Looking for ways to bring education outdoors? Whether you are an environmental educator on a park or forest, a classroom teacher for Pre-K to 12th grade students, or a parent looking for outdoor enrichment for your kids, we have resources for you. All FREE of course! Here’s a run-down of some of our activities that can be done outdoors.
Each activity includes a brief description, a target grade level, and an estimate of the time needed for the activity. Where available, we’ve also included a link to the Spanish version of the activity.
This is a really big list, and we’ll keep adding to it as we add more outdoor activities! Use the topic list to narrow your search:
- Atmosphere
- Birds
- Carbon
- Insects/Invertebrates
- Invasive Species
- Mammals
- Nature and Human Health
- Nature Observations
- Orienteering and Mapping
- Scientific Methods
- Soil
- Trees and Plants
- Water
Many activities overlap topics, so use these categories as a jumping-off point. Similarly, grade levels listed are the target grade levels, but you may be able to use the activity for other grade levels as well.
Looking for an Outdoor Activity Book?
NSI: Nature Science Investigator (NSI) is a self-guided activity book for children ages 8-14. The booklet enables each student to become the scientist! We highlight 11 different scientists, and each scientist is paired with 2-3 outdoor, hands-on activities. Use NSI at the playground, at home, in the park, or at the campground!
- Be the scientist!
- You only need a pencil!
- Small and portable for outdoor use!
- Available in English and Spanish!
Atmosphere
Made in the Shade FACTivity
- Measuring air temperature to determine how shade affects how hot you feel
- Middle School
- 9 days to take measurements (a few minutes each time) and one class period to analyze results
It's a Gas FACTivity
- Model the greenhouse effect with a glass jar and soil
- Middle School
- 1 hour
Dew It FACTivity
- Determine the air’s dew point temperature and find out what happens when the air can’t hold any more moisture
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Excuse Me While I Flow My Snows FACTivity
- Experiment to determine how insulation and sun exposure can affect air temperatures
- Middle School
- 1 day to take hourly temperature readings, 1 class period to analyze results
Birds
That's a Humdinger FACTivity
- Identify bird species you see in your yard, schoolyard, park, etc. and create bird ID charts to make your own bird guide
- Middle School
- 1-5 class periods
Invasion of the Song Snatcher FACTivity
- Complete a bird inventory in your yard, schoolyard, park, etc.
- Middle School
- 1 class period
The Great Horned Owl FACTivity
- Research native birds and determine if your area is a good habitat for them
- Middle School
- 3 to 5 class periods
Which Do You A-Door FACTivity
- Analyze three different construction methods for building a bird bath to determine how much energy is used to make each
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Carbon
Everything but the Carbon Sink FACTivity
- Define a carbon source and a carbon sink and find examples of both in your area
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Insects and Invertebrates
Worming Their Way In FACTivity
- Sample worms and insects in yard, schoolyard, park, etc.
- Middle School
- 1 day to set up, 1 day to complete sampling
Snake, Rattle, and Roll FACTivity
- Insect Sampling
- Middle School
- 2-3 Classroom Periods
Beetles Are Supercool FACTivity
- Catch and release beetles and make observations about their form and structure
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Invasive Species
"Kid-zu" Spreading Activity
- A modified game of tag to simulate the spread of an invasive species
- Elementary School
- 1 class period
The Garlic Mustard Plant FACTivity
- Research local invasive species and what can be done to control their spread
- Middle School
- 1-3 class period
- Can be modified for use outdoors by examining invasive species in your area
Mammals
Logjams and Beaver Dams FACTivity
- Build a model beaver dam
- Middle School
- 1-2 class periods
Shoot! Foiled Again! FACTivity
- Brainstorm a list of scents you like and dislike; why might you have those opinions?
- Middle School
- 1 class period
- Can be modified for use outdoors by finding scents in nature
Quit Yer Horsin' Around FACTivity
- Conduct an experiment to determine how trampling affects vegetation
- Middle School
- 1-2 class periods
Nature and Human Health
A Green Bill of Health FACTivity
- Experiment to determine if being outdoors can affect your mood
- Middle School
- 15 minutes a day for 7 days, 1 class period to analyze results
Mindful Hiking, Palauan Style FACTivity
- Practice mindful hiking and record your observations
- Middle School
- 1 class period
What You See Is Not What You Get FACTivity
- Use UV beads to measure UV exposure in different areas outside
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Outdoor Challenge 1
- Spend 15 minutes outdoors doing something active then note how you feel
- All ages
- 20 minutes
- Part of the Nature Health Benefits LIVE series
Outdoor Challenge 2
- Spend 15 minutes outdoors twice a week and make observations based on your senses
- All ages
- 30 minutes
- Part of the Nature Health Benefits LIVE series
Outdoor Challenge 3
- Make a list of activities you currently do outdoors and brainstorm more activities to add to that list; implement your plan
- All ages
- Less than 30 minutes
- Part of the Nature Health Benefits LIVE series
Outdoor Group Challenge
- Track the time you, your family, or your class spend outside for a few weeks; see if you can challenge yourself, your family, or your class to add to that time each week
- All ages
- A few weeks (time spent outside plus time spent recording data)
- Part of the Nature Health Benefits LIVE series
Nature Observations
Try This Activity from Meet Dr. Jovan
- Go outside and find five small things to observe in nature
- Pre-K to 2nd Grade
- 30 minutes
Nature’s Notebook FACTivity
- Collect phenology data using Nature’s Notebook log sheets
- Middle School
- 2 or more data collection periods per week, for as many weeks as you’d like to collect data
Oxbow Soil Vitality FACTivity
- Assess your yard, schoolyard, park, etc. and its quality as wildlife habitat
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Stress Test FACTivity
- Assess the environmental health of an outdoor area by determining what indicators you will use and then collecting data
- Middle School
- 1-2 class periods
Patchwork FACTivity
- Explore and record observations about a natural area, then make a plan to support natural vegetation and wildlife there
- Middle School
- 2-4 class periods
Where the Sidewalk Ends FACTivity
- Assess a local park and make suggestions to improve accessibility and appeal
- Middle School
- 1-3 class periods
- Can be adapted for outdoors by conducting the research on the park in person
Wilderness 2.0 FACTivity
- Write about an experience outdoors and assess whether writing about something helps you understand it better
- Middle School
- 1-2 class periods
- Can be adapted for outdoors
At Your Service FACTivity
- Collect observations about a natural area’s ecosystem to construct a model of how that ecosystem works
- Middle and High School
- 1-3 class periods
Orienteering and Mapping
Try This Activity from Meet Dr. Hoagland!
- Make a map of an outdoor area; write or give directions to a point on your map
- Pre-K to 2nd Grade
- 1 class period
Time Out! FACTivity
- Complete a scavenger hunt using a compass
- Middle School
- Time for set-up, 1 class period to learn how to use a compass, 1 class period for the scavenger hunt
The Original Global Positioning System FACTivity
- Locate cardinal directions using only the sun
- Middle School
- 30 minutes or less
Scientific Methods
Goldi-finch and the Three Scales FACTivity
- Record observations at different scales and compare results
- Upper Elementary and Middle School
- 1 class period
Think Outside the Box FACTivity
- Make observations to determine the similarities and differences of the schoolyard ecosystem at different scales
- Middle School
- 1 class period
What Goes Around Comes Around FACTivity
- Practice sampling methods to determine how well a sample represents a whole population
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Soil
Snowed In FACTivity
- Collect soil samples from different locations and record observations in a data log
- Upper Elementary
- 1-2 class periods
Leaf Me Alone FACTivity
- Collect soil samples and investigate what kinds of bacteria grow in the soil
- Middle School
- 1 class period to set up the experiment, 3-4 weeks to gather data
Let Nature Take Its Course FACTivity
- Compare and contrast two soil samples
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Are We Having Fungi Yet FACTivity
- Compare and contrast sterilized potting soil with soil samples taken from nature; conduct an experiment to see which kind of soil grows plants the best
- Middle School
- 1 class period for comparison; 1 month or more to grow the plants and collect data
There Goes the Neighborhood FACTivity
- Collect and compare 5 soil samples from different locations
- Middle School
- 1-2 class periods
Trees and Plants
Try This Activity from Meet Dr. Roman!
- Record tree observations in My Tree Study Log
- Pre-K to 2nd Grade
- 1 class period
Seed Ya Later! FACTivity
- Identify ways that seeds disperse from their parent plants; build a model of seed dispersal
- Upper Elementary
- 1-2 class periods
- Can be adapted for outdoors by looking at seed examples in nature
I’ve Got You Covered Alternate FACTivity
- Adopt a tree and keep a tree journal
- Upper Elementary and Middle School
- 1-5 class periods depending on which journal prompts you complete
The Trees Have Gone Batty FACTivity
- Conduct an experiment to measure the effect of manure on plant growth
- Upper Elementary and Middle School
- 1 day to plant, 4 weeks to collect data
Leaf Rubbings FACTivity
- Take leaf rubbings and identify the trees they belong to
- Upper Elementary and Middle School
- 1 class period
Can We Grow Now FACTivity
- Examine seeds to see how they move away from their parent plants; design your own seed dispersal mechanism and test how far your seed will travel
- Middle School
- 1-3 class periods
The Emerald Ash Borer – Invading Trees in the Oxbow FACTivity
- Complete a tree health survey for trees in your yard, schoolyard, park, etc.
- Middle School
- 1 class period
FACElook FACTivity
- Assess leaf area and overall health of two trees
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Tropical Four-est Inventory FACTivity
- Compare and contrast quantitative and qualitative observations of trees
- Middle School
- 1 class period
How Now Round Crown FACTivity
- Compare and contrast managed and unmanaged trees
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Oooh! That’s Growth FACTivity
- Compare the relationship between tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH)
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Finding Ways to Soak Up the Rays FACTivity
- Observe different plants and hypothesize how each is adapted to its environment
- Middle School
- 1 class period
- Can be adapted for outdoors by observing different plants in nature
Water
Try This Activity from Meet Ms. Laseter!
- Build a rain gauge and track precipitation for two weeks
- Pre-K to 2nd Grade
- 30 minutes to build a rain gauge; a few minutes each day for two weeks to record data
Flow Down FACTivity
- Make and monitor a rain gauge to collect precipitation data for a period of time
- Middle School
- 30-45 minutes to make rain gauges; a few minutes each day for a month or more to collect data
Full Throttle Model FACTivity
- Build a model to simulate turbidity
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Green Means Clean FACTivity
- Conduct an experiment to determine what kind of land cover best protects water quality
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Mangrove Mania FACTivity
- Conduct an experiment to determine what effect land ice will have on sea level
- Middle School
- 1.5-2 hours
Don’t Be So Fuel-ish FACTivity
- Conduct an experiment to explore the relationship between temperature, the amount of visible sunlight, and the amount of water evaporating from two identical glass jars
- Middle School
- 15 minutes to set up; a few minutes each day for one week to record data
- Can adapted for use outdoors
Woolly Bully FACTivity
- Collect data to determine how much water is transpired by a tree during the day
- Middle School
- 10 minutes on day 1 for setup; 30 minutes on day 2 to collect data
Food for the Soil FACTivity
- Build a model of a river to simulate what happens during a flood
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Did They Make the Gradient FACTivity
- Conduct an experiment to determine if water movement affects water temperature
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Should Ditches Be Graded FACTivity
- Build a model of a mountain road to test what happens when water causes erosion
- Middle School
- 1 class period
Go With the Flow FACTivity
- Build a model of a stream bed and pond to simulate what happens to the surrounding soils during the rain
- Middle School
- 1 class period
