6 Reasons to Take Your British Science Week Outside the Classroom

British Science Week is fast approaching (6th – 15th March 2026) and we’ve got you covered when it comes to taking the buzz of this fantastic week outdoors with our BRAND NEW Science Week Outdoor Activity Pack for 2026, newly available inside The Alfresco Hub! (Read on for a free sample)

This year’s theme for BSW, ‘Curiosity . . . What’s your question?’ is proving a bit of a headscratcher though. We all love freedom of creativity in teaching, but surely all science falls under the theme of exploring curiosity and questioning?! It’s left many wondering what direction to take for the week . . .

So we are (of course) going to direct you towards taking it outdoors! We want to encourage you to investigate the elements, get curious about the phenomena in the natural world and save yourself a nightmare tidy-up time, all in one. Taking your British Science Week outside has the potential to not just build your children’s science capital but also create a learning experience that will be remembered all year long. 

Keep reading below for a round up of all the benefits to inspire you to take this approach and head to the end for a free sample outdoor science investigation too!

Here are our 6 reasons to take your British Science Week outside the classroom:

1. Curiosity THRIVES outside

There’s nothing better than nurturing children’s curiosity in science and there’s no better environment for it than outdoors. From the moment children step outside their senses are engaged, they hear the wind, feel the ground under their feet, notice light, shadows, movement and sound. Questions start bubbling up. You don’t have to manufacture curiosity outside, it shows up on its own. British Science Week provides the ideal context to investigate the outdoor environment, all you need is some investigation ideas to get you started . . .

2. Science is powerful outdoors

Investigations that feel small inside suddenly open up outdoors. Forces make sense when rolling objects across grass, concrete or bark. States of matter come to life when exploring frost patterns, icicles and muddy puddles. Children aren’t just learning science; they’re seeing it happen, touching it, asking questions about it, and wondering why. 

Of course we can’t dictate all of the conditions of the outdoor environment for British Science Week. That’s why it’s helpful to have a selection of scientific investigations to choose from, enabling you to make the most of the opportunities that present themselves in your outdoor environment.

3. Being outside provides an inclusive approach to British Science Week

Outdoor learning often levels the playing field as the outdoor environment demands hands-on, practical activities – making learning more accessible for children with SEND & EAL. 

When conducting science investigations it’s easy to lose members of the class in the discussions, especially where the vocabulary is stretching the limits of their understanding. But with the support of hands-on activities, while everyone might not be able to fully explain the ‘why’ behind the outcome of the investigation, everyone will be able to explain what is being investigated and what the outcome was.

4. Outdoor science can improve scientific vocabulary!

Research shows that being outside gets children talking. With some studies showing children can speak up to 5 times more words outdoors than in an indoor environment! 

Taking science outdoors calls for collaborative learning, combine this with the hands-on activities and a changing environment and you find yourself with many more opportunities for exploring a rich and wide range of vocabulary.

5. It’s FUN!

With the fresh air, space to move, and lessons that feel less boxed in, many teachers tell us outdoor science feels more purposeful, and genuinely enjoyable to teach. You’ll notice it’s not just your pupils having fun, but that you are too! 

Outdoor lessons tend to be the most enjoyable for all and they’re often the ones the children remember for years to come, especially when they are captured and celebrated across the school and with parents/carers. 

6. A natural reason to start (or keep going!)

British Science Week is the perfect opportunity to take your learning outside. If you’ve never taken lessons outdoors before it creates the perfect chance to try it as your lessons are going to be a little more flexible and exciting anyway! 

Taking British Science Week outdoors across the school can be the perfect way to open up your staff team’s minds to this approach for teaching and learning. You may find they feel motivated to take more of the science curriculum outdoors once they realise how easy it is to deliver and how quickly it can boost their children’s learning.

But HOW do we take British Science Week Outdoors?

So, if you’re thinking, “This sounds great, but where do I start?” – That’s exactly where we can help! We’ve created a Science Week Outdoor Activity Pack to fit this year’s theme. Inside are 10 investigations, adaptable across the primary age range, to help you make your Science Week one to remember!

And as a thank you for making it this far into our blog post, we’ve created a FREE SAMPLE of that activity pack featuring one of our favourite investigations from this year’s pack – see below!

To access the FULL ACTIVITY PACK, you’ll need to become a member of The Alfresco Hub where you’ll also find 100’s of outdoor lesson plans across the primary curriculum as well as the full version of the 2026 British Science Week Pack.

We hope these activities, along with the motivation provided in this blog post, help you to take your Science Week outdoors this year and bring it to life. If you do, be sure to drop us a DM on our socials or tag us in your posts!