Author: Victoria Gray

A little less sunny this week, but still dry and mild for our second session. We also got a lot less muddy and lots of fun was had again. We learnt a few methods to attach our string to our tarpaulin, and the tarpaulin to a tree. The children were shown how to create a ‘larks head’ and a ‘timber hitch’. The finished results were a lot more successful this week but still proved hard work for the children, particularly working as a team.

As promised, we also had a small fire. The children learnt the safety expectations when fires are to be made in forest school and they also learnt about the ‘fire triangle’. We discussed the varying thicknesses of sticks needed to build up the fire, too. They really enjoyed munching a biscuit, watching it come together, and helping to add sticks to keep the fire fueled and burning.

The children were all very keen to have a go with a flint and steel to create sparks, it can be a tricky skill, but many of them were able to get the sparks going, well done!

Mrs Gray has taken on board their requests for next week and is looking forward to it already!

The first Forest School Group enjoyed a beautiful, sunny (slightly muddy) afternoon on Monday with Mrs Gray and Mrs Howarth. The children learnt a little about what Forest School is, the boundaries we must stay within and assessing for risks themselves when they are out there.

Our first session focused on our senses. We listened carefully to what we could hear around us, met some trees (through touch and not sight) and made some collections of things that intrigued us.

The children were particularly drawn to the squelchy mud, so that spontaneously led to the creation of some ‘muddy faces’ being made on the trees.

They also worked in teams to attempt to put up tarpaulin shelters – something that definitely needs some work next time!