Outdoor Learning Scheme of Work – Ages 4 to 5 Overview

Ages 4–5 Outdoor Curriculum Overview

🌳 Term 1 — Weeks 1–10

Week	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	Mud-Tastic Pie Play!	Creativity	Motor skills, Counting, Instructions	Children use mud, soil, water, and natural materials to create their own imaginative mud pies, developing sensory awareness and creative thinking.
2	Leaf Rubbing Fun!	Creativity	Motor skills, Art, Science	Children collect a variety of leaves and use crayons to reveal their beautiful hidden patterns through rubbings on paper.
3	Rock Paint Party!	Creativity	Motor skills, Art, History	Children paint smooth pebbles inspired by ancient cave art, exploring one of humanity’s earliest forms of creative expression.
4	Nature Collage	Creativity	Motor skills, Art, Science	Children collect natural materials and work in pairs or groups to create large-scale collages on A1 paper.
5	Twiggy Trees	Creativity	Motor skills, Art, Science	Children craft their own nature-inspired trees using branching twigs and colourful tissue paper.
6	Nature’s Treasures	Communication	Literacy, Science	Children explore the outdoors to find natural objects and then present their most treasured finds to the class in a nature-themed Show and Tell.
7	Mr Squirrel Says	Communication	Science	Children play a nature-themed instruction game inspired by the natural world, building listening skills and engagement with the outdoor environment.
8	Mud Kitchen	Communication	Science, Design & Technology	Children enjoy child-led, imaginative group play in a mud kitchen, freely creating and collaborating in a sensory-rich environment.
9	Nature’s Match-Up!	Communication	Science, Maths	Children collect natural items and then group themselves according to teacher instructions, building observation, teamwork, and communication skills.
10	Signal Safari	Communication	Science	Children discover how animals communicate through signals in nature, then practise and invent their own hand signals in pairs.

🍃 Term 2 — Weeks 1–10

Week	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	Woolly Caterpillars!	Reflection	Science	Children pretend to be birds hunting for hidden wool “caterpillars,” exploring how camouflage helps animals hide and survive in the wild.
2	Mini-Explore	Reflection	Science	Children use magnifying glasses to closely examine natural objects, reflecting on the incredible detail hidden in the world around them.
3	Nature’s Hide & Seek	Reflection	Science	Children play hide and seek outdoors and then reflect on how animals use camouflage as a key survival strategy in nature.
4	Outdoor Story Circle	Reflection	PSHE	Children collect interesting natural items on a mini-adventure, then gather in a circle to share their personal stories and feelings about nature.
5	Mindful Moments	Reflection	PSHE	Children sharpen their senses on a listening walk before settling into a peaceful guided outdoor meditation led by the teacher.
6	Nature’s Tracing Treasures	Independence	Art, Science	Children independently explore the outdoors, collect natural items, and create unique imprint artworks by tracing their finds on paper.
7	Leafy Shapes	Independence	Art, Science	Children collect leaves and independently turn them into imaginative designs, shapes, and patterns using cutting, arranging, and gluing.
8	Early Journals	Independence	Art, Literacy	Children go on a nature walk, observe the outdoor world, and independently create their own illustrated nature journals.
9	Creative Exploration	Independence	Art	Children freely experiment with a variety of natural materials and art supplies to create their own unique outdoor artworks.
10	Nature’s Home Builders	Independence	Science, Design & Technology	Children learn about animal habitats and use natural materials to independently design and build pretend homes for outdoor creatures.

🍂 Term 3 — Weeks 1–10

Week	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	Playground Masterpieces	Creativity	Art	Children gather inspiration from nature and use chalk to create vibrant, large-scale masterpieces on outdoor surfaces.
2	Fairy Dwellings	Creativity	Literacy, Design & Technology	Inspired by a fairy story, children use sticks, leaves, and natural treasures to build enchanting miniature fairy houses.
3	Tree Face Creations	Creativity	Art, Literacy	Children use clay and natural materials to sculpt expressive, imaginative faces onto trees, bringing the outdoors to life.
4	Nature’s Palette	Creativity	Art	Children go on a colourful journey, combining paint with natural finds to create vibrant nature-inspired collages.
5	Nature’s Rhythm	Creativity	Music, Science	Children explore the magic of sound by tapping sticks and beaters against different outdoor objects to create their own nature soundscapes.
6	Paired Hide & Seek	Communication	Science	Children take turns hiding and seeking in pairs, learning how camouflage helps animals communicate survival strategies in nature.
7	Team Scavenger Hunt	Communication	Science, Maths	Children work in small groups on a collaborative nature scavenger hunt, building teamwork and communication through shared discovery.
8	Tag Hunt	Communication	Literacy	Children work in pairs to hide and find name tags outdoors, giving and following verbal directions to guide each other to their goal.
9	Mr Fox Says	Communication	PSHE	Children play a nature-themed version of Simon Says, developing listening skills and the ability to follow instructions in an outdoor setting.
10	Copy My Path	Communication	PSHE	Children take turns creating short movement paths using natural features for their partner to listen to and follow precisely.

⭐ Bonus Lessons

#	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	Soundwalk	Sensory	Science	Children go on a listening walk outdoors and translate every sound they hear into pencil drawings, awakening their auditory senses.
2	Nature’s Line	Teamwork	Maths	Children work individually or together to create the longest possible line using only sticks, leaves, and stones found outdoors.
3	Living Bracelets	Creativity	Art	Children wear a sticky tape bracelet on a nature walk, collecting tiny natural finds to build their very own living nature bracelet.
4	Self-Portraits	Creativity	Art	Children use mirrors and found natural materials to create unique, reflective self-portraits in the outdoor environment.
5	All About Me	Wellbeing	PSHE	Children complete a nature scavenger hunt using prompts that help them discover and share interesting things about their classmates.
6	Nature’s Treasures	Language	Literacy	Children explore the outdoors to collect their most special natural treasures and then explain in their own words why each one is unique.
7	Hide & Seek	Science	Science	Children play hide and seek to explore the concept of camouflage, discovering why the ability to hide is so important for animals in the wild.
8	Blindfold Adventure	Sensory	Science	Children navigate a sensory rope trail while blindfolded, developing awareness of the senses that animals rely on when they cannot see.
9	Sensory Scavenger Safari	Sensory	Science	Children go on a sensory-themed scavenger hunt in nature, engaging all five senses to find, feel, smell, hear, and observe the natural world.
10	Planting Adventure	Science	Science	Children plant their own seeds, care for them, and learn about the life cycle of a plant — the start of a whole growing story.