Outdoor Learning Scheme of Work Ages 8 to 9 Overview

Ages 8–9 Outdoor Curriculum Overview

🌳 Term 1 — Weeks 1–10

Week	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	DREAM CATCHERS	Creativity	Art: different materials	In this outdoor lesson to start off the term students will explore nature and express their creativity by making dream catchers using twigs and yarn. Students will gather materials, learn basic weaving techniques, and create their unique dream catchers.
2	DIY BOW & ARROW	Creativity	T: exploring materials	In this outdoor lesson your class will use sticks and string to craft their own bow and arrow, which they can also decorate.
3	NATURE JOURNAL	Creativity	English: misc Science: misc	Students will either continue their journals from last year or start new ones, documenting their observations and reflections about the natural world around them.
4	NATURE MOBILES	Creativity	Art: design & craft	In this week’s session your class will create a nature hanging mobile using sticks and natural finds such as leaves, pinecones, and feathers. The activity encourages creativity and appreciation for nature as students explore and collect materials before crafting their mobiles…
5	FREE SESSION	Creativity	Misc	This session gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the outdoors in any way they like.
6	GAME DESIGNER	Communication	English:	In this outdoor lesson your class will work in groups to design their own outdoor game. After developing their game, they will pair up with another group to teach them how to play.
7	CHALK SHAPES	Communication	English: instruction writing, language skills	One student will describe a shape from a card, while their partner attempts to draw it based only on the instructions given.
8	TEAM HIDE & SEEK	Communication	PE	This is a fun and highly active session that your students are sure to love. They will take part in a fun and active game of team hide and seek.
9	BLIND PATTERNS	Communication	English: instructions, language skills	This outdoor lesson is designed to develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
10	FREE SESSION	Communication	Misc	This session gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the outdoors in any way they like.

🍃 Term 2 — Weeks 1–10

Week	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	NATURE POEMS	Reflection	English: creative writing, poetry	Students will then spend time outdoors, reflecting on their surroundings, and writing a poem that captures their experience.
2	SMELL HUNT	Reflection	Science: senses	This week’s lesson is all about smell and observation. One partner will collect a leaf, crunch it up slightly, and let the other partner smell it without seeing it.
3	SPIRAL ART	Reflection	Art: exploring patterns	In this week’s lesson, students will create spiral designs using a rope outline and natural materials such as leaves, sticks, and stones. This activity encourages creativity, teamwork, and an appreciation for the natural world, while also allowing students to explore patterns,…
4	OUTDOOR DRAWING	Reflection	Art: drawing	For this week’s session students will select an item from their surroundings to observe and draw. The focus will be on the drawing process, encouraging students to reflect on their work, think about possible improvements, and try again to enhance their skills and observation…
5	FREE SESSION	Reflection	Misc	This session gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the outdoors in any way they like.
6	NATURE EXPRESSION	Independence	Misc	In this outdoor lesson students will use natural materials to create something – a piece of art, a sculpture, or even a poem. The focus is on independence, creativity, and self- expression.
7	WOODEN WIND CHIMES	Independence	Art & Design	In this outdoor lesson, students will use their skills to create their own stick wind chimes using natural materials. They will learn to select and prepare sticks, assemble their chimes with string, and paint them in rainbow colors.
8	TREE PROFILE	Independence	Science:	This hands-on activity encourages independence and observation skills while thinking about the importance of trees.
9	DIGGING EXPLORATION	Independence	Science: living things, observation	This activity encourages curiosity, develops independent discovery, and enhances observational and data recording skills as students uncover and document what lies beneath the surface.
10	FREE SESSION	Independence	Misc	This session gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the outdoors in any way they like.

🍂 Term 3 — Weeks 1–10

Week	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT	Creativity	Art: visual awareness	Students will go on a photography scavenger hunt where they will explore their surroundings and take photos of specific items on a scavenger hunt sheet. Through this activity, students will develop observational skills, teamwork, and creativity while reflecting on their choices…
2	NATURE STAMP ART	Creativity	Art: texture & shape	In this week’s outdoor lesson, students will create nature- inspired stamp art using natural objects they find, such as leaves, twigs, and flowers. Students will dip the objects they find in paint and press them onto paper to create unique prints.
3	MUD DONUTS	Creativity	Science: materials & their properties	In this muddy lesson, students will take part in a creative and tactile activity by making mud donuts. Each student will craft four donuts, each representing a different “flavor,” using natural materials like leaves, petals, or stones.
4	NATURE WEAVING	Creativity	Art: exploring patterns	In this outdoor lesson students will practise their weaving skills. Using four sticks and string to create a frame, students will tie strings across the frame and weave natural materials like leaves, flowers, and grasses between the strings.
5	FREE SESSION	Creativity	Misc	This session gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the outdoors in any way they like.
6	MEMORY GAME	Communication	Science: observation & identification	In this week’s session students will take part in a fun and interactive memory game using natural items like sticks, stones, leaves, and flowers. Working in teams, each child will have a brief look at a collection of 10-15 natural objects, then run off to collect an identical…
7	HUMAN WEB	Communication	Science: ecosystems, materials	This activity promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.
8	FITNESS TRAIL	Communication	PE: fitness 0 Science: the human body	In this outdoor lesson students will work in groups to design and create a fitness nature trail using chalk or writing on cards. Each group will come up with different physical activities inspired by nature, such as “jump like a kangaroo 10 times” or “balance on one foot like a…
9	STICK TRAILS	Communication	Art: creative design	In this outdoor lesson, students will work in pairs to create unique stick trails leading to an uplifting message.
10	FREE SESSION	Communication	Misc	This session gives students the opportunity to explore and interact with the outdoors in any way they like.

⭐ Bonus Lessons

#	Lesson	Theme	Curriculum Links	Summary
1	PAIRED I READING	Reflection	English: reading	The peaceful environment enhances focus and helps to develop a love for reading.
2	BIRD WATCHING	General	Science:	This activity encourages mindfulness, observation skills, and an appreciation for nature while developing a connection with the natural world.
3	SENSES WALK	General	Science:	In this outdoor lesson students will use their five senses to observe, interact and describe their environment. They will complete a worksheet by drawing or writing about what they see, hear, smell, touch, and taste.
4	NATURE FASHION	General	Art: creative expression	This activity encourages creativity, self-expression, and reflection on diversity and the natural world.
5	DIY WATER FILTER	Independence	Science: materials & their properties	In this week’s lesson, students will independently design and create a water filter using a plastic bottle and natural materials. They will explore how different materials affect water filtration and work as a team to clean the water as much as possible.
6	NATURE CHARADES	General	Science:	In this lesson, students will explore the outdoor environment in pairs, noting down the animals they spot. They will then gather in small groups and play animal charades using the animals they observed.
7	LIFE-SIZED ART 9	General	Science: living things	In this lesson, students will work in pairs or small groups to create life-sized representations of animals based on a size chart provided. They will use outdoor materials like sticks, stones, and chalk to construct their animals, developing creativity, teamwork, and measurement …
8	NATURE OLYMPICS	General	English: instruction writing	For this week’s session students will work in small groups to design their own nature-themed Olympic event using materials found outdoors, such as leaves, sticks, or stones. Each group will create a set of instructions for their event and explain it to the class.