Find out what has been happening in school this week.

• Forest school with Y5

  Thu 28 Sep 2023

  Flint work with our Y5s today and we started with using flint to butcher a Roe deer. The children stepped up to the mark and took a lot of time and effort to do a really good job. Matthew was pleased with the result and how much meat they got off. A very sensible approach to this task made us very proud. We sampled a bit of the meat which was cooked on the lid of the Dutch oven. 
  After dinner, the complex task of flint napping. We are making flint knives and today the children began to make the blades from flint. This needs patience and careful handling and once again this super group achieved what they set out to do. They even tidied their own things away without being asked! Well done. 

   

  

• Outdoor learning Wk 3

  Wed 20 Sep 2023

  Returned with thanks this borrowed earth…

   

  Rain stopped play outside this afternoon. We made plaques to decorate our outdoor areas, using clay and a nice variety of collected items like grass heads, acorns, seed heads, pine cones etc. The children shaped the clay and either made indentations or placed items into the clay. 

  Once dry we will hang them outside, eventually they will break up and be left to disperse back into the ground.

  

• Outdoor learning Wk2

  Wed 13 Sep 2023

  Know a tree…

  The blindfolds were out again this week ready to explore the feel of a tree or plant.

  This time, the blindfolded person took the arm of their partner and was led to a tree, plant or bush to see how it felt to touch. They had to investigate whether the leaves were smooth and shiny, the bark rough or smooth etc. They were then supposed to be led back a different way and sent to find it once in blindfolded although that part got lost in translation. The children rose to the challenge and lots of fun was had. We then found out how to age a tree using handspans-and we tested this theory on one of the big stumps in the roundhouse. Lastly, we learnt how to estimate how high a tree is by walking away and looking through our legs! 

  

• Outdoor learning wk1

  Wed 06 Sep 2023

  Trust…

  This week we are getting to know our new classmates and that involved an exercise in trust.

  The children got into pairs, one had to wear a blindfold and their partner had to take them(without touching them) to a tree, plant or bush. 
  The idea was that the talker would use directional language to direct their friend away or around any hazards. The language used was amazing, and apart from a nettle sting, everyone was very successful. It was also great to hear language indicating other senses were heightened when sight was removed, eg

  ” I can small nettles, we must be at the back.”

  ”This is a big tree, am I in the corner?”

  Everyone got to have a turn and there was some fantastic teamwork on show. Well done everyone.