These forest school literacy ideas make use for the twigs, leaves and seeds of the season for fun, hands-on letter and spelling activities.
Forest school literacy ideas for autumn
Grab leaves, twigs and seeds and let’s take our literacy centers outdoors this autumn season!
Keep a basket of leaves, twigs, acorns, and fir cones handy, and you can quickly and easily set up one of these activities anytime you like.
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Ready-made forest school lesson plans
Have you got your copy of The Forest Classroom yet? It is the perfect beginner’s guide to running a successful forest school. Download your forest school guide here.
A forest classroom is a place of adventure, discovery, and imagination. It can also be a wonderful place to learn about math and science, explore art and crafts, and develop language and social skills.
The Forest Classroom is a practical guide which will show you how to engage your children in fun and educational forest-school activities.
These ready-made forest school lesson plans are suitable for forest school leaders, teachers, childcarers and parents with children aged 4 to 10, to learn in a forest, school nature area, local park or your own backyard.
Get your copy of The Forest Classroom here and you’ll be ready to head straight outdoors and enjoy teaching, using our ready-made lesson plans.
More forest school activities
Don’t miss our forest school math and forest school play ideas!
And for a complete programme of seasons lessons, activities and printables, download the Seasons School Autumn Curriculum here.
Writing Letters
What letter does your name start with? Can you make that letter out of twigs? Can you write your whole name in twigs?
Spelling
Make some leaf letters; I used metallic pens. Draw a chalk tree and add some letters.
Can you match the leaves and spell a word?
Spelling
Use your leaf alphabet to spell out word families or sight words.
Letter Shapes
Draw out ‘bubble’ letters in chalk. Use natural materials to fill them in and explore which letters have straight lines, and which have curves. Do you know what sound each letter makes?
Writing Letters
Use your leaf alphabet with a sand or salt tray. Can you write this letter in the sand/salt?
Pre-writing shapes
Draw shapes on the floor with chalk. Use the forms used to write letters: straight lines, curves, loops.
Can you follow the line and materials along its length? Trace the shapes with your finger.
Free Forest School and Garden Classroom resources!
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Seasons School is NurtureStore's year-round program of living and learning with nature. Our activities and resources focus on hands-on, nature-based learning that connects children with the natural environment.
If you're looking for nature study lessons, arts and craft projects, campfire recipes, foraging ideas, outdoor math and literacy activities, outdoor games, and ways to explore forests, gardens, and outdoor spaces - think of NurtureStore as your forest fairy godmother!
Whether you're in a forest school or outdoor classroom, running a school gardening club, bringing nature lessons into your class, home educating with nature, or wanting to connect with the great outdoors at the weekend, you will love the Seasons School ideas.
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