To start the session, Willows class talked about how milk comes from cows and how it is a liquid like water. We poured cream into a jar to try to create butter, inspired by the buttercups growing all over the school and Forest School site. The children took it in turns to hold buttercups under each other’s chins and to shake the jar furiously throughout the afternoon and in the end, they created butter, which they tasted with crackers in the shelter! They were so good at spreading their own crackers independently with a knife. It turns out the buttercups were correct- they do like butter!
On the way down the school field, the children climbed along the trim trail, showing great perseverance and physical challenge. The children worked together to hold a white sheet out under some different trees. Once the trees were shaken, the class could easily see what flowers, seeds, leaves and bugs fell out.
“There is a green beetle…and we found a spider… and some flowers”
We identified, collected and smelled the scent of some elderflowers and cooked them on the fire to make elderflower pancakes. The children carefully checked it for bugs, then dipped the elder flowers in egg free batter. After lighting the fire, which the children did with great perseverance and enjoyment the elder pancakes were cooked in a pan. They tasted sweet and delicious!
This week the children continued ‘leaf wapping’; printing with leaves and flowers. They developed their ideas from last time, by finding sticks and threading them onto the fabric to create flags. They also proudly showed off the bunting in their outside area, which had been made from the fabric leaf prints they created last term- it looks fantastic! This term the Willows topic is all about water, so the children enjoyed playing in the mud kitchen this afternoon, mixing mud, flowers, leaves and other plants with water. They noticed what floated and sank in the water.
“Mud goes to the bottom….it sinks”
“The buttercups are floating on top of the water….like marshmallows in a hot chocolate!”
We looked at how our wildflower seeds that the children had sprinkled around the site had developed and watered them, along with the trees which the children planted during the last sessions. Some of the class spent time exploring, climbing trees and playing games with their friends. There was lots of time spent with much enjoyment on the slack line and the hammock swing. What a busy afternoon, well done Willows!
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.
