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10 Festive Outdoor Activities for Schools and Nurseries

10 Festive Outdoor Activities for Schools and Nurseries

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by taking some festive fun outdoors? While the weather may be getting colder, outdoor play offers plenty of opportunities for children to get creative, stay active and enjoy the excitement of the festive season. 

From Christmas scavenger hunts to nature-inspired decorations, we’ve put together 10 fun and educational outdoor Christmas activities that schools and nurseries can enjoy in the run-up to the Christmas holidays. 

  1. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Turn your playground or outdoor learning area into a festive treasure hunt! Hide Christmas-themed objects such as baubles, candy canes and miniature presents for children to discover. For an educational twist, give pupils clues, riddles or counting challenges to complete along the way. 

  1. Make Natural Christmas Decorations

Encourage children to explore their surroundings and collect natural materials such as pinecones, twigs and fallen leaves. These can be transformed into beautiful Christmas decorations, including festive wreaths, hanging ornaments and miniature Christmas trees. It’s a great way to encourage creativity while learning about nature. 

  1. Reindeer Relay Races

Get children moving with a Christmas-themed relay race! Divide pupils into teams of reindeer and challenge them to complete an obstacle course, collecting pretend presents along the way. Add festive headbands or antlers for extra fun. This activity is perfect for developing teamwork, coordination and physical fitness. 

  1. Outdoor Christmas Tree Decorating

Choose a small tree in your playground or place a potted Christmas tree in your outdoor learning area. Let children decorate it with weather-resistant decorations they’ve made themselves. You could even turn this into a group project, encouraging pupils to work together to create a festive masterpiece. 

  1. Frozen Christmas Treasures 

Explore the science of freezing and melting with a festive experiment. Place small, reusable Christmas decorations, leaves or berries into containers of water and leave them to freeze overnight (or use a freezer). Children can then investigate how the ice melts and experiment with different ways to release the treasures. 

  1. Santa’s Outdoor Workshop

Transform your outdoor classroom or playground canopy into Santa’s workshop! Provide recycled cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, ribbons and other craft materials for children to create pretend presents, decorations and Christmas cards. This imaginative activity encourages creativity, communication and teamwork. 

  1. Christmas Nature Art

Challenge children to create festive pictures using natural materials found outdoors. Twigs can become Christmas trees, leaves can form reindeer antlers, and stones can be arranged into snowmen. Children can work individually or in groups to create their own festive masterpieces on the playground. 

  1. Snowball Target Practice

No snow? No problem! Create pretend snowballs using rolled-up white socks or soft fabric balls. Set up buckets, hoops or targets around the playground and challenge children to aim their snowballs at them. Add numbers to the targets to incorporate counting and simple maths into the activity. 

  1. Follow the Christmas Trail

Create a festive trail around your school grounds using Christmas-themed signs, pictures or clues. At each stop, children can complete a simple challenge, such as naming three winter animals, singing a Christmas song or performing five reindeer jumps. This activity combines physical movement with problem-solving and festive fun. 

  1. Festive Bird Feeders

Help children learn about caring for wildlife during winter by making festive bird feeders. Using pinecones, bird-safe seeds and suitable natural materials, pupils can create feeders to hang around the school grounds. Encourage children to observe which birds visit and discuss how wildlife finds food during the colder months. Always check ingredients for allergies and suitability for local wildlife. 

Keep the Festive Fun Going Outdoors! 

The colder weather doesn’t have to mean the end of outdoor activities. With warm clothing, a little preparation and plenty of festive imagination, schools and nurseries can continue making the most of their outdoor spaces throughout winter. 

A sheltered outdoor learning area can make festive activities even more enjoyable, providing protection from the rain while allowing children to experience the benefits of fresh air and outdoor play. 

At Able Canopies®, we help schools and nurseries create practical, weather-protected outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed throughout the year, whatever the season. 

So, wrap up warm, head outside and let the festive fun begin!

 

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
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