🦉Please note: the lesson plans we’ve linked to below are only available to members. If you’d like to be supported in curriculum-based outdoor learning, please take a look at the membership options available.
4th – 10th May: Compost Week
A week to learn about composting; turn organic waste into nutritious food to help plants bloom. You don’t need buckets of space to start a compost stash, we’ve got this lesson for you on Mini Compost. Kids love it!
4th May: Dawn Chorus Day
Dawn Chorus Day celebrates the dawn chorus of bird song and the return of migratory birds in spring. Encourage students to identify different bird species by their calls and create bird-inspired artwork or poems. Consider setting up bird feeders in outdoor spaces to attract local birds and for a bit of bird-spotting.
5th May: May Day
May Day is a celebration of the return of Spring. It’s a day full of long-held traditions which bring together communities.
5th – 11th May: National Hedgerow Week
National Hedgerow Week is an opportunity to appreciate the importance of hedgerows in our environment. These natural barriers provide habitats for wildlife, act as windbreaks, and contribute to soil health. Take part in activities such as hedgerow walks, identifying different plant species, and learning about the animals that rely on hedgerows for shelter and food. Encourage children to create artwork or poems inspired by what they’ve learned.
7th May: Dinosaur Day
Dinosaur Day is a ‘roaring‘ (see what we did there?!) day for teachers and young people, alike. Explore the fun and intriguing prehistoric world of dinosaurs with how the dinosaur lost his roar, dinosaur measures, and by going on a dinosaur walk.
8th May: Outdoor Classroom Day
Outdoor Classroom Day is a day after our own hearts! We’ve hundreds and hundreds of lessons which combine the curriculum with outdoor learning. The benefits of outdoor education are immense, for both young people and their teachers.
12th – 18th May: Sun Awareness Week
Spring brings with it more sunshine and Sun Awareness Week teaches us how to stay safe in the sunshine. Raising awareness of not just prevention of skin damage but detection of it, too.
12th – 18th May: Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is such a great chance to raise awareness and understanding of emotional well-being and resilience at school. We’ve got plenty of lessons to help you with that and a blog which talks about the positive impact taking learning outdoors can have.
14th – 25th May: Be Nice to Nettles Week
Nobody wants to get stung by a nettle but don’t let that distract from their value, both to plants and even in food. Be Kind To Nettles Week offers the chance to teach about the benefits of nettles and how to handle them safely. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and Muddy Faces have some fantastic resources for you. You won’t want to miss this: 10 Tips for Coping With Hayfever from an Outdoor Worker.
18th May: Children’s Day
Children’s Day is a reminder of the importance of nurturing the happiness and well-being of children everywhere. Consider organising outdoor games, outdoor storytelling sessions, or outdoor art projects that promote teamwork and inclusivity, empower children to express themselves, share their dreams and engage in creativity.
20th – 24th May: Walk to School Week
Walk to School Week is a five-day walking challenge. Young people are encouraged to walk or wheel (cycle, scoot, etc.) to school and to chart their progress. A fantastic opportunity to teach children about road safety, the importance of regular physical activity, and even probability. We’ve written about how to make walking with kids fun and educational, simple walks, and daily mile ideas.
20th May: World Bee Day
World Bee Day raises awareness about the importance of bees in pollination and the threats facing bee populations globally. Teachers can use this day to teach children about the vital role bees play in food production and ecosystem health. Why not plan some bee-themed activities like bee-friendly gardening projects, honey-tasting sessions, or beekeeping demonstrations? Children can become bee advocates by creating bee-friendly habitats in school gardens and spreading awareness about the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators.
21st May: Numeracy Day
Numbers, numbers, everywhere, on Numeracy Day. Mathematics can be fun and we’ve got a whole host of lessons to help you take maths outdoors to make it less daunting.
22nd May: Biological Diversity Day
Biological Diversity Day is an important one. It highlights biodiversity conservation and how imperative a part it plays in our ecosystems. We’ve got some wonderful lessons for you: looking for habitats, bio blitz 1, bio blitz 2, and developing habitats.
23rd May: Turtle Day
World Turtle Day, sponsored by the American Tortoise Rescue organisation, increases awareness about the conservation of turtles worldwide. Their habitats are disappearing which is endangering over 120 species of turtles. In ‘shellebrating’ these fascinating animals, we can work to protect their habitats, giving them a better odds at not just surviving, but thriving.
May 26th – 1st June: Garden Wildlife Week
Our gardens, including school gardens, are wonderful habitats for an extraordinary amount of wildlife species. Garden Wildlife Week is a brilliant opportunity to give outdoor school spaces a spruce to encourage even more biodiversity. Our Wildlife Map will help.
Let’s Get Social
We love seeing what you’re all up to when it comes to outdoor learning; please do find us on social media (we’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn) and tag us so we can have a nosey.
