Activities for your class

Find free, downloadable resources to help you bring Scotland’s nature and landscapes to life outdoors and in the classroom for early years, primary and secondary pupils.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code - education resource pack

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 early years’ practitioners, primary and secondary school teachers below.

We also offer activities and resources that you can download directly from this website. Some are suitable for all stages, while others are targeted at early years, primary or secondary pupils. Look to see what’s relevant to the stage you teach.

View our range of upper primary and lower secondary educational resources in Gaelic. You can also see a list of all Gaelic publications.

For project inspiration - Teachers and students can explore our topics of interest to secondary students.

Know the Code before you go

Help young people to explore and understand their rights and responsibilities in the outdoors. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code Activity Education Resource Pack is full of stimulating and fun activities that support Curriculum for Excellence – the Four Capacities and, in particular, the cross curricular themes of Learning Outdoors, Education for Citizenship, Learning for Sustainability and Health and Wellbeing.  Catch up with our professional learning session with Education Scotland.  

Out with nature

Take time out with nature to find fun and facts for the early years or inspire young people to think about nature in your local area by taking group photo walks. A resource for teachers, facilitators and group leaders.
Download our simple pleasures activities 

Greenspace for schools

Resources to help you identify, access and use nearby greenspace for Learning in Local Greenspace.

Alien Detectives

Alien Detectives includes information, activities and games to help young people learn about invasive non-native species (INNS) in Scotland.

Explore the Shore

Learn some basic marine biology and get ideas for fun ways to Explore the shore on Scotland's beaches - activities series – some of the best in the world. For primary teachers, group leaders and parents.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity Begins with a B is a darkly comic look at the importance of bees to our natural environment
Click for a full description
Duration
01:07

Featuring the voice of Scots comedian Phil Kay and encourages people to take a few simple actions to help support the variety of living things around us.

Note: Our website address has changed to www.nature.scot

 

Biodiversity activities pack

Find out how your class can engage with biodiversity on your doorstep. There are 16 activities in the Biodiversity activities pack. Aimed at all age groups and identify key curriculum areas and resources required.

View more about Scotland's biodiversity on our website

Big 5

Discover some of Scotland's iconic animals in this colourful fun book, available in English and Gaelic.  It features otter, harbour seal, red deer, red squirrel and golden eagle and highlights the top 3 places to spot these special animals.

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 available via the National Library of Scotland website.

Peatlands

  • Peatlands – A Guide to Educational Activities for Schools
  • 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

Find out more

You can also explore this website to find out about Scotland’s

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Related Links

Alien detectives is an educational resource is packed full of fun, educational activities to help young people learn about invasive non-native species (INNS) in Scotland. It includes information, activities and games for teachers, families and pupils for learning- most of which can be explored outdoors, or in a home school context.

We support Learning through Landscapes Scotland, who can help all education settings 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 those wishing to improve their grounds for biodiversity and learning and teaching.

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. Other resources on the Scottish-American founder of the national park movement include the Discover John Muir website.

More resources found on the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association