Forest School Activities for EYFS – Fun Early Years Learning Ideas

Forest School Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)

by Blossom
5 min of reading
18 August 2025
Forest school image - Children playing by a brook or small pond

Bring the wonders of nature into learning with these Forest School activities for EYFS! Forest School offers children the opportunity to explore the great outdoors while developing confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

These activities encourage hands-on learning while supporting all EYFS Areas of Learning and Development.

Blossom’s Recommended Forest School Activities for Early Years:

Activity 1: Build a Woodland Den

Let children gather natural materials like sticks, leaves, and logs to construct their own woodland den. Encourage them to work together to design and build a space that could be a “home” for a forest creature or their group.

If you don’t necessarily have access to sticks and logs, you can instead ask the children to use their imagination and simply create what a woodland den is to them. Maybe it’s just a blanket and a teddy bear!

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Physical Development
    • Gross Motor Skills: 
      • Lifting, carrying, and arranging large materials develop strength and coordination.
    • Fine Motor Skills: 
      • Handling smaller twigs or tying string enhances precision.
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
    • Building Relationships: 
      • Working together to build the den fosters teamwork.
    • Managing Self: 
      • Completing the task builds confidence and problem-solving skills.
  • Understanding the World
    • The Natural World: 
      • Exploring natural materials helps children learn about their environment.

Activity 2: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt list with items like pinecones, leaves, feathers, and stones. Children can work individually or in pairs to find as many items as possible. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Stick Man!

A collection of leaves, berries, twigs and seeds that might be used in a sensory bin for woodland/gruffalo-type feelings

You can also extend this into child-led play and let the children create artwork with what they’ve found.

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Understanding the World
    • The Natural World: 
      • Observing and collecting natural items develops curiosity about the environment.
  • Communication and Language
    • Listening, Attention and Understanding: 
      • Following scavenger hunt instructions strengthens focus.
    • Speaking: 
      • Describing their finds builds vocabulary and communication skills.
  • Mathematics
    • Number: 
      • Counting the items collected introduces basic number skills.

Activity 3: Mud Kitchen Play

Set up a mud kitchen with pots, pans, and spoons for children to create “forest recipes.” They can mix mud, leaves, sticks, and water to make imaginative creations like mud pies or “leaf soup.”

Or just splash around if the puddle is big enough.

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Expressive Arts and Design
    • Being Imaginative and Expressive: 
      • Pretending to cook encourages role play and creativity.
  • Physical Development
    • Fine Motor Skills: 
      • Scooping, stirring, and pouring enhance hand strength and precision.
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
    • Managing Self: 
      • Independent play builds confidence and decision-making skills.

Activity 4: Leaf Art Creations

Collect leaves of various shapes and sizes and use them to create leaf rubbings or collages. Children can explore different textures and colours to design their artwork.

You can link this to the story ‘Leaf Man‘, which brings Communication and Language into the learning mix.

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Expressive Arts and Design
    • Creating with Materials: 
      • Exploring natural textures and colours inspires creativity.
    • Being Imaginative and Expressive: 
      • Children create unique designs and art pieces.
  • Physical Development
    • Fine Motor Skills: 
      • Using crayons or glue to make art enhances precision and coordination.

Activity 5: Building a Bug Hotel

Encourage children to build a “bug hotel” using sticks, logs, leaves, and other natural materials. Teach them about the importance of providing shelter for insects and other small creatures.

A photo of a bug hotel made of wood and sticks

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Understanding the World
    • The Natural World: 
      • Learning about insects and their habitats fosters curiosity about nature.
  • Physical Development
    • Gross Motor Skills: 
      • Carrying and arranging materials develops coordination.
    • Fine Motor Skills: 
      • Placing small sticks or leaves improves hand control.
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
    • Building Relationships: 
      • Working in groups to create the hotel promotes teamwork.

Activity 6: Storytime in the Woods

Choose a nature-themed book, such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and read it to the children in the woodland setting. Afterwards, encourage them to act out the story using natural props like sticks and leaves.

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Communication and Language
    • Listening, Attention and Understanding: 
      • Listening to a story in an outdoor environment strengthens focus.
    • Speaking: 
      • Acting out the story helps children articulate ideas and build confidence.
  • Expressive Arts and Design
    • Being Imaginative and Expressive: 
      • Role-playing the story brings their creativity to life.

Activity 7: Sensory Trail Exploration

Create a sensory trail with different textures for children to explore, such as soft moss, crunchy leaves, or rough tree bark. Encourage them to walk barefoot on the trail if appropriate and safe.

EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:

  • Physical Development
    • Gross Motor Skills: 
      • Walking on uneven surfaces builds balance and coordination.
  • Understanding the World
    • The Natural World: 
      • Exploring textures encourages sensory awareness and curiosity.
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
    • Managing Self: 
      • Navigating the trail promotes independence and resilience.

These Forest School activities for EYFS offer endless opportunities for exploration, creativity, and learning in the great outdoors. From building dens and bug hotels to sensory trails and scavenger hunts, children will develop essential skills while connecting with nature.

For UK nurseries and early years providers, these activities are perfect for fostering curiosity, teamwork, and confidence in young learners while aligning with EYFS Early Learning Goals.

Let the Forest School adventures begin!

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