Forest School Blog - Tuesday 19th May

Can you believe it's 'Terrific' Tuesday again!

The sun is shining and 1/2 term is in sight.  


FOX WALKING

Want to walk like a fox? We have taken this from another Forest School Leaders site - it links with mental health and the environment around us.  Before you decide it's not for you....just take a minute and read through.  What harm is there is giving it a go?.....


YOUR GARDEN/FOREST SCHOOL IDEAS

One element of Forest School, that we really believe in,  is that in sessions we give you the opportunity for some 'child-led' learning.  It might be we introduce a game and you change and develop into your own.  It might be we start talking about one thing and it leads to an investigation of how soil is formed or a group of you set your own challenge to make a fort....which turns into a volcano and lava game and happens to take the whole of after school club to play!  These moments are magical and it when the real understanding and development happens.

With this is mind.  We challenge you to email your class teacher with some Forest School ideas that we can share with the whole school to challenge them to try over 1/2 term.

You could send us: drawings, photographs and/or written instructions


MRS TURLAND'S VEG PATCH WATCH

Week 9

Well, I spoke too soon, there was an unexpected night frost at the end of last week and a few of my plants have not survived.  I'm not deterred.  I have planned some more seeds in the greenhouse to replace them.  Whilst sowing the seeds I began to wonder....why when you plan a seed - for some the germinate and produce a plant that then goes on to produces a single vegetable - carrot/onion.  While others - you sow one miniscule seed and the plant it produces goes on to deliver multiple vegetables - peas/chilli/tomatoes.  Can you think of other examples? Nature is AMAZING!

Sunflower update - do you remember in week 7 I told you about the sunflower seeds I planted under mini greenhouses made from recycled plastic bottles? Well, if you look closely at the photo, you can see green shoots sprouting!  If the warm weather continues I will be able to remove their protective cocoons.


Mrs Cherry will be blogging on Friday, so I will wish you a happy and safe 1/2 term.

Mrs Turland & Mrs Cherry

Forest School Blog - Friday 15th May 2020

Good morning it's fantastic friday!

Hope you have enjoyed your week.

Here are some activities that you may want to have a go at.


Mini Nature Reserve



Stick Maze


If you have large sticks you could even make a human sized maze.


30 Days Wild in June


The Wildlife Trust are running a nature challenge during the 30 days of June. They are asking you to do one wild thing a day throughout the whole month.

When you sign up you will get a free downloadable pack full of goodies, including activities and ideas.

Website: https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/57739/petition/1


Knot of the Week

This is a beautiful knot for you to have a go at.


Bird Update

This week the chicks have been very hungry. Keeping Mum and Dad busy.

Pictures you have sent in



Keep sending in your photos.
Have a lovely weekend,
Mrs Cherry and Mrs Turland


Forest School Blog - Tuesday 12th May 2020

It's terrific Tuesday again!

Hope you had a lovely bank holiday weekend and enjoyed the sunny weather.

I found a perfect spot for Forest Bathing - it's something I hope to keep up! 

We would love to see picture of you Forest Bathing. 


The National Trust have adapted their '50 things to do before you're 11¾' to ....
50 things activities to do in your back garden

There are more on the National Trust website - but we thought this would be a good one to start with.....


CRJS - Forest School Lock-down Gallery

We would love if you could make us some picture frames from sticks  - for us to use when we all get back to school to display all the wonderful pictures you have been sending us.  Please keep them till we are back at school!

Go back to the blog 24th April  - Knot of the Week - Square lashing.

The clip below will help too: 


Mrs Turland's Veg Plot Watch


Week 8
It's growing! Was a bit worried about last nights frost - but everything looks ok this morning!




Have a lovely week,
Mrs Cherry will post our next blog on Friday,
Mrs Turland & Mrs Cherry



VE Day Forest School blog - Friday 8th May 2020

This weekend's blog is all about enjoying yourselves with your family and relaxing. 

Baked Bananas

If your having a BBQ this weekend why not try this recipe.

Take one banana per person and slice down the centre. Fill the slit with chocolate chips (or leftover easter eggs).

Wrap each banana in a tinfoil parcel and place on the BBQ after the main courses have been cooked. The remaining heat from the coals or gas will bake the bananas and melt the chocolate.

Unwrap* your parcels, add a scoop of ice cream and enjoy.

* This is going to be very hot, so leave it to a grownup, who's wearing oven gloves.


Now for relaxation........


Forest Bathing

In this glorious weather and now the leaves have come out on the trees. Why not have a go at forest bathing.

Forest bathing originated in Japan. Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese practice that literally translates to 'Forest bath'. To forest bathe, you immerse yourself in the forest, taking in the atmosphere through the senses. It's being calm and quiet in a forest, observing nature around you while breathing deeply- similar to mindfulness that we have done in class.

How to forest bathe

1. Either in your garden or out on a walk in a forest near you, stand or sit down for 5 or 10 minutes.

2. Feel the earth below you, think about the work of the earth, the wind and the sun.

3. Clear you mind of all your thoughts.

4. Open you senses. Listen to the sounds around you: birds, insects, bees, the sound of the leaves blowing in the breeze.

5. Look up at the leaf canopy and pay attention to the light coming through.

6. Look at the pattern on the bark or the rustle of the leaves.

7. Take slow deep breaths and smell the fragrance of the air around you.

8. Touch the trees, feel the leaves and soil.

The phytochemical that trees release are making us healthy each time we breathe them in. ENJOY!

Below are some pictures that Mrs Cherry took in her garden, forest bathing. We would love to see your pictures.

Bird update

WE HAVE BABIES!

Lastly Mrs Cherry has also been planting seeds, with the help and advice of Mrs Turland. Here are some pictures and will keep you updated on how it goes as this is my first time.

Lettuce leaves, rocket and carrots so far.

Enjoy VE Day and the weekend,

Mrs Cherry and Mrs Turland


Forest School Blog - Tuesday 5th May 2020

It's terrific Tuesday again!

What a mixed bag of weather we had over the weekend - hopefully you found time to get outside.

Mrs Cherry and I were in school last week, we had hoped to get down to the Forest School area to see what had changed and do a bit of work, but will all the rain, we did not manage to get down till the Friday morning!

The site is in good repair, only a few fallen branches.  The bamboo has gone bonkers.  The friendly little robin popped down to say hello to us.  We even managed to start to build a raised bed - ready for planting up with vegetables when we all get back to school.

A few ideas to keep you going....

The National Trust - ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’

No. 17 set up a snail race

Snails move super slowly so it's best not to give them too far to race, but that's not all you need to think about. 

You can find snails in most gardens, parks or green spaces, hiding under leafy green plants or in trees. Snails like the cool and wet, so you won't often find them in the sunshine, so if you can remember that when you race them then they'll be happier.

Mark out the track

Snails move super slowly, so don't make your track too long or you'll have to watch for hours while they race.

You can either mark a circular track out in chalk, or you could use sticks in a circle. One about 60cm in diametre is probably about right. The easiest way to start your race is to draw a circle and put all your snails in the middle of the circle, then as they glide away the first one to reach the edge of the circle is the winner, but you could also set up a track like a race track with lanes - though the snails won't know that they're supposed to stay in their lanes, so it might end up less like a race and more like a mess!

If you're having trouble telling your racing snails apart then you could stick small stickers on their shells, but remember to take the stickers off after the race. A snail's shell is its home and helps protect it from harm.

Look after your snails

Just like top athletes have their favourite conditions for a race, snails do too! So, keep the track wet, don't leave the snails racing in full sun light. In fact, a snail race is best done in wet weather, but you might not enjoy that as much. Once the race has been run/crawled then please pop your snail racers back where you found them so they can go home and tell their family how they've done.

Wash your hands

This is just common sense once you've handled anything that lives outdoors, but you might especially want to do it after seeing snail trails everywhere!

We would love to see some pictures of your winning snails!


If that is too sporty for you...

How about making your own Green Eco-system?

You need a clean glass jar or bottle, some gravel, soil, plants (permission from parents to dig up weeds, moss or self seeded saplings).

Start off will a layer of gravel or small stones for drainage.

Next add a layer of soil (check it's an area your parents are happy for you to dig from!)

Carefully position your plants - you may need to use a long handled spoon or fork...

Lightly spray or water your plants

Close the lid and place near a window, but not in direct sunlight.  

Check daily, it should not need watering, if the eco-system is functioning correctly! Why is that?


Mrs Turland's Veg Plot Watch

Week 7

With all the rain, the plants are starting to grow stronger, but it has also meant that the slugs are out and about!

You can see the carrot seeds I planted directly in the ground have just started to sprout.  The sweetcorn has doubled in size!  The greenhouse is now empty, so I will be sowing my next crop of salad leaves and peas.  Might even sow a few herbs.

Can you spot my homemade mini green houses? Under those are sunflower seeds....I have challenged staff to a sunflower growing competition! There are no rules! We will let you know how it goes - judging won't take place till September.

Would you like to join in? There are no prizes - just the glory of growing and taking part.

We have the following categories:

Tallest Sunflower

Shortest Sunflower

Best Looking Sunflower

Most Vibrant Sunflower

'Ahhh Bless!' Sunflower


Even though it's a very special bank holiday on Monday - Mrs Cherry will be posting our usual Friday blog.

Take care - have fun,

Mrs Turland & Mrs Cherry