Mad March
On a completely unrelated note to Outdoor Learning - how did we reach a third of the way into March 2020 already? Not only has this school year galloped along but this brand new decade has got off to it's own flying start! We've passed the half way mark for the academic year. Here we measure that time in 6 Terms not 3 Terms cut in half, and Term 4 is well and truly established! Those of you not in the education system will be watching the first season of 2020 fading already. Whichever way you view your year, we are racing towards the Easter break....😮
So even after a Half Term Holiday not that long ago (but faded from memory already) and the weather improving slightly (as long as it's not a weekend!) days are hectic and busy and Outdoor Learning is beginning to grow.
We received our first batch of Woodland Trust Trees for Schools on Tuesday (the second batch arrived on Friday) and the small groups I work with immediately got stuck into planting. Our plan is that every class, and therefore every child will have the opportunity to take part in planting the trees. It will take a bit of planning
but it will be worth it to ensure the whole school is involved with the extension of our woodlands and the creation of new hedgerows.
Years 5 and 3 were the first to dig down and get their hands dirty and their experience will count towards the Junior Forester Certificate they are working towards from the Royal Forestry Society.
Luckily all the activities so far this year have meant we've achieved the Silver level in the ongoing Green Tree Awards from the Woodland trust!
So hopefully the children's hard work planting over the next few weeks will count towards aiming for the Gold level before the school year ends.
Year 1 are growing bolder in their exploration of Forest School. This week many ventured UP a tree and enjoyed a bit of independent adventure rummaging in bushes and down paths they were unused to.
Although I love doing Forest School with all ages I think my favourite groups are the younger ones, partly because they are so full of wonder at everything and mostly because if we instill the general rules about looking after and enjoying the environment when children are young they have the freedom to enjoy more of the outdoors as they grow. Starting with the basics is never a waste of time, with an 8 year old, an 18 year old or a 48 year old - it will also work, but if children are already invested in Outdoor Learning at the age of 5 it's a head start for all.
We tackled the pond this week also. Year 4 helped to scoop out some of the leaves ready to start focusing on this area over spring. We carefully sorted through the pile of slippery foliage to check for creatures before we used it to help compost the new 'banks' to the concrete pond. We were lucky enough to find at least a dozen newts! The children were fascinated and excited to see that our pond does indeed support wildlife!
The children are on a mission to identify these newts now and are suddenly very aware of how precious our Wildlife Garden is.
Finally it IS March - and that means World Book Day! Not always the best combination for children - shop bought costumes and the great outdoors! Climbing trees in a princess dress is possible but fraught and brambles do like to tug at a long cape! Plus for only the 4th time since September, Forest School was a very wet affair! There was a lot of compromise between suitable outdoor clothing and character dress up! I fell back on an old idea (recycling is ALWAYS a good idea!) and found my fox headband and tail - and managed to keep both relatively UNmuddy!
So even after a Half Term Holiday not that long ago (but faded from memory already) and the weather improving slightly (as long as it's not a weekend!) days are hectic and busy and Outdoor Learning is beginning to grow.
We received our first batch of Woodland Trust Trees for Schools on Tuesday (the second batch arrived on Friday) and the small groups I work with immediately got stuck into planting. Our plan is that every class, and therefore every child will have the opportunity to take part in planting the trees. It will take a bit of planning
but it will be worth it to ensure the whole school is involved with the extension of our woodlands and the creation of new hedgerows.
Years 5 and 3 were the first to dig down and get their hands dirty and their experience will count towards the Junior Forester Certificate they are working towards from the Royal Forestry Society.
So hopefully the children's hard work planting over the next few weeks will count towards aiming for the Gold level before the school year ends. Year 1 are growing bolder in their exploration of Forest School. This week many ventured UP a tree and enjoyed a bit of independent adventure rummaging in bushes and down paths they were unused to.
Although I love doing Forest School with all ages I think my favourite groups are the younger ones, partly because they are so full of wonder at everything and mostly because if we instill the general rules about looking after and enjoying the environment when children are young they have the freedom to enjoy more of the outdoors as they grow. Starting with the basics is never a waste of time, with an 8 year old, an 18 year old or a 48 year old - it will also work, but if children are already invested in Outdoor Learning at the age of 5 it's a head start for all.
We tackled the pond this week also. Year 4 helped to scoop out some of the leaves ready to start focusing on this area over spring. We carefully sorted through the pile of slippery foliage to check for creatures before we used it to help compost the new 'banks' to the concrete pond. We were lucky enough to find at least a dozen newts! The children were fascinated and excited to see that our pond does indeed support wildlife!The children are on a mission to identify these newts now and are suddenly very aware of how precious our Wildlife Garden is.
Finally it IS March - and that means World Book Day! Not always the best combination for children - shop bought costumes and the great outdoors! Climbing trees in a princess dress is possible but fraught and brambles do like to tug at a long cape! Plus for only the 4th time since September, Forest School was a very wet affair! There was a lot of compromise between suitable outdoor clothing and character dress up! I fell back on an old idea (recycling is ALWAYS a good idea!) and found my fox headband and tail - and managed to keep both relatively UNmuddy!
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