FOREST SCHOOL 8.10.2026:
YEAR 1 & 2
We started the session with a fun game of Giants, Wizards and Elves and then some overhand knot practice. The children who were confident with knotting were challenged to see how many knots they could tie and even see if they could complete the task with their eyes closed! Lots of children chose to do this. Next, Emma told the children a folktale she has learnt recently called ‘Why the Woodpecker is Still Tapping’. The tale is a fictional explanation of why the woodpecker continues to tap and peck at trees today. Through the events of the tale, the main character learns an important lesson about being careful and patient. His constant tapping eventually becomes the behaviour that people and animals associate with woodpeckers today. For the rest of the session, many children chose to make a woodland woodpecker drum with Emma. This project involved using a bow saw, hand drill, and lots of knot tying to create a mini drum that mimics the sound of a woodpecker. All the children who chose to do this practised safe tool use, developed perseverance and problem-solving skills, and enjoyed the work of transforming a simple disc of wood into a musical instrument! Another choice for today was to take part in the Bird Beak Tool Challenge! This challenge enabled the children to explore how a variety of birds use their different beaks to eat certain foods. Birds have specially adapted beaks that help them catch and eat their prey or forage for berries. There were different resources for the children to explore and consider how challenging it might be for the birds. A group of children chose to play Giants, Wizards and Elves independently and it was lovely to observe the tactics discussions and collaboration. During the Closing Circle, Emma encouraged the children to reflect on what skills and/or qualities they had used during the woodwork project. Then the classes joined together for a ‘Circle of Strength’ where children said something they were proud of today.
YEAR 5
To start, we played a game called Passing the Clap. This involved working together to keep a hand percussion rhythm going with growing challenges. Everyone worked together well to achieve the rhythm. After this, we played Giants, Wizards and Elves which is one of the games the children had asked to play this term. The children experimented with different ways of making group decisions about which character to be to beat the other team. Everyone enjoyed playing the game. Back at the log circle, Emma read two beautiful poems by Donna Ashworth called ‘You-ier’ and ‘Exercising Kindness’. ‘You-ier’ is about encouraging you to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on becoming your unique self. For the rest of the session, some children continued with their felting bowls and they are very close to finishing them! Other children chose another mindful and creative craft: stone painting. This is an activity that the class had asked for when we were discussing planning at the beginning of term. Carrie continued whittling experience with children who were interested. Other children continued their den building interest and they have become very dedicated to improving them weekly. A small group of children showed great community spirit by attempting to fix a big hole in the main pathway that could be a trip hazard to passers by. To finish, the children took part in a ‘Circle of Strength’ and the children reflected on something they were proud of from the session today. We also had an interesting discussion about the difference between happy and proud feelings.
RECEPTION
On arrival at Forest School the children collected leaves together to play with at Forest School. Next, Emma read the children a story called ‘Leaf Man’. It is about a character made of real autumn leaves who travels across landscapes wherever the wind blows him, with the journey also revealing hidden creatures and plants in the illustrations. The children pointed to different leaf illustrations they recognised such as a cow or chicken. Then, the children went on a hunt to find little pictures of different leaf people creations. For the rest of the session, some children chose to be creative with the autumn leaves. The invitation was to make their own leaf character or animal on a piece of card. Some children made leaf caterpillars with pipe cleaners, cardboard, and lots of leaves. It took a lot of perseverance to thread the leaves carefully on the pipecleaner. The ‘Leaf Man story’ was left out for children to access independently. A lot of children were interested in bug hunting today and Emma gave them some tips to help in their search. They were excited to find a woodlouse! Carrie showed the children some places in the woods and the children looked carefully at a spider’s web and some holes in a dead tree branch that we thought was made by beetles. To finish, the children sang a new song called ‘Forest School Do Do Do Do’ which incorporated different parts of Forest School that they had enjoyed during the session.
Best wishes,
Carrie and Emma
