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Spring drawing activities for EYFS and KS1

Blog
Polly
24 Mar 2026

Outdoor learning, STEAM in EYFS and seasonal art ideas

By Polly, Miss G EYFS on Instagram

Spring is the perfect time to introduce seasonal outdoor learning activities in EYFS, with blossom, new leaves and colour appearing everywhere. I discovered a recent spring observational drawing activity where children created blossom artwork using the TTS Acrylic Creative Frames 6 Pack and the BIC Kids Multisurface Triangular Pencils 10 Pack.

The activity combined outdoor learning, expressive arts and STEAM in EYFS, encouraging children to observe nature closely, talk about seasonal changes and develop their drawing and mark making skills in a calm, meaningful way.

This type of activity works well in EYFS, KS1, forest school, continuous provision and STEAM learning in early years.

Why spring is ideal for observational drawing in EYFS

Seasonal changes give children a real reason to look closely at the world around them. Blossom is perfect for observational drawing in early years because it has interesting shapes, soft colours and small details that children naturally want to explore.

I explained how the activity began with conversation before any drawing started.

We talked about spring and the colours we could see and then used our observational skills to carefully draw the blossom. Taking the time to really look made such a difference to the children’s drawings.

This discussion supports several areas of learning, including:

• Understanding the World
• Communication and Language
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Fine motor development

Using real natural materials instead of pictures keeps children engaged and makes the activity feel more meaningful.

Using acrylic frames for observational drawing in early years

For the artwork, I used the TTS Acrylic Creative Frames 6 Pack, which are ideal for observational drawing and outdoor learning in EYFS.

The clear frames allow children to look through the surface while drawing, helping them focus on what they can actually see rather than what they think something should look like.

The frames helped the children slow down and notice details. Some of them spotted tiny parts of the blossom they would not normally draw.

Acrylic frames are useful for many types of EYFS outdoor learning activities, including:

• Nature drawing
• Mark making outdoors
• Seasonal artwork
• Forest school
• Continuous provision art areas

They are strong, easy to clean and can be used again and again throughout the year.

EYFS Drawing blog - image 1

Multi-surface pencils for outdoor art and mark making

To draw on the frames, I used the BIC Kids Multisurface Triangular Pencils 10 Pack, which work on plastic, paper, wood and other surfaces.

The children loved drawing straight onto the frames. The pencils were easy to hold and the colours showed up clearly, which helped them match what they could see in the blossom.

The triangular shape supports grip development, making them ideal for fine motor skills in EYFS, while the multi-surface design makes them perfect for outdoor classroom activities and continuous provision.

These pencils are useful for:

• EYFS mark making
• KS1 art lessons
• Outdoor learning
• Drawing on different materials
• STEAM activities in early years
• Seasonal craft activities

How to set up this spring blossom activity in EYFS

This activity is quick to prepare and works well indoors or outdoors.

You will need:

• Blossom branches or access to blossom outside
• TTS Acrylic Creative Frames 6 Pack
• BIC Kids Multisurface Triangular Pencils 10 Pack
• A table or outdoor space for children to sit comfortably

You can place blossom in a vase, or let children draw directly from a tree or plant outside.

EYFS Drawing blog - image 3

Step by step blossom artwork instructions

1. Talk about the signs of spring

Start with a group discussion about what children can see outside. Talk about colours, flowers, leaves and how trees change in spring.

2. Observe the blossom closely

Give children time to look carefully at the blossom before drawing. Encourage them to notice shapes, patterns and colours.

3. Give each child an acrylic frame

Provide each child with one of the TTS Acrylic Creative Frames 6 Pack and ask them to look through it at the blossom.

This helps children focus on real details rather than drawing from memory.

4. Draw onto the frame using multisurface pencils

Using the BIC Kids Multisurface Triangular Pencils 10 Pack, children draw directly onto the acrylic surface.

There is no right or wrong result. The aim is careful observation.

5. Keep talking while they draw

Ask questions about what they notice, what colours they are using and what part of the blossom they are drawing.

6. Share and reflect

Let children look at each other’s drawings and talk about what they noticed. Everyone will see something different, which is part of observational learning.

EYFS Drawing blog - image 2

How this activity supports STEAM learning in EYFS

This blossom artwork activity is also a great example of STEAM in EYFS, as it combines science, art and problem solving in a natural way.

• Science – observing plants, blossom and seasonal change
• Technology – using different tools and materials
• Engineering – positioning the frame and working out how to draw what they see
• Art – observational drawing and colour matching
• Maths – noticing shape, size, pattern and position

Activities like this show that STEAM learning in early years does not need complicated equipment. Simple outdoor experiences can support multiple areas of development.

A simple spring activity you can use every year

Blossom observational drawing is an activity that fits perfectly into spring planning for EYFS and KS1, as well as outdoor learning, forest school and STEAM lessons.

As I explain, the best activities are often the simplest.

You do not need lots of equipment. A few branches of blossom, the acrylic frames and the multi-surface pencils were all we needed to create a calm, focused activity that the children really enjoyed.

If you are looking for spring EYFS activities, outdoor art ideas, STEAM activities for early years, or observational drawing lessons, this is an easy activity to set up and one children always enjoy.

Discover our full range of spring crafts and seasonal activities here, where we offer everything you need to inspire creativity this season.

Polly influencer - author image

Author

Polly

Reception Teacher

Miss G EYFS on Instagram