New Term, New Courses: Planning Cross-Curricular Orienteering and Outdoor Learning with Ease
The new term arrives quickly after the Christmas break, bringing fresh curriculum units, new topics to introduce and the challenge of re-engaging pupils after two weeks away from school. January can also be a demanding planning period, with staff balancing assessments, curriculum coverage and the practicalities of taking learning outdoors during the colder months.
This is where simple, well-structured outdoor activities can make a huge difference. Rather than adding to teachers’ workload, outdoor learning can ease the transition back into school routines by offering fresh air, movement, hands-on exploration and a renewed sense of curiosity.
In this post, we look at how teachers can use the one-click course builder in The Outdoor Classroom to set up geography fieldwork, PE orienteering challenges and literacy trails with minimal preparation—ready for the term ahead.
Why Outdoor Learning Works Well in January
The weeks after Christmas can feel long for teachers and pupils alike. The colder weather and darker mornings often mean children arrive with high energy but low concentration. Regular outdoor activities can help by:
- giving pupils space to move;
- improving focus back in the classroom;
- supporting wellbeing after the festive break;
- providing real-world contexts for new topics;
- reducing indoor restlessness.
For more on outdoor learning as an effective teaching tool, see:
Is Outdoor Learning an Effective Tool for Teaching the Curriculum?
January doesn’t have to feel heavy—short, purposeful outdoor activities can bring much-needed balance.
Using the One-Click Course Builder to Support Planning
The course builder in The Outdoor Classroom makes it easy for teachers to design structured outdoor tasks linked directly to the curriculum. In one step, it creates a mapped route around the school grounds, adds prompts and tasks, and provides a clear sequence for pupils to follow.
It’s particularly helpful at this time of year when staff want high-quality outdoor opportunities without adding extra planning hours.
Explore how it works here:
How It Works
Quick Geography Fieldwork Routes
Many geography units begin in January or February, and teachers often need to introduce skills such as:
- observing human and physical features;
- recording data;
- comparing environments;
- using simple fieldwork techniques.
The course builder can generate a short route around the school or local area with prompts for sketching, tallying or describing features. Even small sites work well—pupils simply need space to explore, notice and record.
For more inspiration on outdoor observation tasks, see:
Nature Journals in the Rain
PE Orienteering Challenges for All Ages
Orienteering is widely used in UK primary PE because it combines movement, problem-solving and teamwork. The one-click course builder allows staff to produce:
- simple introductory courses for younger pupils;
- paired navigation activities;
- timed challenges for KS2;
- whole-class relay or score-based routes.
These can be run on playgrounds, fields or mixed sites. They’re especially useful when pupils need positive, active routines to settle back into school life.
Schools taking part in orienteering initiatives may also link to:
Literacy Trails that Spark Ideas
Taking literacy outdoors helps children access vocabulary, develop descriptive language and feel more confident in their writing.
Using the course builder, teachers can create trails with prompts such as:
- noticing sounds and textures;
- describing the weather or sky;
- imagining characters around the site;
- gathering sensory details for a future piece of writing.
Outdoor literacy supports reluctant writers and encourages pupils to draw on real, shared experiences—rather than inventing ideas from scratch.
Teachers who enjoy using creative outdoor tasks may also like:
From Classroom Walls to Open Skies
Cross-Curricular Courses to Strengthen Learning
Short outdoor courses can support far more than geography, PE or literacy. Teachers commonly use them for:
- science investigations (materials, plants, habitats);
- maths trails (measurement, shape, capacity, data);
- wellbeing walks;
- whole-school challenge days;
- transition activities.
For maths in particular, this post is a helpful reference:
Counting Conkers
Even 10–15 minutes outside can anchor a lesson and provide the sensory reset pupils often need in the winter months.
Keeping It Practical for Busy Teachers
UK teachers are under considerable workload pressure, and January can be one of the most demanding times of the year. The aim of the course builder is simply to reduce the burden: to give staff structured tasks and mapped routes so they can focus on teaching.
Outdoor learning should feel manageable and enjoyable—not an extra layer of stress. With clear structure, pupils know what to do, and lessons run smoothly even in mixed-weather months.
To understand more about how outdoor learning supports thinking and behaviour, see:
How Does Outdoor Learning Support Children’s Critical Thinking?
Final Thoughts
The new term is an excellent opportunity to refresh routines and bring learning to life outdoors. Geography fieldwork, PE orienteering and literacy trails all offer low-cost, high-impact ways to engage pupils during the winter months.
With a little preparation—and supportive tools when needed—outdoor learning becomes an accessible, reliable addition to everyday teaching, even in the colder part of the year.
If you’d like to explore these approaches with ready-made routes and simple planning support, you can create a free Outdoor Classroom account and try the course builder for yourself. It’s a quick, low-pressure way to see what works for your school.