Find out what has been happening in school this week.

• 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.

   

  

• End of a forest school era

  Thu 06 Jul 2023

  The very last session for Y6 forest school today. We started with fire lighting, but not as we know it! The children were given a tiny piece of cotton wool plus birch bark strips. This is a new method for the children but they were brilliant and all achieved a really good fire. The children then learnt how to butcher a leg of roe deer using flint. We cooked the chunks of meat over the fire, and most people tried it. Some enjoyed it more than others! After dinner we had a last go at shelters. We did say we would test them with muddy water but sadly, we ran out of time!!! A really lovely day.

  

• Atlatl making

  Thu 29 Jun 2023

  Today was the day to finish off atlatl making. The spears are done so now onto the throwing part. The children all had a go with the atlatl as it was, to get the idea of what was needed. This takes some practice to be honest but everyone tried really hard. They then perfected the atlatl, using knife skills. Once everyone had whittled their wood down to a nice size they tried again, throwing at a target. Everyone improved an awful lot and they were pleased to get to take them home. 
  A game of Eagle Eye finished our day off nicely

  

• Sports day

  Wed 28 Jun 2023

  Good fun on sports day where everyone took part and tried their best. A lovely afternoon of team games. Green team won the overall event. Well done to them.

  

• Shin Rin Yoku

  Sat 24 Jun 2023
  

• Y6 in the woods

  Thu 15 Jun 2023

  Week 2 for Year 6. The camp fire wasn’t lit today so the children were asked to collect skinny sticks and Birch bark andMatthew started a fire really quickly.  We continued with the spears initially. Matthew showed us how to burn off the wispy bits on the spears and how to use the knife to create a smooth finish. This took some time but just before dinner we were ready to bind on the feathers. Gut was used as the binding, it can be pulled very tight and then it shrinks as it dries. After dinner it was covered in pitch(made from pine tree sap, charcoal and a bit of muck). This is heated until it becomes runny and is smoothed over the binding. 
  To finish off today, we started on fire lighting and we were shown how easy it is for areas to catch fire and how important it is to put them out properly.

  Next time, we will continue with our atlatls. Nice to have a warm day in the woods for a change, even if the insects found us tasty!

  

• New skills in the woods

  Thu 08 Jun 2023

  This half term sees Y6 bringing together all the skills they have learned over the last 5 years in forest school. Usually we start with shelter, however Y6 have a project to do which is atlatl and spear making. The children all had a go at spear throwing using the atlatl so they knew what they were aiming to make. The first job was to select suitable wood for the spear and cut it down independently using a saw. Once this was done, Maria reminded everyone of knife safety and points were carved and the bark stripped. The basic atlatl shape was formed from willow and the children began to shape them properly. These will dry out over the next week and we will continue to work on the wood. 

  

• Artist of the Month

  Fri 26 May 2023

  We enjoyed an Artist of the Month session on Damien Hirst this week. 
   

   

  

• Fire in the forest!

  Thu 04 May 2023

  Year One were  in the woods again today and after our successful shelter building last week, this week we learnt all about fire.

  Starting as we mean to go on, the first part of learning about fire is to practice the fire position. This is the safe way to sit next to any fire and the children all managed it easily. Next is to learn how to make sparks using fire steels. This really isn’t as easy as it sounds, but our Y1 group don’t mess around and they were all able to make good strong sparks. We moved onto making flames using cotton wool. Again, everyone achieved this easily. We have often stopped at this point but this great group proved they could go further. 
  After a quick fire demo, and an explanation of the fire rules, we went to collect sticks then after dinner and a play, we got on with making a proper fire.

  This group just manage everything we ask them to do and once again they have, as a group, made good fires, following the rules and showing great fire safety.

  A couple of games of Eagle Eye finished our busy day off. Well done Year One.