As the days grow longer and the weather warms, it’s the perfect time to encourage our kids to step away from screens and immerse themselves in the natural world.
For young kids eager to explore or older kids who are ready to learn more in depth, on topics like environmental science, getting outside always offers so much! We’ve got a collection of nature activities for kids that will spark curiosity and enhance their appreciation of nature.

And, to help support our readers and your families, we’re taking part in the April Showers Homeschool giveaway where 2 families will have the chance to win a $200 voucher each – so read on until the end of this blog post for how to enter!
For families who homeschool, we understand the value of integrating educational content with play. That’s why we’re thrilled to offer an amazing giveaway opportunity that could see you winning vouchers to further support your educational journey.
If you’re just discovering crunchy family via this giveaway, you can read more about us here.

From crafting with natural materials found during a nature walk, to creating a nature journal filled with their unique observations, our guide to outdoor activities is designed to enrich your child’s sensory and educational experience.
Every little bit of time spent outdoors, in a local park or even your own backyard, contributes to better physical health and a deeper connection with the world around us.

So, grab that piece of paper and a pine cone or two, and let’s get started on this adventure in the great outdoors. And remember to keep reading for the giveaway entry after these nature crafts and learning activities…
Nature Activities for Kids
Nature Activities for Homeschool
Check out this collection of outdoor nature activities designed specifically for homeschool families. From creating art with pine cones and leaves to going on a nature scavenger hunt, each activity offers a fun way to explore natural elements and discover the wonders around us.
These fun activities are not just about having a great time; they're about building fine motor skills, enhancing sensory experiences, and developing a profound love of nature.
Ideal for kids of all ages, these adventures are a great way to turn your local park or backyard into a vibrant classroom where learning comes alive amidst fresh air and green space.
We've combined a mixture of hands on nature activities along with some nature themed printables (which you can complete outdoors if preferred!)
The activities featured are from our other site In The Playroom where we share tonnes of kids activities, crafts and free printables
This activity is a great way to explore emotions with kids, while appreciating the beauty of nature.
It offers an opportunity to talk about different kinds of feelings and why we might feel those ways, and the best ways to handle our feelings.
For older kids, you could combine this with some journal writing exercises on scrap paper, or have them make more detailed art works.
Get outside and identify some leaves - discuss the different features of each one, and see if you can recognise which trees each leaf comes from. You can also use these leaves for leaf rubbings.
Then, use these directed drawing pages to help with creating your own drawing of several specific types of leaves.
It's a great way to bring botany and natural sciences to life in a fun way, combined with recording some work on paper.
Creating mandalas outside with found nature items is a fun and hands on way to discuss math concepts like symmetry, and geometry, while also allowing children to explore patterns and shapes in an outdoor space.
This activity encourages creativity and critical thinking as they arrange natural objects to form balanced and visually appealing designs.
Encourage the kids to photograph their designs to preserve them.
Taking the kids on a spring adventure with this printable Nature Scavenger Hunt is perfect for exploring the vibrant rebirth of the outdoors during this season.
This activity offers homeschool students a dynamic way to engage with their environment while honing observational skills and scientific thinking.
As they search for specific items and phenomena on the scavenger hunt sheet, children learn to classify natural elements, notice seasonal changes, and develop a deeper appreciation for biodiversity, fostering both curiosity and respect for nature.
For Earth Day, dive into nature poems with your kids. Reading and discussing these poems can spark a love for language and deepen their connection to the environment.
There are suitable nature poems for younger children or for older children, and you can even have them write their own too.
The Egg Carton Color Hunt is a blast for little ones, teaching them colors and sorting skills as they match natural items to the sections of an egg carton.
This is a fun activity to explore natural objects and all kinds of different items that you find in your own neighbourhood, or further afield on a field trip.
Making a puzzle to recognize nature shapes isn't just fun—it helps kids notice details and patterns in nature, boosting their spatial and cognitive skills.
This cardboard flower vase activity is a lovely way for kids to learn about plant biology and express their creativity by designing their own floral displays, while spending time outdoors
Using natural clay, kids can create their own nature faces - and combine with learning about the myths of boggarts
This one is a great activity for winter. Preserve your natural items and nature finds in ice, to create a beautiful decoration.
You can combine learning about states of matter - how water moves from solid (frozen), to liquid, or to gas when it reaches boiling point. This sensory play activity beautifully demonstrates these principles as well as allowing us to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Making your own cobwebs with sticks and yarn is one of the fun nature activities that's a classic for building fine motor skills.
You can combine this activity with looking for real spider webs or cobwebs to observe, and talking about spiders and how they catch their food.
Making your own DIY bird feeder is a fantastic hands-on project that teaches kids about wildlife care and eco-responsibility.
As they gather materials and assemble the feeder, they'll improve their crafting skills and learn about the types of birds in their area, what they eat, and the role these birds play in the ecosystem.
This activity not only brings the joy of watching birds come to visit but also instills a sense of stewardship for the natural world.
This activity is a fun way to play with the sun, and understand shadows and light.
Have your children write down their promise to the earth, make their own acrostic poem and more, with these writing activities that connect us to the earth, and nature
April Showers Homeschool Giveaway
We hope you enjoyed these outdoor learning activities, and now it’s time for the April showers homeschool giveaway

We are asking participants to register to win one of two $200 gift cards of their choice (winners will be able to choose between either an Amazon gift card or a Gift-O-Gram gift card). To enter, you’ll need to use the rafflecopter widget below and complete as many entries as you like – the more entries the more chances to snag one of those vouchers.
These gift cards have been generously funded by 20 participating blogs – including ours, and is hosted and administered by Hope In The Chaos, which is owned and operated by Kelly Warner.
Please note – by entering you are agreeing to sign up to our email lists.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThe April Showers Homeschool Giveaway will run from April 15, 2024 – April 24, 2024 @ 11:59 PM EST.
Full T&C: The 2024 April Showers Homeschool Giveaway is hosted by Hope In The Chaos and will run from Monday, April 15, 2024, through Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST. Entrants must be 18 years old or older and be a member of a current homeschooling family. By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating blogs represented here. The winner will be drawn randomly via Rafflecopter and notified by email no later than April 26, 2024. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn. Prizes are non-transferable. Participating bloggers and members of their households are not eligible to win. Void where prohibited.
Good luck! And thank you for joining us on this giveaway.

More Parenting Inspiration from us here at Crunchy Family
If you’d like to read more from us here at Crunchy Family then check out some more of our articles on Raising Kids.
- 6 Gentle Parenting Alternatives to Time Out
- 15 Key Phrases to Embrace and Avoid with Your Child
- Effective Emotional Regulation Games for Young Kids
- 40 Journal Prompts for Kids
- 10 Powerful Reasons Why Kids Need Role Models
These are excellent ways to take your learning outside! Thanks for sharing! 🙂