Primary
Primary teachers can use free resources from NatureScot and others to explore Scotland’s nature outdoors and in the classroom.
You can search the Outdoor Learning Directory to find funding, resources, places, training and people to meet all of your outdoor learning needs. Or see what we have to offer primary school teachers below.
All about... factsheets and posters
Available in English and Gaelic, these colour factsheets and posters help pupils to learn all about Scotland’s wildlife species and why they’re special.
Search for All about… factsheets and posters
Know the code before you go
Help young people (aged 8–14) to explore and understand their rights and responsibilities in the outdoors. Scottish Outdoor Access Code Activity Guides suggest stimulating and fun activities that support Curriculum for Excellence themes such as Learning Outdoors and Citizenship.
View Scottish Outdoor Access Code Activity Guides
Discover John Muir
Want to inspire young people about conservation? You could use the Scottish Book Trust’s John Muir graphic novel in activities with upper primary and lower secondary students.
It aims to raise students’ awareness of the value of the natural environment and encourage them to actively help to protect and enhance our wild places – just as John Muir did. Supporting online activities let readers engage with the concepts in a creative and enjoyable way, to develop a deeper understanding of the issues.
The novel, developed with support from Creative Scotland and NatureScot, supports Curriculum for Excellence.
Other resources on the Scottish-American founder of the national park movement include the John Muir Trust.
No idea about deer?
Then visit the Deer in Scotland Education Zone. Its activities fulfil a range of Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes, and offer outdoor learning ideas.
Wildlife crime awareness
Explore the interactive Wildlife Crime Detectives Education Pack from the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime. It asks P5 to P7 pupils to think about the moral issues around wildlife crime while learning important safety messages.
Greenspace for schools
NatureScot supports the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity. As part of this, we’re engaged in Scotland’s Biodiversity: A Route Map to 2020. This project will see 100 of the schools that serve Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas matched with a greenspace within walking distance.
Biodiversity activities pack
Watch our Biodiversity Begins with a B video, for use with children of all ages.
Find out how your class can engage with biodiversity on your doorstep. Read about activities designed to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010
Explore the Shore
Learn some basic marine biology and get ideas for fun ways to explore Scotland’s beaches – some of the best in the world. For primary teachers, group leaders and parents.
Read more on Explore the shore - beach activities series
Peatlands resources
Read more about:
- Wild, Wet and Wonderful – resources for teachers and students to discover the wonders of peat bogs
- Schools Out – Fieldwork made easy: Peatlands – topic-based activity sheets for fieldwork and guidelines to help teachers plan fieldwork trips
All stages
View our range of upper primary educational resources in Gaelic.
Find simple low resource activities and facts to inspire you take time out with nature.
A group photo walk around your local area can be a great way to inspire young people to think about the nature around them. Get tips on where to start in Photo Walks: A resource for teachers, facilitators and group leaders.
We support Grounds for Learning, which can help schools to connect with nature by better using their grounds and local area. View Garden for Life leaflets on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website. These are useful to schools wishing to improve their grounds for biodiversity and learning and teaching.
You can also explore this website to find out about NatureScot, Scotland’s habitats and species or ways to enjoy the outdoors.
Find out more
Last updated:
