SAFETY FIRST: Outdoor Education is as safe as necessary. Please read the Canadian Paediatric Society's post here: Position Statement on Outdoor Risky Play
Visual Arts
Art made of nature can inspire so much creativity! Or if your school does not have much nature, drawing with chalk on concrete works as well. Or taking paper and colours outside while sitting on a sit spot can be a reflective calm way to express thoughts through art.
I incorporate art into a lesson whenever it fits. Hairy Harry is a science lesson that incorporates math, language arts, science, and visual arts!
Students enjoy creating art out of natural materials!
Andy Goldsworthy is a creative artist who only uses natural materials for his art. I often show his work inside through his website and YouTube videos, such as Andy Goldsworthy-inspired Nature Art | Art Project for Kids. Once outside I have students create pieces inspired by his work. He is a good example to teach patience. As well, you can have students work collaboratively as a whole class or in small groups to create pieces thus teaching group social skills.
For those schools without nature, a video of a chalk artist could be shown and chalk art could be drawn on a school's outside court or pavement area. David Zinn uses the sidewalk to create his chalk art pieces. My students and I have enjoyed looking at his art. Although complex for young students his work would still spark creativity in students. And older students might be able to make similar effects to his work.
Nature Bracelets
This lesson I did with a grade 2/3 class although I think it could be used for grade 2 and up, even at a junior high level. All genders enjoyed it.
I said we are going to make nature bracelets! I put a piece of masking tape around each child's wrist with the sticky side up. Students then walked around our nature area for objects to put on their bracelet. They had so much fun finding objects. They even discovered new pieces of nature! They also worked together to show each other where a colorful piece of nature could be found. Some came back for another bracelet!
Hairy Harry allows for scientific labelling and drawing!
Blooming Colours
Take students on a walk throughout nature on your school ground. Have them pick up objects of nature. Remember to be gentle with nature and only take what is already fallen. A few flowers would be acceptable. Students can share flowers to reduce how many are picked.
Back in your outdoor classroom or concrete pad give each student a piece of white card stock paper. Have students rub the objects onto the paper to see what colour emerges. They will be surprised that colour does emerge and what colour it is. Students can simply rub the nature onto the paper or attempt to make a simple picture.
Extra: For upper elementary they could research the history of colour, why certain nature objects produce certain colours, or how people used these colours to create art!