First session back and all of squirrels were very keen to get going and explore forest school. We set off onto the field and started with a game of foxes and rabbits, the children ran round playing the part of the fox trying to catch the rabbit.
The Impact of Forest School for the children is the knowledge the children have gained from the Forest School experience.
The impact can be seen through the skills gained, tools used, art and craft activities, observations and knowledge of the fruit, plants trees in relation to the seasons and the skills involved in learning how to play Forest School games.
Squirrels did an amazing job of collecting blackberries from the hedges on the field, when asked what colour they should be when picked the all shouted “black”. We took what we had collected back to the fire circle, some blackberries were placed in some cotton which we folded and they took it in turns so stomp on creating a beautiful picture. Some of the blackberries where crushed up to create paint, then using Buddleia flower heads as paint brushes squirrels painted individual cotton pictures.
Turning over logs was very popular, it seemed that there was a toad or a frog under every log “wow! a toad”. They took it in turns to hold what we had found, while we talked about the differences between toads and frogs “it’s slimy” was their thoughts of a frog ”it’s all lumpy” was what they noticed about a toad.
There was lots of teamwork going on in clearing some of the vegetable garden. Squirrels then used what they had cleared to make potions “I’m making a potion for snow”.
Squirrels ended their session by sitting round the fire circle and sharing what they had had enjoyed about the morning.
“I liked holding the toad”
“I liked playing”
“Picking blackberries”
