Clearing up after a storm takes time. If you walked into a trashed classroom you would be mortified - and the space would need to be child friendly and appealing again as soon as possible. It's the same outside. With just about the same amount of time available to be ready! Almost none!Despite the weather's best efforts to scupper our plans, we managed to move into our final space for Forest School this term. After a fortnight in the Wildlife Garden, and a fortnight in the Mud Kitchen Area, we have arrived at the Copse.
Of course a lot of the children think this is the 'cops', and has something to do with the police... But this little spinney of trees is midway between the school and the woodland strip that edges our North West border. Hidden within it we have a parachute awning and space for a class of 30.There is no pond, no newts to covet. There is no mud kitchen, or brick pile to build with. However, this is the biggest space. There are plenty of trees to climb, a sectioned quiet area that was once a 'Fairy Garden' and is developing into a 'Pixie Place'. There are a few log swings, a tyre swing, space to dig, part of the field to chase on, and, being alongside the container that houses Forest School equipment, the opportunity to extend or instigate any activity quickly, following the children's learning.
We are still doing 'Forest School Lite', not full sessions, which hampers a lot of the routine, but currently allows all KS1 & KS2 classes to have a full 'taster course' rather than a one off 'taster session' of what Forest School will be in the future. So years 1-6 this week settled in with many of the same rules, and some new ones to take on board.
This new site is where the campfires will take place, so the biggest, and newest rule for the children to get used to is to not just respect basecamp but to avoid it! No playing inside this space, just quiet activities nearby, and off out in the grounds for free exploration. I'm always aware that this puts more pressure on the staff that accompany the class, so the build up has started... the children are aware of the plans, and aware that they need to show all adults how sensible they can be!This week we've had the opportunity to continue the bird watching and bug hunting and tree/leaf identifying, but it has been extended to listening to bird song and learning which bird makes that noise, and bug boxes are available for the creatures you find so you can observe them more closely.
The creation of a Digging Area at the end of Summer has meant new minibeasts have been discovered. Namely beetle larva! The children have been incredibly careful moving these to a place of safety if they find one! This week the dig area has been an archaeological site, when Year 5 dug up some 'broken pottery' (a mug) and speculated it's origin... Victorian? Roman? (It has Made in England embossed on the base! Or will have if the sherds are ever pieced together!). On Thursday Year 1, who had discovered some clay that had also been uncovered in the dig pit too, were trying to repair the item with it. In between we've had trenches and islands, volcanoes and castles, tunnels and bridges galore!
Years ago a deserted warren was filled in with sand so the rocks are few and far between, and the ground is easy to dig through. The rain therefore made working here much easier, gluing the sand to the soil! The tunnels would've collapsed without the constant drizzle! The downpours seemed to give us huge sunshine breaks that had us looking for rainbows and made the children appreciate the glowing sunlight, and the puddles!
The collaboration, communication, and engineering skills on display were amazing! Children across the school spent over 30 minutes at this self chosen activity, engaged and communicating in their endeavour. Some drifted off and returned. Mud/Sand/Water = never loses it's appeal.
Having moved to our third and final site we have been able to talk of directions and where we are in relation to the school building, imagining a birds eye view and learning what a Copse actually is! Suddenly the Engineers are great Geographers!
We have been able to discuss what the children would like to know about outside and what they feel can be improved or extended around us.
We have added some guttering that seems to have magically transformed those Geographers into Irrigation Experts! Trial and error has shown the importance of catching the water at the end of the run, colouring the water so it's easy to see, how you join the gutters, and the importance of judging the arc of a mini waterfall.... Not only has the rain been very welcome, but it has extended the teamwork to water collection and conservation!
From Year 1 to Year 6 the children have managed to create 8m of water flow in different directions and on different levels. Rain water is a resource not to be ignored! Outdoor STEM continues to thrive!
The Copse is a haven for birds. I cannot count the Sparrows in the shrubs, the visiting Blackbirds that flit in for the berries, the resident Robins that assume all digging and log rolling is solely to provide them with snacks... We have a Pheasant that wanders around occasionally, a few noisy crows, some bickering Magpies, and wheeling Gulls above! We have used our time at the start of a session to sit and listen, and we hope to learn some of the birdsong so we can recognise it easily.
Slowly the group times sitting at basecamp before the children go off to explore are becoming calmer, the questions more considered, the children's engagement more obvious. The rain has also made the logs feel like a cosy and dry place to be! Lots of children decide to start out here, looking at whatever activities are close by that they can do - or just chatting to each other and adults. Usually the lure of the squeals of those having fun draws them out soon enough. Despite the rain, which has been heavy at times, the damp and excitable children continue to just enjoy being outside.
Basecamp is surrounded by Ivy climbing up the trees and bushes. As this plant is one of the final flowers of the season the Ivy Mining Bees are bustling about, and this was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know a Bee! They are very docile and generally ignore us! Occasionally we get to say hello a little more personally...
The plan is to end this 8 week term with a celebration, which will mean a campfire and treats. Having just one Forest School Qualified person outside means that a campfire ties the Forest School Leader to basecamp. It would be great to have a fire every session, especially as the weather chills, but it isn't always possible, and if it can't be provided for ALL classes then it won't go ahead. But the end of a set of sessions will always include a treat!
The trees are changing colour and losing leaves all around us, after the storm there are snapped twigs everywhere, and the opportunity to explore green wood vs. dead wood, and the discussion on which wood will burn well and which won't arose. The classes are excited at the thought of a campfire in a couple of weeks!
Currently we have 12 classes attending sessions. Bubbles never meet, I never meet the classes inside, and we abide by our Covid Risk Assessment, and I can't remember one group actually moaning about the rain at all. The wind - that was a pain at times, but they worked with it and around it!
Next week is unlikely to be tropical.
But there is no such thing as the wrong weather - just the wrong clothes.
We have work to do to improve the quiet area and the children are enthusiastic to make it more special - so I hope they come prepared for a damp week!
Oh, and by the way, out blown down and cut up Elder is made of sturdy stuff! After a summer of heatwaves and a wet start to Autumn it's beginning to grown again!
You can't hold a strong tree back!
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