Wednesday 6 July 2016

Deep in the Forest at Mead!


I did not know how much you could learn from being in the woods!

Year 3 pupils presented their assembly to Parents today and shared their experiences of team work, resilience and resourcefulness. Activities ranged from creating a waterproof shelter to starting a fire, and were linked to the year group topic 'The Battle of Britain.' 
'My favourite part was working together as a team and being determined to get things done,' said Chase from Wales class. 




For more details of their exciting exploits, read some of their blog extracts below.

Mead blog updates from Tendershoots Facebook page


23/06/16

Today was our final session as a group. Much excitement was felt as the children eagerly asked if we had been approved to have a fire. Cheers were heard as I revealed the answer was YES! The main focus of our session was the fire however, some still further developed the bug hotel and others were creative with Elder beads.
The children showed great respect for the fire and their awareness of safety was really good. They have come a long way since the first week. We shared stories of our favourite things from Forest School and also our biggest challenges. It was fantastic to hear the children encourage each other at the close of the session, here are a few of their reflections. "You were a great friend." "You really helped me build a shelter." "You were great at helping me move pallets and working as a team." Marshmallows, hot chocolate and s'mores were all a great hit!! A fantastic group of children who have all made great steps forward. Thanks for journeying with me.

15/06/16

Today's session involved heavy showers followed by sunshine and the children embraced it fully. As much as adults are often hesitant of the rain the children generally just love it. Squelching in mud, collecting water in cups, hunting for tracks in the mud were all made far more fun by the rain! Many children worked consistently on developing the bug hotel. Bedrooms and swimming pools were among the design elements. The children gathered sticks, plants, old plant pots and converted plastic bottles to create a luxury hotel for the bugs. They were particularly pleased when it appeared that spiders, slugs and woodlice were already moving in. Others sheltered from the rain under a tarp to create Elder puppets. Persistence and determination were demonstrated as pushing the string through the Elder beads often did not work first time. Some found this more frustrating than others but all persisted and were really proud of what they had made. We closed today by making a sundial from string and sticks and used this to reflect upon our emotions throughout the sessions. I am pleased to say no one wanted to go home and although they had found some areas more challenging than others the overall consensus was one of enjoyment and fulfillment.



08/06/16


Everyone was pleased to be back at Forest School today after the half term break. Teamwork skills were further developed as the children moved several pallets to continue constructing our bug hotel. Some pallets were heavier than others and communication was key to ensure everyone stayed safe, especially manoeuvring large objects. Different methods of movement were tried, some more successful than others. During our reflection time at the end of the session the children were able to encourage each other stating what positive observations they had made about their peers. Reflecting on others in a positive way came naturally to some and it was good to stretch the thinking of others who found this more challenging. Everyone left the session excited about returning next week.

25/05/16

Our 'Battle of Britain' challenge was undertaken buy 3 squadrons of soldiers with handmade 'dog tags'. They proceeded to create waterproof bomb shelters using a range of resources including tarps, rope and para cord. Some teams had a clear idea from the outset; others tried ideas and had to rethink. Some faced challenges of listening to each other and explaining their thoughts before putting them into action. However, as the mission completion time arrived each squadron took cover in their bomb shelter to see if it was waterproof!! Emotions ran high as each group faced the watering can. Joy appeared across each face as they realised their mission was successfully completed and they had stayed dry! Today saw teamwork, teamwork and more teamwork. At times the teamwork worked smoothly and other timed persistence was required but everyone left the session with an air of achievement - and they all had fun!

18/05/16

The Great British summer treated us to plenty of rain today! This provided some natural opportunities for the children to experiment with water. Some were fascinated as the rain gathered and then poured from a tarp in our base camp. Groups set out to collect water discovering that shaking a tree was not as effective as they had hoped! Others settled on securing a small tarp to gather water and then transport it into containers. Great persistence was shown here as well as with those who were creating dog tags. The wood split on several occasions but the boys did not give up. A lovely afternoon, where preparation and the natural inquisitive nature of children were combined.

11/05/16

It has been great to watch some of the quieter children grow in confidence over the last few weeks. They are able to express and share their thoughts with peers and adults. Yesterday the children undertook challenges to build a shelter to protect themselves in the Battle of Britain. They then advertised these to their peers using descriptive language to highlight the strengths and possible improvements. Great teamwork skills were displayed.

04/05/16

Today we had Forest School with Year 3 boys. Most of the group are settled now but a couple of new ones joined us today. The Battle of Britain continues to inspire the imagination of the boys as they role-play situations. The children are growing in confidence as they interact with new peers. Lots of fun and interaction was demonstrated through the games. It was good to observe the joy on the boy’s faces throughout the session. They were encouraged to give consideration to one another needs and interests as well as their own.

27/04/16

Forest School session - Inspiration was drawn from the Battle of Britain today and many imaginations were free flowing. Shelters were created and included food supplies and musical entertainment areas. Shops were established to create business in tough times. Bartering skills were used to gain the materials required for the task in hand i.e. a roof. Weapons were created as a means of protection whilst others tried to recreate the blackouts. Still others experimented with shadows using torches or the sun and a sheet. An active and packed time in the woods. The sun even shone when we expected rain!
 
20/04/16

A great forest schools session yesterday. We were fortunate to hear a woodpecker as we approached the woodland today and tried to move quietly and slowly in the hope of spotting it but were unsuccessful. Some of the children were particularly intrigued by this and spent some significant time following the sound. The children engaged confidently with the idea of how we would survive in the woodland if we were there during the war. This linked with their learning taking place inside the classroom. As I set them this challenge the timing of a low flying plane reminded us of what it may have felt like to look out for bombers! Children worked in pairs or groups to create shelter and even started to set up small businesses (swapping wood with other groups to support each other). Imaginations were really beginning to develop. Looking forward to further developments next week.

14/04/16


Great to start with a new Forest School group this week. The children showed increased confidence in their new environment throughout the session. Much enjoyment was expressed in the game, which encouraged social skills. As children were given the opportunity to explore the site for the first time some demonstrated greater confidence than others. All the children engaged well with each other at different points throughout the session. It was fantastic to see the children's imaginations begin to express themselves. 'Base camps' and 'islands' began to be created. The children expressed consideration of each other's work by sharing ideas, offering praise and asking questions to deepen their learning. A great start, looking forward to all that will develop over this term.