Year 4 – Outdoor Learning

This term, Year 4 have been enjoying a range of exciting outdoor learning activities designed to build confidence, creativity, teamwork, and a deeper connection with nature.

The children learned how to safely cook fruit and marshmallows over a campfire, developing practical life skills, independence, and an understanding of safety and responsibility.

Inspired by artist Andy Goldsworthy, they used natural materials such as leaves, stones, and sticks to create beautiful outdoor artworks. This encouraged creativity, careful observation, and appreciation of the natural world.

Through parachute games, the children worked together to develop cooperation, communication, and physical coordination, while having lots of fun and strengthening friendships.

In a sensory exploration activity, they collected different natural items in egg boxes, using their senses to notice textures, colours, and shapes, helping to build curiosity and descriptive language.

Overall, these outdoor experiences have supported a wide range of skills — from teamwork and problem-solving to creativity and wellbeing — while fostering a sense of enjoyment and respect for the outdoors.

What The Student Says

I enjoy collecting things, making collages and grouping things. I like to discover how things change when they melt. Outdoor learning helps me to learn. I like that we had the opportunity to see how fruit and marshmallows would stay on a stick when we put them over the fire. The fruit kebabs tasted delicious!

What knowledge and skills have been developed?

Cooking Fruit and Marshmallows over a Campfire

Safety awareness: Understanding and following fire safety rules.
Practical life skills: Learning basic cooking and handling tools safely.
Responsibility and teamwork: Taking turns, helping prepare, cook, and clean up.
Independence and confidence: Managing small risks safely in a supervised setting.
Communication: Listening carefully to instructions and sharing responsibilities.

Collecting Natural Resources Inspired by Andy Goldsworthy

Creativity and artistic expression: Using natural materials to make patterns and sculptures.
Observation and appreciation of nature: Noticing shapes, textures, and colours in the environment.
Fine motor skills: Manipulating natural materials carefully.
Collaboration: Working with peers to design and build artworks.
Problem-solving: Deciding how to balance, layer, or combine materials effectively.

Parachute Games

Gross motor coordination: Running, lifting, shaking, and timing movements.
Teamwork and cooperation: Working together for shared goals (e.g., keeping the ball on the parachute).
Listening and following instructions: Responding quickly to cues and rules.
Turn-taking and fair play: Encouraging inclusion and empathy.
Enjoyment and well being: Promoting physical activity and social connection.

Sensory Experience: Collecting Resources in Egg Boxes

Sensory awareness: Exploring textures, smells, colours, and shapes in nature.
Scientific observation: Classifying and comparing materials found outdoors.
Vocabulary development: Describing sensory experiences using precise language.
Mindfulness and focus: Engaging with the environment calmly and attentively.
Curiosity and inquiry: Asking questions about natural objects and habitats.

What the Teacher says

This half term, Year 4 explored their observation and creative skills during outdoor learning. Our Y4 children explored the beauty of nature through the lens of artist Andy Goldsworthy. Using natural materials such as leaves, twigs, stones, flowers, and pine cones, they worked collaboratively to create their own outdoor art. The children were fascinated by how Goldsworthy uses colour, pattern, and texture to create temporary artworks that blend into their surroundings. As they gathered materials and arranged them carefully, the children developed their observation skills and deepened their connection to the natural environment. They showed creativity, patience, and teamwork—experimenting with balance, symmetry, and design. Our students bonded further as a team by joining in scavenger hunts, working together and delegating tasks to collect the most items required. They further explored the rules of working successfully as a team when engaging in parachute games outdoors- a fun way for them to explore collaboration and team building. One of the sessions we enjoyed the most was cooking over the fire, as it allowed us to develop resilience and explore fire safety, skills we will make use of in later sessions as well. Finally, we all had a blast using our senses to engage with the outdoors and stimulate language and imagination, using egg boxes to gather 6 different materials with different textures as well as trapping sounds in our hands and describing what we heard.

School Address:

Clapgate Primary School
10 Cranmore Drive
Belle Isle
Leeds
LS10 4AW

School Contacts:

Headteacher: Miss Taylor
Deputy Headteacher: Miss Procter
SENDCO: Mrs Lawton
Office: Mrs Austin, Miss Johnson, Mrs Belt and Miss Stamp
Chair of Governors: Mr Bache

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Tel: 0113 271 6700
Email: clapgate@clapgateprimaryschool.org

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