Seeing all the outdoor fun that is being had around the world on Outdoor Classroom Day is one of my favourite things. As the photos and messages flood social media, I am left surer than ever that giving children the time, opportunity and space to explore the outdoors is central to their enjoyment of childhood – not to mention all the other benefits that time outdoors brings.

To provide a bit of inspiration for your outdoor adventures, I have pulled together some of the activity ideas shared by the Outdoor Classroom Day community as part of the 2018 campaign.

Check out this A-Z list of getting outdoors!

Arrange objects you find in the school grounds from largest to smallest.
Build a fire.
Collect as many outdoor materials as possible beginning with the letter…
Demonstrate how children are ready, respectful and safe when near a fire.
Explore natural and human-made angles.
Find magic wands and measure them.
Get muddy.
Hunt for objects and items around your school grounds.
Impressions of nature – create them in clay and make fridge magnets.
Just play.
Kites – make and fly them.
Loose parts – put out boxes, tubes, old clothes, pipes, crates, pallets, tyres… for play.
Make fairies out of clay.
Natural art – collect materials and create some.
Orienteering – test your classes’ skills in and around the school grounds, or further afield.
Pavement chalk – use it to practice addition and numbers.
Quiet time – spend some under trees, lying on the grass, sitting in the playground.
Run, roll and spin around… just for fun.
Sort leaves by size and use them to make a leaf wand.
Teamwork – get into groups to design and build bug hotels.
Use materials you pick up on a nature walk for a science, math or art project.
Visualise what the outdoors is like in other countries.
Write poetry – about anything you find outdoors.
Xylophone – create one with natural objects that make different sounds.
Yodel in the style of your favourite bird.
Zigzag around the playground without bumping into anyone.

I would love to see how you put these into practice, and to hear your own ideas too – please share on social media using #OutdoorClassroomDay!

Claire Colvine, Global Communications Manager, Outdoor Classroom Day.