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Outdoor Activities for Children

The park is filled with endless opportunities to learn, create and grow. Explore the many activities you can do at a park with your little whether there’s a forest, field or water close by.

Key:

= Materials are NOT needed for the activity
= Materials or advanced preparation is needed for the activity
= Conduct activity in a park near, or around Forest 
= Conduct activity in a park near, on, or surrounding water 
= Conduct activity in a park near or in a field
Activities for All Grade Levels: Pre-K, K-2, 3rd-5th & MS-HS

Learn Outdoors

Activity
Materials & Location
Information
Shadow Puppets

Prepare the shadow puppets using this or another website

  • Scissors
  • Paper
  • Flashlight
  • 1-4+ people
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • Source: Where Imagination Grows
Shadow Art

Leaf Print Mandala

  • Paint
  • Paper
  • Activity link 
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-4+people
  • Source: Krokotak
Making Colors from Nature

  • White fabric
  • Pounding tool
Making the Colors of the Rain

 

  • Pan
  • Mirror
  • Flashlight
  • Activity link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-4 People
  • Source: Physics Central
Sit Spotting in Nature

  • Activity link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-2 people
  • Source: Run wild my child
Camouflage
  • Some online activities
  • Camouflage Activity Link
  • not suggested for pre-K
  • Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-2 or 3-4 people
  • Source: Wonderpolis
Make A Sundial

  • Make a Sundial Activity Link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-2 people
  • Not suggested for Pre-K or K-2
  • Source: Science Fun
Making Colors from Nature

  • White Fabric
  • Pounding Tool
Making The Colors of the Rainbow

  • Pan
  • Mirror
Activities for Grade Levels: Pre-K & K-2
Activity Name
Requires Materials
Information
Nature Scavenger Color Hunt

  • Nature Scavenger Color Hunt Activity Link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-4+ people
  • Source: Inspired by family
Painting with Water-Evaporation

  • Paintbrush
  • Water
  • Pavement
  • Painting with water-evaporation activity link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-4+ people
  • Source: Kindertown
Clue- Pick up an object and observe

  • Magnifying lens (optional)
  • Clue- Pick up an object and observe Activity Link
  • 1-4+ people
  • Location: Can be done anywhere
  • Source: CA Academy of Sciences
Make a Nature Wind Catcher

  • Make a Nature Wind Catcher Activity Link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-4+ people
  • Source: Inspiration Laboratories
Grade Levels: Pre-K, K-2 & 3-5

Outdoor Activities elementary school students will love!

Activity Name
Requires Materials
Information
Make A Sound Map

  • Sound Map Activity Link
  • not suggested for Pre-K
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-2 or 3-4 people
  • Source: Sharing Nature
Shadow Tag

  • Activity Link: Shadow Tag
  • Location:
  • 2-4+ people
  • Source: The Genius of Play
Measuring Shadows

 

  • Chalk
Making Shadows

Shadow Walk

 

  • Camera Option
Shadow Art

Observing Clouds

 

  • Paper
  • Pencil
Finding Patterns in Nature

  • 1-4 people
  • Source: Kids Discover
Making Patterns from Natural Materials

Make Natural Paint Brushes

  • String
Using non-traditional items to map out an area

  • Paper
  • Pencil
Ant Observation

 

  • Sugar OR honey
  • Piece of wood
Life in the Sidewalk Cracks

  • craft stick
  • paper plate or white paper
      • magnifying glass (optional)
Nature Loom

  • string
  • forked stick or cardboard
  • Nature Loom Activity Link
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-2 people
  • Source: Craftiments
Make a Sundial

  • Make a Sundial Activity Link
  • Can be done anywhere!
  • Source: Science Fun
Cloud Trivia Game - Folded Fotrune Teller

  • Print out to create fortune teller
Cloud Viewer

Grade Level: 3rd-5th & Middle-High School

Reconnect your students to nature!

Activity Name
Requires Materials
Information
Measuring Trees- citizen science

 

  • Download App
S'Cool Science Project with Clouds

Camouflage

  • Camouflage Activity Link 
  • Location: Can be done anywhere!
  • Can also do this activity with children in grade level K-2
  • 1-2 or 3-4 people
  • Source: Science Fun
Shadow Puppets

  • Flashlight
  • paper
  • scissors
Making Colors from Nature

  • White Fabric
  • Pounding Tool
Making The Colors of the Rainbow

  • Pan
  • Mirror
Make a Sundial

  • Make a Sundial Activity Link
  • Can be done anywhere!
  • Source: Science Fun
Measuring Trees- citizen science
  • Download app
Camouflage
  • Some online Activities
  • Camouflage Activity Link
  • Can be done anywhere!
  • 1-4 people
S'Cool Citizen Science Project with Clouds
HOW YOU CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
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