This week we struggled to get out on our bird hunt due to the rain and wind! However we found a room to play bird bingo, which helped us to recognise and remember the birds around our school.
We made some simple cheerio bird feeders to keep the birds warm and active in winter. Threading 20 Cheerios onto pipe cleaners needed concentration and a good maths activity too.
WE managed to dash out in the rain to hang them on the branches!
This week we went on a journey around school looking for birds. First we looked at pictures of birds that we might see and where we might see them.
Then we learned how to use our binoculars. Off we went!
We saw a robin, crows, pigeons, red kites, sparrows, pied wagtails, but we didn’t expect to see a heron on a roof of a house! We think we saw a sparrow hawk too.
This week we thought about the meaning of Remembrance Day and why we wear poppies at this time. In the quiet of our woodland, and with a candle lit, we made poppies using wool and sticks. Afterwards we said a prayer to say thank you for the people that gave their lives for us and talked about our hope for a peaceful world.
Children from Mrs Barnes’ class helped to plant daffodils in terracotta pots. First we looked carefully at a daffodil bulb and many thought it looked just like an onion! But of course an onion is a bulb that we can eat. We checked carefully that we were placing the daffodil bulb the right way up, point at the top, flat plate at the bottom, and then covered it carefully with soil. We look forward to seeing the beautiful yellow flowers in spring!
This year, children in year 2 are involved in a project called ‘Grow to Schools’ This organisation works with schools to deliver food growing programmes and will enable our children to grow, cook and eat healthy food. So on Monday we had our first session with Rachel and Mrs Whittaker. We weeded the vegetable beds, topped up the compost and planted winter salad and cabbages, learning that food growing isn’t just a spring/summer activity; a vegetable bed can be productive all year round!
This week we were leaf detectives in forest school. We each opened an envelope and identified their leaf using this leaf ID chart from the Woodland trust.
We talked about the size and different shapes of the leaves. The big envelope contained the horse chestnut leaf!
We then turned to being leaf artists and we printed with each of the leaves.
In September, each class enjoyed a Forest School team-building day with Mrs. Whittaker and their teachers. The common theme for all the activities was “Connecting with Nature.” We began our day by exploring the meaning of the word “Nature” before venturing outside to make bird feeders and to plant tomorrow’s oak trees and horse chestnut trees with acorns and conkers.
We explored the natural resources around our school grounds to inspire our creativity, making decorated postcards and weaving with willow from our very own tree.
We ended the day gathered around the firepit, toasting marshmallows and sharing our favourite moments with each other.
Children learn best when they’re engaged and having fun, and our outdoors is the perfect classroom, building resilience, confidence, creativity and strengthening friendships along the way.
Year 1 have started their forest school journey. I want our children to understand that nature is the most precious and fascinating part of our world, and it is our responsibility to take care of it, protect it and enjoy it.
We started our session by finding out what is in Mrs Whittaker’s forest school bag.
We heard the robin birdsong, looked at a swan’s feather, and felt some prickly horse chestnuts!
We went on our own nature treasure hunt, and collected leaves, seeds, feathers, sticks. There are so many interesting things to collect at the start of autumn.
