Year 6, Weeks 2 and 3

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These last few weeks the children have been decorating our amazing new cabin, preparing for a delivery of orchard trees from the Tree Council as well as getting on with their own projects.

Last year Ruben dug out a perfect cross in the ground.

He was so precise with the edges.  

Now it has ledges, is lined, and has become a wildlife pond.

He explained his inspiration, “I did it because the cross represents the people who lost their lives during Covid and it’s also to thank the healthcare workers for all that they do. It is now a wildlife pond to help wildlife.”

Grace was helped develop one of the dens, “I am trying to make a zen den: a calm, peaceful place for us and nature. This is what forest school is about. When people need calming, they can come in here, have a rest, draw on a wooden disc or just hum.”

If anyone is looking for me, it’s highly likely you’ll find me there!

Year 6, Week 1

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This term’s badges are: STEM (project with Farmvention), Waste and Energy and Climate Change

Last week Dougie and Alex were supporting willow arches with stakes and having difficulty getting them into the ground, so this week they made a mallet.

Some children wanted to develop their whittling skills.

They made tent pegs, using the straight cut, stop cut and bevel.

Our wonderful new cabin means that photos of flora and fauna can be displayed on the walls and in large books for easy reference.

Year 5, Week 1

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This term’s badges are: First Aid, whittling wood and fire skills.

“I was really nervous about using the knife but John taught me how to use it safely and he gave me his newly cut stick, which was easier to carve. I feel really happy with my whittled stick.”

Nothing is wasted; wood shavings are collected for tinder for the fire.

This week we learned more about asthma: what triggers it, signs and symptoms and how we can help.

Children shared their experiences.

Year 1, Week 6

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More clues and more cards!

Off we went to explore inside and outside before directing our own learning, later making a Christmas wreath with winter evergreens and singing known and invented versions of The Holly and the Ivy.

Year 3, Week 6

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Today’s main objective was to prepare the colours for the children’s Stone Age painting project in class.

We looked at cave paintings, discussed pigments used and how they were obtained.

The children took soil samples and ground them up with rocks and a pestle and mortar, along with berries and hedgerow fruits.

Charcoal from previous fires was ground up as was chalk and clay but in the absence of red and yellow ochre we got creative and introduced a culinary twist: turmeric and paprika.

Fossils of these spices have been found near prehistoric cooking vessels across Europe, dating back 4-5,000 years.

We used our own foraged foliage and assembled paint brushes to explore mark making and technique.