Discover Maths in the Natural World with Eight Outdoor Activities
Transform your Year 1 Maths lessons with this innovative resource featuring eight engaging activities that bring mathematical learning outdoors, using natural materials and the environment to make number, shape, and measurement concepts tangible and memorable.
Eight Complete Activities Included:
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Counting In Nature: Take counting outdoors! Use natural objects like leaves, sticks, pebbles, and flowers to count, developing number recognition and one-to-one correspondence in a meaningful, sensory-rich context
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Nature Number Frame: Create ten frames using natural materials! Arrange sticks to make frames and fill them with stones, acorns, or leaves, building understanding of numbers to 10 and part-whole relationships through hands-on exploration
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Nature Number Line: Build number lines outdoors using sticks, stones, or chalk! Children create and use number lines with natural materials, developing number sequencing and understanding of number order in a practical way
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Number Bonds: Explore number bonds using natural objects! Split collections of pebbles or leaves into different combinations, discovering all the ways to make numbers and building addition and subtraction foundations
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Number Array: Create arrays with natural materials to explore multiplication concepts! Arrange objects in rows and columns, developing early understanding of repeated addition and pattern recognition
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Comparing Measurements: Measure using natural units like sticks, leaves, or footsteps! Compare lengths, heights, and distances in the outdoor environment, building measurement understanding through practical comparison
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Shape Hunt: Go on a shape safari! Search for circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles in nature and the outdoor environment, developing shape recognition and understanding that maths exists everywhere
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Find A Treasure Stone: Combine maths with outdoor adventure! Use positional language and number clues to find hidden 'treasure stones,' developing problem-solving skills and mathematical vocabulary through play
Why Teachers Choose This Resource:
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Curriculum-Aligned: Fully supports Year 1 Maths objectives in the National Curriculum of England
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Outdoor Learning Focus: Gets children outside, making maths active, engaging, and connected to the real world
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Hands-On Exploration: Uses natural materials to make abstract maths concepts concrete and memorable
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Ready to Use: Complete lesson plans with learning objectives, resource suggestions, and step-by-step instructions
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Minimal Equipment: Uses natural materials freely available outdoors—no expensive resources needed
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Age-Appropriate: Activities specifically designed for 5-6 year olds with achievable, engaging tasks
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Multi-Sensory Learning: Engages children through touch, sight, and movement in natural environments
Perfect For:
- Year 1 Maths lessons taken outdoors
- Forest school and outdoor learning sessions
- Homeschool maths curriculum
- Making maths practical and meaningful
- Building positive attitudes towards mathematics
- Connecting mathematical learning to the natural world
Learning Outcomes:
Through these activities, children will count to and across 100, read and write numbers, identify and represent numbers using objects, understand one more and one less, read and write number bonds, recognize and name common 2D shapes, compare and measure using non-standard units, and use mathematical vocabulary in practical contexts—all while enjoying the benefits of outdoor learning.
What Makes This Resource Special:
Maths doesn't have to happen at desks with worksheets! By taking learning outdoors and using natural materials, these activities transform mathematics from abstract symbols into tangible, meaningful experiences. Children who struggle with traditional maths often thrive when they can touch, move, and explore mathematical concepts in nature.
Benefits of Outdoor Maths:
Learning maths outdoors provides fresh air, physical activity, and sensory stimulation that enhance concentration and memory. Natural materials offer endless variety and interest, making mathematical exploration engaging and memorable. The outdoor environment also provides authentic contexts for mathematical thinking and problem-solving.
Building Mathematical Confidence:
For many children, outdoor maths activities provide their first experience of feeling successful and confident in mathematics. By removing the pressure of formal classroom settings and using playful, exploratory approaches, these activities help all children—especially those who find traditional maths challenging—develop positive attitudes and genuine understanding.
Take maths outside! These engaging activities help Year 1 students discover mathematical concepts through hands-on exploration in nature, building number sense, shape recognition, and measurement understanding while enjoying the benefits of outdoor learning—creating confident, enthusiastic mathematicians who see maths everywhere around them.
