The whole class thought about their Forest School experience and it’s IMPACT on them this year.
YOU – Has forest school affected how you feel about yourself and your well-being- If so how?
“It makes me feel calmer when I’m around nature”
“Doing Forest School helps me think more about the world around me”
“Happy”
NATURE – Has forest school affected how you feel about nature – if so how?
“I love nature now”
“It has developed my understanding of nature”
LEARNING – What skills did you learn or develop this year at Forest School?
“I have learned how to make a fire”
“I learned to tie knots and make a den”
”How to put up a hammock”
“How to make shelters”
What activities did you enjoy most or would like to do more of?
“I liked printing with hammers and plants”
“I liked hide and seek games and den building activities”
What did you like about the woodland space and Forest School environments?
“I like the space, the trees”
“The space makes me feel freer”
“I like the trees and the open nature space of it”
“It is relaxed”
“I would like more trees at school”
“There is nothing I would change about the woods, it is amazing how it is”
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 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 paint and ink. This is a traditional ink used in the 1600s. The children then used the ink to dye and paint on fabric. They cut willow to then sharpen with peelers, to create pens to draw with. Some also made arrows, bows and decorated pens with binding and feathers.
We took a jar of cream to try to create butter. The children took it in turns to shake the jar furiously throughout the morning and in the end it changed to make butter, which they tasted with crackers. Some then tried it with blackcurrant sauce.
Some children used the charcoal they had made last session to draw and create with. Lots of the class explored and played independently, making dens and swings with tarpaulins, rope and found pieces of wood. There was lots of time to garden, clearing weeds and tidying up the hedge, using the secateurs, loppers and rakes.
A huge thank you to the parent volunteers who have supported the children so brilliantly throughout the year and got involved in all of the Forest School activities.
