25/02/2023
We learnt about seed dispersal by placing open pine cones into water and seeing them close:https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/pinecones-close-when-it-rains-heres-how-they-do-it.
We also made seed bombs alongside child-led play and games!
11/02/2023
We learnt about wax seals and signet rings: personal signature or symbol of family heritage. We did a valentine version and learnt about history of Valentine's day from Bishop Valentine, who became St Valentine. We also added things to our Community Tree and play with mud!
04/02/2023
More photos of our bee wax melts/ candles and other crafty things!
04/02/2023
We made holes in the dirt and poured our melted wax into these with the wick. We also put these in heart shaped moulds to see the difference. We talked about bees and read a bee book. A child brought a present for another child about different kinds of families and we read this at hot chocolate time! Bliss!
28/01/2023
Music and more boots and balancing!
28/01/2023
We practised balancing on our tightrope with walking sticks! We also did a lot of knot work and transportation of logs!
28/01/2023
We did the Big Garden Bird Watch today and made feeders and other bird related crafts!
21/01/2023
We made rabbits to celebrate the year of the bunny with catkin ears! We had lots of games and danced and sang in the wood. We had our hot stones when our hands got cold! More photos to follow :) Happy Lunar New Year!
14/01/2023
We made whisks and bird feeders from Christmas Tree Tops. We also made pegs and bashed them in the mud. We also read stories about trees in the shelter with our hot chocolate :)
13/01/2023
Make a Whisk from your Christmas tree - Nature Days outdoor learning resources
https://youtu.be/nVZigqmEbPc
Make a Whisk from your Christmas tree - Nature Days outdoor learning resources
This videos shows you how to make a whisk out of your old Christmas tree.
02/01/2023
Big Garden Birdwatch | The RSPB
Big Garden Birdwatch free guide: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/
Big Garden Birdwatch | The RSPB
Sign up for your free guide and let's look out for birds together on 27-29 January.
14/12/2022
Hi All,
OWLETS term will restart on 7TH January.
Merry Christmas 🎄
26/11/2022
It was the Grandmother Tree's birthday today so the children:
🌳 Painted rocks and placed them around Grandmother's trunk
🌲 Made bunting and flags to place around Grandmother
🌴 Roasted marshmellows & sang songs
🎄 Whittled Hazel for the marshmellows
21/11/2022
A child from Owlets decided every year ( last weekend of Nov) to have a little birthday for our 'Grandmother Tree'. The children have started planning this and asked that we do not forget to bring pebble/s in to decorate the base of our grand 88 year old matriarch.
Please can children remember to bring a pebble in for Saturday 🌳
19/11/2022
We had a child-led spider theme as a follow-on from the child-led play last week!
Children made cobwebs out of wool, games linked to spiders and read stories about spiders. We also started to learn about ladder knots (marlin spike hitch) and tye dye with Alder cones
12/11/2022
Mandragora Plants: we made Mandrakes from clay and shared other (child-friendly!) folklore stories, such as: fairy rings and a pot of gold at the end of the 🌈.
Alongside child-led play, we also made clay pots and planted cress on cotton wool!
Fab day :)
22/10/2022
We read Room on The Broom and added things to our big potion and mixed with sticks! We celebrated Diwali with our lanterns and fake candles. We also whittled and did firelighting :)
15/10/2022
We made conker 'fireworks', we made dens, we baked bananas on the fire. We made conker art! We hit golf tees in pumpkins!! Fantastico!!!!!
This afternoon we whittled, marshmellows on the fire & played conkers and used psalm drills for our wooden cookies. At Forest school we are proud to be wildlings!!!!
08/10/2022
More photos of today: We made spooky spider webs with conkers (can you see the conker in the middle, hanging from our fairy tree?!). We also made wooden cookies and fairy houses and imaginary fire-pits with artificial candles. The children also made conker soap and added linseed to our soapy mixture for thickening!
08/10/2022
We made conker soap, the lemon has natural anti-bateria agents contained in it.
We also made dens, games & imaginary stories and our usual singing with sticks!
08/10/2022
Setting up this morning! Guess what we are making today
07/10/2022
We have been going since 2020 and we have had children start with us from this time and continue with us to this day.
I want to really thank you parent carers, whom have been with us since then and regularly support us and really care about the Forest School principles too- thank you!
Principle 1: Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School.
Principle 2: Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
Principle 3: Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners
Principle 4: Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
Principle 5:. Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
Principle 6: Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning
25/09/2022
How To Make Hand Soap With Horse Chestnuts/Conkers
Here is a recipe for making conker handsoap
https://youtu.be/0ToF80QbeW4
How To Make Hand Soap With Horse Chestnuts/Conkers
We Show you step by step how we make hand soap with horse chestnuts aka Conkers! This diy hand soap not only gets your hands fresh and clean it also gives yo...
24/09/2022
Made pretend fires, finished our Oak Gall Ink, made ghosts with conkers and cooked on our made-up tripod fires pits!
17/09/2022
More photos of today :) Our wishing tree 🌳 to put any thoughts or wishes down over the last week; Pick-up stick, also known as Jackstraw game! Also, our sensory corner!
17/09/2022
We made iron gall ink, conker snakes, played 'pick up sticks' with gator tweezers, parachute games, made wishes for any children who wanted to share their thoughts and wishes from the last week
17/09/2022
Autumn activities are here!
11/09/2022
Wildlife Wednesday: How to make oak gall ink!
We will be bringing some Oak Galls in on Saturday. On our window sill is some Oak Gall Ink. This ink was used up until the 1970's and was used to write the Doomsday book!
https://youtu.be/kX1FQrEFyJU
Wildlife Wednesday: How to make oak gall ink!
Long ago, ink was made using materials found in nature. Join Laura from Essex Wildlife Trust and find out how to make oak gall ink! Don't forget to seek adul...