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Here we have some suggestions and lesson ideas covering all curricular areas to inspire you to take learning outdoors.
We have Teaching and Learning Resources available on our website, mapped out by curricular area, with lesson plans from Early through to Third and Fourth Level.
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark Resource
LOST have created a resource based around this classic picture book, which is suitable for children working at Early/First Level – P1 and P2.
This is perfect for this time of year to encourage learning about subjects like wildlife, the change in daylight hours and fireworks.
There are a selection of lesson plans and ideas on our blog, with lessons suitable for indoors and outdoors.
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark is part of our resource box collection available for loan to schools and ECCs in East Ayrshire Council. Resource boxes are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. Email Aly Conquer to organise a booking.
Signs of Winter
As we come into late November and early December, we will start to see early signs of winter.
Using our helpful guide, pupils can create their own mini notebooks to take on a walk in the local area. How many signs of winter can they spot? The class could go on another walk, later in the season and compare the number of signs that they can see.
Use the guide from the Woodland Trust to identify the different signs.
Winter Weather
Now is a fantastic time to encourage children to learn about, explore and monitor the weather around them, with changeable conditions happening every day!!
Our website has a selection of weather lesson plans, resources and activities which could supplement any IDL work on seasons and weather.
You could also have a look at our MNU Weather IDL Mini Topic Planner, suitable for second level learners. This can be used at any time of year, but includes activities particularly suited to the winter months.
 Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland Website
The OWLS website is a fantastic place to access resources to suit all ages and stages. Use Find a Resource and search by sector or theme, for example, Carbon Footprint and Storage Calculators and Sensory Stories and Rhymes.
Tree Planting Resources Available
Schools and youth groups can be supported with resources, workshops, trainings and competitions to promote tree care and connection.
To learn more about the Tree Council programme and supporting resources go to Young Tree Champion programme.
You could support any learning about trees by doing Winter Tree ID or use the very helpful Wee Tree Name Guide from OWLS.
Your class could then share their learning about trees by writing a Tree Poem.
Wildlife Trusts Winter Activity Guide
This is a fantastic resource put together by The Wildlife Trusts. It shares activities and ideas for getting outside to enjoy and help nature and wildlife over the winter, suitable for all ages!
 This year's Outdoor Classroom Day took place on Thursday 2nd November, 2023.
Here is how Lainshaw PS took a whole school approach to the last outdoor classroom day, turning it into an Outdoor Classroom Week and taking a single text Dr Seuss’ The Lorax as the springboard into outdoor learning across every stage.
P1 read The Lorax outdoors and measured (and ran!) the length of dinosaurs on the school grounds;
P1/2 planted trees at Lainshaw Woods with the Stewarton Woodland Action Trust and used natural materials to create and tell their own stories;
P2 went outdoors in numeracy and used tally marks to record the minibeasts they found for their IDL focus;
P3 ventured to Lainshaw Woods to practise their measuring skills;
P5 used the school grounds to create an observational pencil drawing of the Stewarton viaduct;
P6 read The Lorax outside and did a follow-up task to design, draw and label a machine which would help to solve one of the environmental problems we face on Earth and completed Danger Detectives at Dean Park;
P7 worked on leadership and teamwork skills den building in the school’s ‘outdoor classroom’ space and P7 outdoor ambassadors organised a whole school litter pick across the week.
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