Tuesday 13th January 2015
Lots of excited children, and adults, set off for Forest School this week and experienced a journey of sleet and snow. We were prepared for a cold afternoon! However, when we arrived at our woodland site the sleet and snow miraculously stopped and we had a wonderful dry and sunny afternoon, with the added bonus of having lots of muddy puddles to explore!
Our response game ‘1, 2, 3, Where are you?’ was played in pairs this week. The children are getting more confident at this as the echo response grew louder and louder.
‘Explorer Ted’ was discovered taking cover from the wet weather this week in a tree. He gave us a book to read called ‘The Great Green Forest’ by Paul Geraghty. A tiny rainforest tree mouse is trying to sleep amid the raucous forest animals and noise. The repetitive cry of “Stop that noise!” provides a thread though the story and was hugely entertaining for the children. Dramatic climax is achieved when the forest suddenly does fall silent as a tree-felling bulldozer approaches and the animals sense danger. The tiny tree mouse employs all his might against a giant bulldozer and wins!
This book generated lots of discussion about what wood is used for, the feelings of woodland animals as their homes are being destroyed and animal homes which could be found in the woodland. This started us off on our mission to create woodland homes for some ‘toy’ animals.
The children worked well together in small groups, searching, lifting and carrying sticks, grass and leaves and building their animal homes with clear purpose. They transported the sticks and branches expertly, being aware of the risks and safety to themselves and others.
We think our animal homes are wonderful! What do you think? We look forward to seeing if they survive the winds and rain and are still there next week.
Our session ended again with a review around the fire circle over a well deserved hot chocolate and biscuit!