How to Create a Forest School Spin the Wheel for Outdoor Learning
Forest School activities are all about getting children outdoors, exploring nature and learning through hands-on experiences. But sometimes, choosing what to do next can be half the challenge!
Why not let the wheel decide?
With SpinTheWheel.io, you can create your own personalised Forest School wheel in just a few minutes. Add pictures of leaves, conkers, fruits, flowers, insects or anything else you want children to discover. Then let the wheel choose the next challenge.
Create Your Own Forest School Spin the Wheel
In this video, we show you step-by-step how to create a Forest School spin the wheel, customise the design, add your own image and choose fun sounds and animations.
Whether you're preparing a scavenger hunt, planning a nature walk or simply looking for a fun way to decide what your class will explore next, a custom wheel can make your outdoor activity more exciting.
Why Use a Spin the Wheel for Forest School?
A spin the wheel activity is a simple way to introduce an element of choice, surprise and play into outdoor learning.
Instead of telling children exactly what they need to find, let the wheel make the decision.
For example, your wheel could include:
- ð Autumn leaves
- ð° Conkers
- ð Fruits
- ðļ Flowers
- ðŋ Interesting leaves
- ð Minibeasts
- ðģ Different types of trees
- ðŠĩ Sticks or twigs
- ðŠķ Feathers
- ð Something unusual
The possibilities are endless!
You can create a different wheel for every season, topic or lesson.
How to Make Your Forest School Wheel
Creating your own wheel is quick and easy.
1. Add your Forest School choices
Start by adding images for the things you want children to find or explore.
On SpinTheWheel.io, click the Add Image icon, choose Add Image as Entry, and then select Upload Image.
For example, you could upload a picture of a conker and name the entry Conker.
Then simply continue adding your other choices.
You can add as many entries as you need, so your wheel can be as simple or as varied as your activity requires.
2. Add your own image to the centre
Want to make the wheel feel more personal?
Open Wheel Settings and go to Wheel Design.
Under Wheel Center Settings, you can upload an image to appear in the middle of your wheel.
This could be:
- Your school logo
- Your Forest School logo
- A class mascot
- A picture of your school
- A seasonal image
- Or simply an image you love
It's a small detail, but it can make your wheel feel much more personal to your class.
3. Choose a fun spinning sound
Now it's time to make the wheel even more exciting!
In the While Spinning settings, you can choose the sound that plays while the wheel is spinning.
A ticking sound can build suspense, while something more playful can make the activity feel like a game.
Choose whichever sound works best for your group.
4. Add a celebration when the wheel stops
The fun doesn't have to stop when the wheel stops spinning!
In Post Spin, you can choose sounds and animations that appear once a winner has been selected.
For a Forest School activity, why not try an autumn leaves animation?
Imagine the children waiting to see what the wheel chooses, followed by a shower of falling leaves when the result appears!
These little touches can help turn a simple activity into something children remember.
Check out our Post Spin Reactions Tutorial
Forest School Spin the Wheel Ideas
Not sure what to put on your wheel?
Here are some ideas you can try.
ð Nature Scavenger Hunt
Create a wheel with different things for children to find outdoors.
For example:
Find a conker â Find a yellow leaf â Find a feather â Find a stick â Find a flower
Children can spin the wheel and then head off to find their chosen item.
ðģ Tree Explorer
Create entries for different types of trees found around your school or Forest School area.
The wheel could choose which tree the children investigate next.
Ask them to look at its leaves, bark, seeds and shape.
ð Five Senses Challenge
Create a wheel based on the five senses.
Try:
- Something you can hear
- Something you can smell
- Something rough
- Something smooth
- Something colourful
- Something tiny
This can be a great way to encourage children to slow down and really observe their surroundings.
ð Seasonal Wheels
Why not create a new wheel for every season?
Autumn: conkers, leaves, acorns, berries and fungi.
Winter: frost, bare branches, animal tracks and evergreen plants.
Spring: blossom, buds, flowers, insects and birds.
Summer: fruits, flowers, leaves, butterflies and seeds.
A seasonal wheel can also be a great way to revisit the same outdoor space throughout the year and notice how it changes.
Use Your Wheel on a Tablet or Mobile
One of the great things about SpinTheWheel.io is that you don't need any special equipment.
You can use your wheel on a tablet, laptop or mobile phone.
A tablet can be particularly useful when you're working with a group, as the larger screen makes it easier for children to see the wheel.
But if you're already outside and only have your phone with you, that's fine too!
Open your wheel, give it a spin and let the activity begin.
Check our How to Identify British Trees (Forest School Guide + Fun Spin-the-Wheel Challenge)
Make Outdoor Learning More Playful
Forest School is about exploration, curiosity and learning through experience.
A spin the wheel activity adds a little unpredictability to that experience. Children don't know what the wheel will choose, which can create excitement and encourage them to get involved.
And because you can customise every entry, you can adapt the wheel to suit your children, environment, topic and learning objectives.
The next time you're planning an outdoor activity, why not let the wheel decide?
Create Your Free Forest School Wheel
Ready to give it a try?
Head over to SpinTheWheel.io, add your own Forest School choices and create a wheel that is perfect for your class.
It's free to use, and you can create your own wheels whenever you need them.
ðĄ Spin. Explore. Discover.
And don't forget to explore the rest of the SpinTheWheel.io blog for more ideas, activities and inspiration for making learning more interactive and fun.
Happy spinning and happy exploring! ðģððĄ
