Lesson Idea | Outdoor Classroom in Spring

​The "Outdoor Classroom in Spring" resource from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) offers a collection of 12 engaging outdoor activities designed for primary school children, including those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). These activities aim to make learning enjoyable and interactive by utilizing the natural environment during the spring season.​

Overview of Activities

1. Meet the Shapes: Encourages children to identify and document various shapes found in their surroundings, such as circles in wheels or rectangles in windows.​
2. Puddle Investigation: Promotes scientific inquiry by having children observe changes in puddles over time and test which objects float or sink.​
3. Tree Exploration: Involves sensory engagement by touching tree bark, estimating tree size, and observing any wildlife present.​
4. Sound Scavenger Hunt: Develops auditory skills as children listen for and identify different sounds like birds chirping or cars passing by.​
4. Scent Exploration: Enhances olfactory awareness by encouraging children to identify and describe various smells in the environment.​
5. Crayon Rubbings: Stimulates tactile and visual senses through creating rubbings of different textures found outdoors.​
6. Cloud Watching: Fosters imagination by having children observe cloud shapes and interpret them as familiar objects or animals.​
7. Ice Decorations: Combines art and science by freezing water with string or in balloons to create decorative ice ornaments.​
8. Counting Exercise: Integrates numeracy by counting items like trees, flowers, or house numbers in the vicinity.​
9. Raindrop Collection: Introduces basic meteorological concepts by collecting raindrops on cling film and observing their behavior.​
10. Color Wheel Hunt: Encourages color recognition and creativity by matching natural items to a color wheel.​
11. Flower Bud Role-Play: Combines physical activity with imaginative play as children mimic the growth of a flower from bud to bloom.​

Additional Sensory Activities

The resource also suggests collecting various natural items to explore their textures and appearances, such as:​
Lacy skeleton leaves​
Silky flower petals​
Tickly lichen​
Flexible grasses​
Rough tree roots​
Furry moss​
Rigid bark​
Brittle twigs​
Prickly pine needles​
Smooth flower buds​
Crumbly rotten wood​
Waxy evergreen leaves​
Gritty soil​
These activities are designed to be adaptable for various learning needs and can be conducted in gardens, parks, or schoolyards. They aim to develop sensory awareness, observation skills, creativity, and an appreciation for nature.​

For more detailed information and to access the full resource, you can view the PDF here.