Forest School

This has been a busy week with a new Forest School timetable. The classes have changed and now P2/3 and P4 have Forest School on a Wednesday while P3 will go out for Forest School on a Thursday morning. As the weather gets colder it would be a good idea to send in spare socks for keeping tootsies warm In wellies and children could bring old jogging bottoms to keep them snug on colder days. The first session for each class has a focus on establishing boundaries, basic knot skills,  assembling at our meeting point and working as part of a group. The minute of mindfulness has proved to be a peaceful and calm way to end the sessions.

Primary 2 are the most enthusiastic and creative group I’ve worked with for a long time. They make all sorts of imaginary scenarios up when out in the woods and they’ve had a terrific ‘can-do’ attitude throughout this term. They have been a joy to work with.  Today we had a birthday boy with us and he was serenaded under the tarpaulin during snack time by his peers.  I hope that I will get the opportunity to work outside with this class again this year. Miss Black is very lucky to have you as her class. 

Some of our Primary 7 pupils are completing their John Muir Discovery Award. They went along to see the wildflowers which they had sown in June and were delighted to see the flowers in bloom still. Mark Hand, from the Environment Trust, accompanied us as we are working with him on a project to film the wildlife in our local greenspace. He has provided the group with a camera to capture wildlife and today the group chose a location and set the camera up.  We are all excited to see what it will catch on film.  The deep puddles from the recent heavy rain showers were “explored” by the group and more than one child went too deep without realising and got dry socks on their return to school.  A big thank you to Kyle for bringing in his old wellies and waterproof trousers as he has taken a “stretch”and outgrown them-they will be extremely useful for other groups. 

P4/5 enjoyed dry but crisp conditions in the autumnal woodland today. We tried the fire pit out and had freshly made campfire popcorn as all the fresh air does work up an appetite!  A small group of children volunteered to build the fire this week and they had a go at using the flint and steel.