your PJs your favourite clothes? Do you love snuggling under a cosy blanket with a yummy snack? If so, you’re like a dormouse! Print out and make up this marvellous mask to complete your transformation. Then strike a pose, snap a selfie and share your pics with us using #NatureDetectives
Hunt for and ID dragonflies and damselflies. Look out for dragonflies and damselflies, and spot the difference between them. There are three main differences: eyes, shape and wings These bugs zip through the air, so you’ll need to be quick to spot them! You might find one or two resting on leaves Watch for them hunting by water.
Using calk outdoors