The impact of the Forest School experience can be seen through the skills, 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
The weather has made the meadow walk to the woods too muddy and wet, so we took a different path. The children explained about how the water in the ditches looks orange because of the iron in the stones and rocks in the ground.
“it makes the water orange”
“Look, even the leaves and plants around the water are orange”
They spotted some frogspawn in the ditches of water.
“The eggs turn to tadpole…look, there is lots more over there!”
“I’ve got some at home, but we keep it in a big tank and keep it outside, so the tadpoles don’t die”
The children carefully followed a path through the woods to preserve as many bluebells as necessary.
“They have no flowers, they are just leaves now”
Then they had the chance to follow their own ideas and fascinations, climbing trees, balancing, swinging, investigating the stream and working together collaboratively sharing ideas and taking turns with each other.
This week Cherry Class also brought in their Tudor buildings which they had made at home during Term 3, linked to their topic of the ‘Great Fire of London’
They spent time sharing their knowledge of how the fire started and spread in 1666 in Pudding Lane. Then they used fire strikers to start a small fire, which we put next to the ‘Bakery’ and watched the fire spread as it would have done in London.
It was so BRILLIANT to see their persistence in fore lighting and their joy and enthusiasm at watching their houses burn!
Thanks to the brilliant volunteers who make going to Forest School possible. The children are lucky to have access to the woods to develop their independence, resilience and well-being, along with important immersive curriculum linked experiences.
The Forest School association are calling for all children nationally to have access to nature like we do. “We are calling for a Nature Premium to fund regular nature experiences for every child.”
Have a look at why here: www.naturepremium.org
