“A friendly, creative, environment for learning together”

2024

Class 3

Week 1 

We had such a fun time during our first Forest Schools session! We started our session thinking about the rules for Forest Schools which help to keep us safe.

We have been learning about the 4 seasons and we focused on identify signs of Winter in the garden.

We have also looked at the artists Antony Gormley and Andy Goldsworthy. We have created our own clay faces and natural sculptures inspired by their work.

We also practised our DT skills of grating and cutting to bake a lemon cake.

In the afternoon we had so much fun playing the wood cutter game and we even created our own Jackson Pollock inspired splatter paintings.

Week 2

This week at Forest schools we have been learning about the 4 seasons and the changes across the seasons. We talked about what the weather and day length is like and what clothes we may wear in the different seasons. We even talked about which season was our favourite. Mrs Starkey likes the Summer because it is nice and warm and that is when her baby will arrive!

In Art we have been learning to print using fruits and vegetables. We really enjoyed this!

We have also been using our observational drawings skills and have learnt how to draw Snow drops.

In Design and Technology this week Mrs Platts has showed us how to use a bow saw. We had to work safely making sure we used the bow saw carefully.

Week 3

At forest schools we have been looking at the weather and we have drawn our own symbols for the different weather types.

In art we have been thinking about texture and have create some rubbings of leaves from the garden.

We have also looked at the artist Andy Goldsworthy again and created a clay bridge sculpture inspired by his work.

In DT we have been learning how to use tools to whittle sticks. Mrs Platts talked to use about safety when using tools. We will be using these in a few weeks to create a journey stick.

We learnt how important trees are to us and animals when playing the Woodcutter game.

Week 4

This week at forest schools we have been observing the weather. We made weather vanes to test the direction of the wind.

We have also been learning about evergreen and deciduous trees. We have named and identified the trees in our school environment. We have learnt that in school we have lots of trees that include: Silver Birch, Weeping Willow, Lime, Maple, Larch, Pine, Oak, Holly and Cherry. Mrs Platts has taught us some facts about each of the trees and how we can identify them.

In the garden we have made observational drawings of the trees using charcoal which have been inspired by David Hockney.

As part of our Art learning this week we have been beginning to explore weaving techniques and learning to weave with natural materials.

In the afternoon we identified mini-beasts in the garden, using the magnifying glasses to look for bugs and we talked about their different habitats.

Week 5

It was our final week at forest schools! This week we have recapped our knowledge of trees in the garden and identified which trees are evergreen and which are deciduous. We have thought carefully about how these trees are different and how deciduous trees change through the seasons.

In art we have been using our observational drawing skills again to draw Daffodils using pastels.

 

Mrs Platts showed us how to make a den. We had to think carefully about the equipment we would use to build the den and work collaboratively as a team. She taught us how to carry a stick carefully and we wore gloves to protect our hands.

A few weeks ago Mrs Platts showed us how to whittle sticks and this week we create a journey wand to remember our time at forest schools.

 

In the afternoon Mrs Platts talked to us about fire safety and lighting a fire. We then toasted marshmallows, yum! What a great way to finish our forest schools learning!

   

Class 4

Week 1

We had such a fun time during our first Forest Schools session!

We started our session thinking about the rules for Forest Schools which help to keep us safe.

We have been learning about the 4 seasons and we focused on identify signs of Winter in the garden. We have also looked at the artists Antony Gormley and Andy Goldsworthy. We have created our own clay faces and natural sculptures inspired by their work. We also practised our DT skills of grating and cutting to bake an orange and lemon cake.

We had so much fun playing the wood cutter game and we even created our own Jackson Pollock inspired splatter paintings.

Week 2

This week at forest schools we have been learning about the 4 seasons and the changes across the seasons. We talked about what the weather and day length is like and what clothes we may wear in the different seasons. We even talk about which season was our favourite. Miss Travis likes spring because flowers such as daffodils begin to grow. In Art we have been learning to print using natural materials such as leaves and using a range of vegetables. We really enjoyed this! In DT this week we also got to use the bow saw to cut disc of wood. Mrs Platts helped us to use the bow saw safely. We then decorated the discs with animals, mini-beasts or plants we would find in the garden. In the garden this week we found some… Snowdrops! We have created observational drawings of the snow drops using pastels.

In the afternoon we helped to tidy the garden by cleaning the paths and picking up leaves using the wheelbarrows. We also worked together as a team to create our own den!

Week 3

This week at forest schools we have been looking at the weather and we have drawn our own symbols for the different weather types. In art we have been thinking about texture and have create some rubbings using leaves and bark from the garden. We have also looked at the artist Andy Goldsworthy again and created a clay bridge sculpture inspired by his work. We have also been learning how to use tools to whittle sticks and we will be using these in a few weeks to create a journey wand.

From the 26th-28th January it is the Big Garden Birdwatch so we have been using binoculars to look for the wildlife in our school environment. We saw lots of blackbirds, pigeons and even a robin. We also made bird feeders and painted bird houses which we have hung in the garden.

Week 4

This week at forest schools we have been observing the weather and making weather vanes. We have also been learning about evergreen and deciduous trees. We have named and identified the trees in our school environment. We have lots of trees such as Silver Birch, Weeping Willow, Lime, Maple, Larch, Ash, Oak, Holly and Cherry tree. Mrs Platts has taught us some facts about each of the trees and how we can identify them. As part of our DT learning this week we have been beginning to explore weaving techniques and learning to weave with natural materials. We have also looked at the artist David Hockney and his Winter tree drawings. We used charcoal to create an observational drawing of an Oak tree in Winter.

In the afternoon we identified the minibeasts in the garden. We enjoyed using the magnifying glasses to look for bugs and talking about their habitat.

 Week 5

This week at forest schools we have recapped out knowledge of trees in the garden and identified which are evergreen and which are deciduous. We have thought carefully about how these trees are different and how deciduous trees change through the seasons. In art we have been using our observational drawing skills again to draw Daffodils using oil pastels. This week we had some snow so we went outside and made snowmen, snow angels and snow sculptures. What a great way to finish our forest schools learning!