Published August 28, 2026 Written by NDNA

Early years activity: Outdoor Storytime

Storytime outdoors offers children a wonderful opportunity to combine literacy, physical activity and imaginative play. Taking a familiar story into the natural environment encourages children to become active participants rather than just listeners, inspiring them to explore, move, create and collaborate. By inventing their own version of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, children develop communication and language skills, creativity and confidence while building a meaningful connection with the world around them.

Outdoor Storytime learning aims

Develop listening and attention by following and joining in with a familiar story
Build communication and language skills by sharing ideas, introducing new vocabulary and creating their own narrative
Strengthen physical development through moving in different ways as they travel over, under, around and through outdoor obstacles
Use their imagination and creativity to invent characters, settings and storylines inspired by the natural environment.

Resources you’ll need

A copy of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
A comfortable outdoor storytelling area (logs, mats, blankets or tree stumps for seating)
Natural outdoor environment with features such as grass, trees, leaves, sticks, hills, mud, puddles or flower beds
Picture cards of different characters (e.g. dragon, fairy, dinosaur, woodland animals) to support children who need inspiration.

Optional

Clipboards, paper and pencils for children to draw a map of their adventure or record their story
Large fabric sheets, scarves or ribbons to represent rivers, caves, forests or other obstacles
Musical instruments such as drums or shakers to create sound effects during the story.

Outdoor storytime activity guide

Begin by reading We’re Going on a Bear Hunt together outside, inviting children to join in with the repeated phrases and actions. Talk about the different places the family travelled through and ask, “Where could our adventure take us today?”
Explore the outdoor area together, encouraging children to notice interesting features such as long grass, puddles, trees, logs, flowers, hills or mud. Children can decide where they will travel and who or what they are looking for. Instead of a bear, they might search for a dragon, fairy, dinosaur, rabbit, pirate or even a magical rainbow
Support children to create their own repeated phrases, for example: “We’re going on a dragon hunt. We’ll search high and low. We’ll keep our eyes wide open. Oh look… a prickly hedge! We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we’ll have to go round it”
Practitioners should follow the children’s ideas, encouraging them to use movement, actions and expressive language as they journey through each obstacle. Invite children to suggest sound effects, describe what they can see, hear or feel, and work together to solve any problems they encounter along the way
Finish by gathering together to retell the group’s unique story, celebrating each child’s ideas and encouraging them to reflect on their favourite part of the adventure
You could spread this out over several days to include various adventures and ideas
After all children have experienced the activity, you could leave the resources out for children to explore independently and create their own stories with friends.

Extension Ideas

More or less obstacles could be introduced depending on the age and stage of the children involved.

NDNA products to support you with this activity

Outdoor play – Publication

Outdoor and risky play nursery – Training

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Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.

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