25 Outdoor Learning Activities For Kids That Are Educational And Fun
Summer is here and it's the perfect time to get the kids outside and exploring! With so much technology around us, it's easy for kids to get sucked into screens and videos.
Outdoor Learning Activities For Kids
Spending time outdoors can be a great way to get kids engaged in some outdoor learning activities and help them to develop a greater appreciation for nature. In this post, I am going to share 25 outdoor learning activities for kids, so let's get started!
1. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Take your kids on a nature scavenger hunt! Create a list of things to find, like different types of leaves, insects, flowers, or rocks. You can also make it into a treasure hunt by hiding little trinkets or toys for them to find.
This activity not only gets kids moving and exploring, but it can also help develop problem-solving skills as they work together to find the items on the list.
2. Gardening Adventures
Gardening is a wonderful way for kids to learn about plants, fruits, vegetables, and the environment. You can plant a small plot or container garden in your backyard or community garden to help kids get hands-on experience in planting, watering, and harvesting. This is a great way for kids to see the results of their hard work and learn about the importance of taking care of the planet.
3. Outdoor Art Exploration
Everyone loves to make art, and the outdoors provides the perfect canvas. Take your kids outside with some paper, crayons, chalk, or paint and let them create beautiful works of art inspired by nature. You can ask them to draw or paint what they see, or create something completely from their imagination.
This activity helps kids explore their creative side and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
4. Wildlife Watching
Going on a wildlife watching adventure is a great way to get kids excited about nature! A trip to the zoo, aquarium, or even just a local park can provide opportunities to observe different kinds of animals and learn about how they live.
You can also encourage children to observe birds, squirrels, and other animals in your neighborhood and discuss how their homes and habitats are important for their survival.
5. Outdoor Science Experiments
Science experiments provide an opportunity for kids to learn about the world around them in a hands-on and exciting way. In the outdoors, you can try experiments like making volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar, creating a solar oven to make s'mores, or making a homemade lava lamp! These types of experiments help kids learn about the properties of materials, physics, and chemistry.
6. Community Clean-up
Helping your kids learn about the environment and community responsibility is important. A fantastic way to do this is by organizing a community clean-up with your kids. This outdoor activity teaches kids about responsibility while helping to clean up the environment. They can pick up trash in the park, clean up a hiking trail, or simply spend time taking care of their own neighborhood.
7. Geocaching
Geocaching is an exciting outdoor activity that has become increasingly popular over the years. All you need is a GPS-enabled device to locate hidden treasures in various locations around the world. Geocaching provides the perfect opportunity for kids to learn about navigation, and to experience the thrill of finding hidden treasures that others have left behind.
8. Nature Photography
Do your kids love taking pictures? Let them take their love of photography to the outdoors with nature photography. They can take photos of flowers, trees, and animals and then compare them with photos taken later on in the year or in different seasons to observe changes through time. This activity can help kids to appreciate the beauty of nature and develop a love of photography.
9. Nature Journaling
If your child is interested in writing, nature journaling is a great way for them to explore their surroundings. This outdoor activity entails writing about nature, noting changes throughout the seasons, making observations, and learning more about the plants and animals that surround them. Plus, writing in a nature journal serves as a reminder for your child to take note of the world around them.
10. Outdoor Cooking Classes
Outdoor cooking classes are a great way to teach kids about cooking and the outdoors at the same time. Your kids will be able to learn how to cook for themselves while enjoying the beauty of nature. Set up a grill, roast some marshmallows, and even make their own meals – this activity is sure to please the whole family.
11. Orienteering Adventure
Bring your kids on an orienteering adventure and let them explore the great outdoors with a map and compass. You can make it fun and exciting by turning it into a competition or just enjoy a stroll in the woods. This outdoor activity helps kids learn useful skills for when they are out in the wilderness.
12. Outdoor Yoga and Meditation
Outdoor yoga and meditation is an excellent way to connect with nature and to help your child develop mindfulness. This relaxation technique helps kids focus their minds and relieve stress in a calming and serene environment. So find a peaceful spot in a park or your backyard and have your children meditate and do a few yoga stretches.
13. Insect Study
Insect study can be an immersive and educational experience for kids. Young learners especially love to learn about the different kinds of insects they see outside; they can learn about their names, features, habits, and even the benefits that different insects play in the ecosystem. Older learners can experiment with different insects, such as collecting and pinning them or watching how they behave in their natural habitat in a bug box.
14. Pond Dipping
Pond dipping is a fun activity for kids to investigate the ecosystem in ponds and other water bodies. Using nets and containers, kids will be able to get a closer look at living things such as frogs, fish, snails, and other creatures that live in the freshwater habitat. This activity helps children learn about the importance of water and how ponds are necessary for life.
15. Outdoor Storytelling
Storytelling around the campfire or near a lakeside can bring imaginations to life and create wonderful memories for your kids. Encourage creative writing and allow your kids to put on a skit, acting out scenes from their favorite books or inventing funny stories to share.
16. Star Gazing
Stargazing is a magical experience. You can take your kids outside at night to watch the beautiful stars and constellations in the sky. For enhanced exploration, you can make it more exciting by using a star chart or a telescope. This activity helps kids learn about the universe and develop an appreciation for science and all things astronomical.
17. Rock Collecting and Identification
Rock collecting and identification is a fun way to teach kids about geology and the different types of rocks that exist in the natural world. Have your little ones go on a rock hunt and then identify their discoveries. You can encourage them to use a microscope or magnifying glass to get a closer look at their stones.
18. Outdoor Music Session
Music and nature go hand in hand. Have a fun outdoor music session with your kids. Bring along your instruments or simply sing and dance outside together. You can even create homemade instruments like a individual maracas or drums with tin cans.
19. Botanical Sketching
Sketching while enjoying nature can be a introspective and meditative activity. Collect flowers, plants, and leaves from the outdoors and allow your kids to sketch and draw them in their nature journals. This activity helps them to develop a love of the arts and appreciation for the beauty of nature.
20. Outdoor Math Games
Bring math outside and incorporate hidden learning into your kids' outdoor activities. A simple way is by setting up math scavenger hunt with multiplication tables, taking measurements, counting leaves or even using sidewalk-chalk to play a game of Hopscotch.
21. Building and Engineering
Creating a DIY project to build or make a structure in the backyard can be a fun activity for both parents and kids. You can create a treehouse or help your children make a birdhouse or bug hotel, giving them a sense of accomplishment, pride, and the building foundations of engineering.
22. Weather Watching
Watching the weather is a fascinating past time that can be educational and fun for kids. They can keep track of the weather patterns, temperature, and rainfall with a family weather station or by charting it in their nature journal. This activity helps kids learn about climate and how the environment changes over time.
23. Butterfly Gardening
Butterfly gardening is an exciting way to attract butterflies to your outdoor space. You can plant flowers like lantana, coneflowers, and milkweeds to attract butterflies to your yard and then watch as they lay eggs, become caterpillars, and go through metamorphosis. This outdoor activity teaches kids about the butterfly life cycle and the important role that insects play in our ecosystem.
24. Bird Identification
Introducing birds and their different kinds by going on a bird watch adventure, bringing binoculars or simply by setting up a bird-feeders. This can inspire kids to learn about bird species, their habitat, and migration patterns. It also helps them to develop an appreciation for nature and the environment.
25. Environmental Field Trips
Field trips are exciting for kids, and going on environmental excursions can add a valuable learning experience that’s fun and an adventure. Visit a national park, go on a riverboat tour, or visit an aquarium to learn about the natural world and how to take care of it. This activity teaches kids the importance of environmental awareness and stewardship.
In conclusion, outdoor activities are a valuable experience for kids to learn, appreciate, and be curious about the world around them. They get hands-on experience, have fun, and spend time bonding with you.
With this list of exciting and diverse outdoor activities, you can keep your kids engaged, entertained! So, it's time to grab your sunscreen and get ready to explore nature!
