Outdoor Maths

Times Table or Number Bond Practise: Gather stones, leaves or any

other natural resources. How many different ways can you organise

them in a rectangle ie/ if I have 12 rocks, I could make three rows of

four (3x4) or 2 rows of 6 (6x2). You can do this for number bonds to

10 and 20 too!

Stick Maths Investigation: “It is impossible to find a stick which is half

the length of another stick.” Prove it!

Rules: Do not break sticks to change their size. How will you begin your

investigation? How will you know which sticks you have already tried?

Mini Beast Graphs: Go on a short minibeast hunt. Create a graph to

show the types of minibeasts that you found.

Questions: Which type of graph will you use? What will you put in the

X-Axis? What will you put in the Y-Axis? Create questions about your

graph to test someone else in your family.

Leaf Investigation: “The length of a leaf is double its width.” Prove it!

Questions: How will you plan your investigation? How will you

measure it? How will you record your results?

Grass Investigation: “The longest blades of grass are always close to

trees.” Prove it!

Questions: How will you measure the grass? How will you record your

investigation? How many times will you test it?

Tree Height Investigation: “The tallest trees have the largest leaves.”

Prove it!

Questions: How will you estimate the height of the tree to see which

are ‘tallest’? How will you compare the size of the leaves? How will

you record your results?

Outdoor Science

Cloud Watching: What different types of clouds can you see? Can you

keep a record of the number of clouds you see and what type they are

while you are outside? How do you think the clouds got there? Can

you make a film or take photos of the clouds and make it into a story?

Tree Survey: Identify the different trees that you see when you are

out and about using the tree cards (attached Sheet 1). Can you map

out where they are? Are some trees more popular than others?

Five Senses Scavenger Hunt: Use the Scavenger Hunt sheet (attached

Sheet 2) to find things while you are in your garden or out on a walk.

Make a Wormery: Discover where the best place to find worms is in

your outside space. What is the habitat like? Why is it suitable for

worms? How is the worm adapted to living there? Have a go at

building a wormery by following the instructions (attached Sheet 3)

Helicopter Investigation: Talk about the Sycamore tree’s seeds and

how they fly to the ground. Then have a go at making paper

helicopters using the template (attached Sheet 4) and then change

certain things to see what makes a difference about how long it takes

to drop to the ground.

Paper Plane Challenge: Use the instruction sheet as a guide (attached

Sheet 5) if you are unsure how to build a paper plan, try to make the

‘perfect paper plane’. Have a race outside to see whose flies furthest,

recording results, then compare the planes at the end to understand

why the winners won!

Outdoor Art and Design

Leaf Necklace: Gather leaves and natural resources, then thread them onto a piece of string to make a necklace. Can you make a pattern of shapes, size or colour? Animal Art: Gather natural resources, such as leaves, plants etc. Then

use these to create pictures of animals on the ground in a collage style.

Design a Local Wildlife Area: Go on a walk and find all the natural

habitats where creatures live and plants grow. Imagine you need to

create a miniature wildlife area for other children to enjoy. What

would a good wildlife area need? Using your own paper or the design

sheet (attached Sheet 6), design your perfect wildlife area that could

be used by other people to enjoy and study nature.

Observational Drawing: Pick a natural item, like a leaf, or a scene and

draw it as accurately as you can. Try drawing it again a second time –

can you add any more details and features that you missed the first

time?

Making a Kite: Follow the instructions (attached Sheet 7) and go out

and fly them! (You need A4 paper, paper straws and string)

Natural Paint: From your garden on whilst out on a walk, gather

natural resources. Then have a go at creating your own paint by

crushing leaves, mixing mud and mixing things with water. Try to make

6 different colours or shades, and then paint a picture using them!

Wax Rubbings: find 10 different surfaces that make different rubbing

patterns. Do them all in sections on one piece of paper. You can use

different coloured wax crayons. Mix a little mud with water and use

hands to create a mud wash over the surface for a very rustic piece of

outdoor art.

Outdoor Challenges

Mini Den Challenge: Using only natural resources that you can find

outside, build a miniature waterproof bug den. It can be a maximum

of 20cm in any direction. Then test it by pouring water on it: is it

efficient at keeping out water?

Make a Perfume Investigate the difference in smell of leaves, flowers

and other natural resources between when it is whole and when it is

crushed/torn. Combine scents to create your own ‘nature perfume’

(check with parents before picking berries and leaves in case they are

harmful!)

Memory Game: Either out in your garden or when you’re out on a

walk, gather 10-15 natural items. With one or more people from your

family, put the items in the middle and take it in turns to take one

away while everyone closes their eyes. Can they guess what you took

away? Why not try taking away more than one item? Or giving them

a time limit?

Worry Doll: A worry doll is a little doll that children in South America

often carry around with them; they believe that, if they tell their

worries to the doll then the worries go away.

Gather two small sticks (small enough to fit in your pocket). Tie them

into a cross shape. Then use natural resources such as leaves, flowers

and bark to decorate your doll.

Natural Instruments: Get yourself a stick or something you can use as

a ‘beater’, go outside and explore different sounds that you can make

from their surroundings. Can you find a combination of different

sounds and turn it into a piece of music?

Sheet 1: Tree Identification Cards

Sheet 2: Five Senses Scavenger Hunt

When you’re out and about, why not try to see what you can

explore? Either a draw a picture or write down what you find!

Sheet 3: How to Build a Wormery

Sheet 4: Paper Helicopter Template

Cut along the thick lines and fold along the dotted lines

Sheet 5: How to Make a Paper Plane

Sheet 6: Wildlife Area Design Sheet

Sheet 7: Making a Kite Instructions