Oaks started their session today using wheelbarrows, buckets and any tubs they could find to move the wood chip from the car park down to our Forest School site. Once down there they spread the wood chip out in all the really muddy spots and around our fire circle. Some of the logs that the class sit on around the fire circle have become a little rotten, in pairs the children moved the logs and added them to our bug hotel. They then worked together to carry some new Oak branches to use as seats in the fire circle. These were a little heavier so more children were needed to help carry them – great team work from all of Oaks today! When we were finished, the whole class sat down to enjoy a cold refreshing ice lolly.
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.
Some of the class helped to put up the slack line, making sure to make it as tight as possible. Normally we put up another line for them to hold onto as they walk along the slack line however, this time the children found themselves two long sticks instead. Using the sticks to help themselves balance they walked along the slack line, the rest of the class encouraged them along the way. This is a really tricky thing to achieve but it was great to see the children keep trying and trying until they made it.
There was lots of free play on the hammock swing, taking it in turns to push each other as high as they could, with the occasional child swinging into the bushes!
Using the clay some of the children chose to make some clay animals. While they were sitting at the table they noticed that a nest had been built up in the roof space of the Forest School shelter. Hopefully this means that we have some baby birds sharing the space we use.
