Mama Beech

So every now and then I freak out our admin staff and send off a dozen emails with activities to post one-a-day to Facebook Not all of them are adaptable to a blog, but last week I shared some of what has/will go out, and here are a few more! A weather diary, or simply a cloud diary can be kept by looking out of the window. It can be as easy as identifying the cloud and copying the name onto a plain bit of paper, or an actual journal in which to write, draw or add photos of the sky into Draw a shape and fill it up. This is great at Forest School drawing in mud and finding things to fill the space, but can be done in the home with toys, or the garden with leaves   Find an elastic band, a bit of string, or drag out that old tin full of sewing bits and use cotton thread to create different kinds of paint brushes. Outdoors mixing mud paint can be a lot of fun, indoors they actually make quite a nice bouquet for a few days if you can't face painting activities inside!! ...

To be perfectly truthful, even without being a Forest School purist, you have to admit that doing Forest School at home is ranges from difficult.... to impossible. You cannot assume every child has access to outside space, even concrete, let alone access to space inside to achieve any activity that translates into a Forest School ethos of risk taking, freedom of choice, routine, nature, fresh air, space, cooperation etc But activities that include wildlife and the great outdoors can be adapted. Birds can be fed from a window sill, a garden, or strung on a branch on open land,  Sticks can be found almost anywhere and decorated and hung inside or outside,   Old water trays with holes, dirty, past their best sand trays, or any old large plastic tubs make a great flower or herb bed, even salad or veg can be planted. In the garden, on a balcony, or if a small enough tub can be found - indoor growing is possible!  Not strictly Forest School, but again using soda b...

I seriously have no idea how long 'Lockdown' has been going on! For me personally I go into work when needed and take a #DailyWalk for exercise and sanity! Easter merged in and out of term time and despite keeping to a routine and filling a large part of the day with online training, the days merge too. Each day I make sure the school's facebook page has an outdoor/wildlife activity to post. I've caught up on all planning and filing for our Woodland Trust, RSPB and RHS awards, as well as the children's RFC Junior Forester certification! I'm not bored but I am frustrated because online 'learning' of Forest School doesn't overlap easily! So for any one who has a garden, a nearby open space, access to a wood or park and can SAFELY manage a Daily Walk I offer up an interesting an useful list of things to go with a stick!  I hope you get to have a little fun! And if you get to run any outdoor sessions - which will be so very neede...

It's not entirely accurate to say I'm in lockdown, I am a key worker, a member of school staff, and there is a rota, and there are responsibilities, and on occasion I do get to leave the house. I get straight in my car, drive straight to work, and there we try very hard to adhere to the 2 metre rule (adults are better at this than children!) and we nag everyone to wash their hands after every activity inside or out We try to take the children out as much as we can as fresh air is much needed right now. It is a strange time for them and us, and I for one have never spent so much time within 4 walls before and am missing open spaces! I have been into work this week and will go in if needed over the next couple of weeks. The children have worked hard since September to improve their outdoor areas, and I can take a small group out with me to help maintain a lot of what they have achieved so far. I also took the opportunity of being on site to complete the planting of ba...