The class started their afternoon with a game of ‘fox and rabbits’ to warm themselves up on the chilly afternoon outside. They took it in turns really well to chase the rabbit and try to make themselves ‘safe’ by creating pairs of children to be ‘burrows’.
Some of the children had a go at lighting the fire and then chopped oranges and apples up to create some hot, spiced apple juice. They added water, apple concentrate and cinnamon bark to the water and stirred it carefully as they brought it to the boil on their fire. This created a delicious hot drink, which was most welcome on the cold afternoon. It was great to see some children trying new tastes and flavours with increased confidence.
Next some of the children had a go at sawing a wooden hazel slice to decorate. They learned to hold the wood securely for each other and how to work in pairs to pull the bow saw to cut a thin slice of wood. They then used palm drills to drill a hole to thread string through. This required lots of persistence and concentration, which the Oaks showed as developing skills. Having threaded the slices onto string, they set about decorating them to create Christmas decorations. They also drilled holes to put sticks and cones into which gave the effect of miniature trees.
The class spent time taking turns on the tyre swing and using secateurs to cut back brambles to create a den together in the overgrown part of the space.
Their tree climbing skill are also developing, with some of them climbing high enough into the tree to see over the hedges and trees into the setting sun on the sheep fields beyond.
Finally some of the Oaks had a go at pulling some dead ivy from the oak tree. We discussed how it was a great habitat for many insects and found lots of woodlice and spiders. They then used string to tie the amazing sculptural ivy to the Forest School shelter as a decorative feature.
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 children’s reflections about their session today were:
“ I love Forest School, it is my best lesson, because I learn to do new things like sawing woods and drilling it to make things…and I like playing in the mud kitchen with my friends too”
“ I wasn’t going to try the apple drink, but it smelled lovely, so I tried it and ended up eating the orange too”
“ I would like to use tools again, maybe to whittle some things next time”
