This engaging pack combines our popular Nature Journal with hands-on art activities that connect children with the natural world through creative expression. Perfect for Key Stage 1 learners, children will explore art, music, and photography using natural materials while recording their artistic journey in their nature journal.
Included Resources +
This pack includes eight activity sheets with accompanying lesson plans and a Nature Journal for recording artistic creations, observations, and reflections across outdoor art and creative exploration.
• Nature Journal — interactive notebook for recording artistic creations, observations, and reflections
• Land Art — create temporary outdoor sculptures using natural materials inspired by Andy Goldsworthy
• Photography In Nature — develop observation skills and capture the beauty of nature through photography
• Colours In Nature — explore the rainbow of colours found in the natural world
• Leaf Printing — create beautiful prints using leaves and natural pigments
• Clay Moulds — make impressions of natural objects in clay
• Drawing And Painting In Nature — sketch and paint outdoors inspired by the environment
• Music In Nature — create sounds and music using natural materials and outdoor spaces
Key Details +
• Year Group: KS1 (ages 5–7)
• Key Stage: KS1
• Subject: Art & Design
• Resource Type: Activity Sheets + Lesson Plans + Nature Journal
• Format: Instant PDF Download
• Number of Activities: 8
Curriculum Alignment +
Aligned to the KS1 Art & Design National Curriculum. Covers using a range of materials creatively to design and make products, using drawing, painting, and sculpture to develop and share ideas and experiences, developing a wide range of art and design techniques using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form, and space, and learning about the work of a range of artists — including Andy Goldsworthy and the land art movement. Cross-curricular links to Music (Music In Nature — exploring sound and composition), Science (Year 2 — living things and their habitats, Colours In Nature), and outdoor learning and forest school.
Teaching Tips +
Land Art works best on a dry day with access to an outdoor space — collect natural materials on a nature walk beforehand and photograph finished sculptures before they are dismantled. Photography In Nature works well with tablets or school cameras; if devices are limited, run it as a paired activity. Clay Moulds benefit from air-dry clay rather than standard modelling clay — the impressions are sharper and children can keep their finished pieces. Music In Nature makes an excellent forest school session finale — children can perform their natural soundscapes to the class. The Nature Journal ties all activities together beautifully as a running creative portfolio across the unit.
