The last session of Forest School of the year brings a time of reflection. The whole class thought about their Forest School experience and its IMPACT on them this year. 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, 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.
YOU – Has forest school affected how you feel about yourself and your well-being- If so how?
“Happy…it is good keeping active….adventurous… calm…free…happy”
NATURE – Has forest school affected how you feel about nature – if so how?
“It is fun…respect for nature….I like the birds…I like the animals that are in the
woods”
LEARNING – What skills did you learn or develop this year at Forest School?
“I have learned how to make a fire”
“I have learned how to balance and not fall off the slack line”
“We learned how to make dandelion pancakes”
“Using a flint and steel ….we learned fire safety, with red and green dragon”
What activities did you enjoy most or would like to do more of?
“I liked the hammock”
“Making a fire”
“I like playing the fox and rabbit game”
“I like playing 1,2,3 change tree”
“I like the slack line and making dens”
“Making sparks with the flint and steels”
What did you like about the woodland space and Forest School environments?
“I like the space, and the slack line we can use”
“I love seeing birds and it is peaceful”
“I like seeing birds”
“I like going to the woods…it is fun there.”
We spent the first part recalling the importance of risk assessments and the things the children can do to make sure they are safe when learning about fire. Then the class then used fire strikers to ignite cotton wool from a spark. It took a lot of perseverance and persistence to use the fire strikers . It was great to see how the children were supporting and encouraging of each other, sharing tips, working together and taking turns really well. They are developing skills of patience, resilience, focus, perseverance and encouragement. So many of the children were successful at independently starting a fire by the end of the session.
Once the fire was going the class sorted some blackcurrants from their stems and leaves.
We boiled up the berries to create some dye. This is a traditional ink used in the 1600s.
The children then used the ink to tie dye the fabric, by wrapping it with string and practising tying knots. They turned out beautifully with some lovely colours and patterns!
There was time to explore the field and they really enjoyed playing in the willow dome and play independently around the field. Some children made some bug hotels with some bark they had found.
Then the Foxes class had a game of ‘fox and rabbit’ and had to work together as a team by creating a circular ‘warren’ to protect the rabbit from not getting tagged by the fox.
Well done Foxes for a really busy week and a massive thank you to our volunteers who support the children and all of our Forest School experiences at East Hoathly.