Oaks started their session with a game called ‘Touch Eagle Eye’. The children had the count of 10 to hide before Dormouse opened her eyes. Dormouse then closed her eyes for another count of 10. Whilst she was counting, the children had to run and touch her hands before she reached 10. If she could see anyone when she opened her eyes, they were caught and helped Dormouse until the next game.
At the start of round two, the class came rushing forward saying that they had found an Owl. They were right, at the base of a large Oak tree there was a young Owl. The class made sure they were quiet so they didn’t scare the bird as it made its way through the fence and off into the countryside beyond the school. Oaks were then able to continue with their game. For Dormouse who had her eyes shut and hands out, the class sound like a stampede of children as they ran in and away again as fast as they could.
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.
Oaks had the chance to practice the fire lighting skills they have learnt in previous sessions and were very quick to get the fire going. While the fire was getting hot enough to cook on, the children started to make their pizzas. They cut open their pitta bread and filled it with tomato puree and cheese. Then they wrapped it in foil and brought it over to the fire ready for cooking. As they waited patiently for their pitta pizza some of the class discussed what they thought it would taste like, “it will be a smoked pizza”. Once ready they were eaten very quickly and Dormouse felt that cooking pizza on the fire was a huge success!
There was some fantastic den building in one corner of Forest School today. A group of children wedged some wood into the fence to create a roof, then they used other curved pieces of wood to create a wall from one side of the fence to the other. Very creative den building Oaks!
