Wellington sensation
* Gather a range of children's Wellington boots - brightly decorated ones are ideal.
* Place a variety of natural objects into the toe of each boot, for example a few leaves in one, a fir cone in another, a pebble, twigs, a flower, bark, grass.
* If possible, attach the boots to a board or wall. If not possible, place them on the grass or path.
* Encourage the children to find the 'treasure' inside.
* If you have two boots the same, put in the same contents and play a matching game.
* Name each 'find' and discuss the texture with the children.
Seasonal weave
* Erect cane wigwams (from garden centres) or hang netting in the outdoor area.
* Place a range of objects such as scarves, lengths of material, ribbons, large feathers, flowers and bendy twigs by the wigwams.
* Help the children to weave and join the materials on to the wigwam frames.
Umbrella hide
* Place a range of brightly-coloured children's umbrellas around the garden - under a bush, hanging from a low branch, against a fence, or on the grass.
* Open the umbrellas up and hide a few objects behind them. Items could include a kaleidoscope, magnifying glass and pile of bugs (real or plastic).
* Encourage children to find the hidden items and investigate them.
Treasure dens nStand a couple of clothes horses in the outdoor area.
* Drape coloured material around and over them to make a den. The colours could reflect the season, such as browns and oranges in autumn. Or use vibrant colours found in the colour spectrum/rainbow.
* Hang pockets, such as 'shoe pockets', on the frame.
* Place a variety of interesting objects in the pockets and around the den - baskets with leaves, scarves and gloves, small buckets or wooden blocks.
* Allow the children to explore and experiment with the various objects, or gather items to add to their den.
Other activities
* Place a ladder flat on the ground and play stepping and counting games on it.
* Prepare small interest areas in the garden by creating piles of natural materials, such as fir cones, twigs and pebbles, to encourage investigation.
