Fun Nature Activities for Kids

We do a lot of cool science experiments that require a bunch of materials for indoors, but so much fun science can be found outdoors too! So we have an awesome resource for outdoor nature activities for kids. Activities that are useful, practical, and fun! I  have handpicked a bunch of nature activities and ideas. Let’s get your kids outdoors to explore the natural world around them!

TAKE SCIENCE OUTDOORS

Simple science is right outside your back door. Exploring, playing, examining, observing, and learning are key components for bringing science outdoors. From the grass under your feet to the clouds in the sky, science is all around us!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Free Family Outdoor Activities

There aren’t a ton of supplies you need to try these nature activities. What’s really needed is a touch of curiosity, excitement, and enthusiasm for the outdoors to spark your kids’ own enjoyment of nature science projects.

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges.

NATURE SCIENCE EQUIPMENT

Check out the world through a magnifying glass. It’s one of our favorite nature science activities.

Gather a few supplies to start and create a basket of nature science tools for your kids to have access too whenever they can. It’s a great way to g an ive them an invitation to explore outdoor science anytime.

You can also start a small library of kid’s nature books to encourage further research for everything they collect, find, and discover during their outdoor activities. We have a few favorites already! Download poster below here.

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AWESOME NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Check out favorite nature activities below for exploring science outdoors. If you see a link in blue, click on it. There will be a fun activity, printable, or project to try!

NATURE SCAVENGER HUNT

Go on a scavenger hunt in the outdoors. Print out a backyard scavenger hunt here.

SOIL SCIENCE

Dig up a patch of dirt, spread it out, and examine the soil in your yard. Try looking at soil samples from a couple of different locations. Notice the color and texture of your soil. What else can you find in the dirt?

ALSO CHECK OUT: Geology For Kids

GEOCACHING

Try out geocaching! Check out what’s in your area or nearby for a new kind of adventure. Learn more here with outdoor apps.

SUN PRINTS

Create your own sun prints with construction paper and then hang nature indoors.

SUN SHELTER

Building a sun shelter is a great STEM challenge. Learn about the negative and positive effects of the suns rays on people, animals, and plants

EXPLORE WITH YOUR SENSES

Be aware of your senses when you are outdoors in different locations! Use and learn about your 5 senses in nature. Draw them in your nature journal!

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges.

NATURE JOURNALS

Start a nature journal. Either buy a blank note pad, composition book or make your own.

IDEAS FOR YOUR NATURE JOURNAL

• Plant seeds and record their process with words and/or drawings.
• Measure rainfall over a course of a month and then create a graph showing the amounts.
• Draw interesting things you observe while being outside from beautiful sunsets and flowers to cool looking bugs.
• Pick a tree, plant, or insect around you to learn more about. Research and draw it. Create an informational book about it!
• Write about your yard from the eyes of a squirrel, ant, or bird!

PLANT A GARDEN

Get planting! Start a garden bed, grow flowers or a container garden. Learn about what plants need to stay healthy. We planted a container garden on our porch. You can see the fruits of our labor here.

STUDY AND TRACK THE WEATHER

What kinds of weather patterns does your area experience? What types of weather are most common. Make a cloud viewer and work out if the clouds you can see will bring rain. Graph the daily temperature. Take a few weeks and get creative with this one!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Weather Activities

PHOTO JOURNAL

If you can, use an old camera or your phone and have kids take pictures of their favorite things in nature over the course of a month or so. Assemble a book and label the different pictures. Talk about any changes you notice.

BIRD WATCHING

Take up bird watching! Set up a bird feeder, grab a book, and identify the birds around your house or classroom. Make a bird watching basket and keep it handy complete with binoculars and a chart of common birds for your area. This a cool picture we captured at home.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Bird Seed Ornaments

ROCK COLLECTING

Start a rock collection and learn about the rocks you find. We mined for crystals and had a blast.

You don’t always have to take the rocks home with you! We love to examine rocks on the trails too. Bring a paintbrush to clean them off. It’s a great way to explore the outdoors in its natural state and leave no trace.

ANTS!

Observe what ants like to eat. Definitely outdoors and only if you don’t mind ants!

BEE HOTEL

Build your own mason bee house for a few simple supplies and help the pollinators in the garden.

BUG HOTEL

Build your own insect hotel.

EXAMINE WATER SOURCES

Collect and examine pond, river, lake, ocean water

OUTDOOR SKILLS

LEARN TO:

• use binoculars
• use a compass
• how to follow a trail map

TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Participate in a trail clean up and learn about how litter effects the quality of animals habitats and health. You can also learn about erosion on trails. Learn about the Leave No Trace policy.

IDENTIFY CLOUDS

Build your own cloud viewer and get outdoors to identify the clouds you can see. Is there rain coming?

BUILD A FORT

Build a stick fort. What type of building style makes a strong fort?

NATURE BOATS

Can you build a boat that floats? The challenge is to use only materials found in nature! Then find some water and have a boat race.

CREATE NATURE ART

Use natural materials to create a work of art for outdoor STEAM. You can try leaf rubbings, nature weaving, land art, or a simple masterpiece to hang on the wall.

BUILD A FIRE

If possible, though with plenty of adult supervision, build a campfire. Learn about fire safety, what a fire needs, and how to extinguish a fire. Roast a marshmallow or two if you have the time!

SLEEP OUTSIDE

There’s nothing quite like sleeping under the stars and listening to the sounds of nature at night. Learn about what animals are nocturnal! Camping with kids is a great way to immerse yourself in nature even if it’s in your own backyard.

STUDY THE STARS

Take up star gazing. Grab our constellations printable and see which ones you can find.

This list of fun nature activities should keep you and your kids busy as long as the sunny weather sticks around. Plus, so many of these nature activities can be re-done each season. It would be fun to compare your data from season to season.

Or talk about why some things won’t work well depending on the season. That’s a great time to look up videos and check out books on those things and see how other people might do them. For example; sleeping in the outdoors in the middle of winter!

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges?

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges.

OUTDOOR NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

For more outdoor activities, click on the link or on the image below.