On the way to the woods, the Squirrel Class looked out for some emerging signs of spring. We learned to identify a cuckoo pint plant, hazel catkins and saw some celandines and primroses which were nearly about to flower.
Once in the woods, the Foxes Class each found two sticks to tap out a rhythm song with. They each took a moment to find a quiet ‘sit spot’ to observe and listen to the woodland. The class had practised being quiet in their PSHE lesson last week, thinking about techniques they could use to help themselves feel calm. There is more and more research that shows the benefits of nature connection on our well-being and it was brilliant to see how calm and quiet the class were.
Lots of children heard a tapping noise on their sit spot, which they guessed was a woodpecker. The class were introduced to lots of different native birds and learned a little bit about their colours and bird calls.
They talked about what materials birds might use to build nest and had a go themselves with hay, leaves, sticks and clay which they dug from the woodland floor. There were some beautiful creations!
The children played with toy birds around the woodland and had a go at making their own birds with card, coloured pastels and sticks and then flew them around the Forest School area.
Then there was time to explore and play in the woodland. The slack line was popular, as was pushing each other on the hammock.
Some of the class discovered that the bluebells sprouting under the leaves on the woodland floor had grown up taller since their last session. We will be using a different part of the woodland during the next few weeks, to ensure that we are not damaging the growth of the flowers.
Lots of the class worked to develop the den of sticks they had started last session. They thought about how to balance the sticks carefully and where they should make space for a door.
