After eating apple at morning snack some of the children decided that they should plant the seeds to see if they could grow an apple tree. They chose the right spot where the ground would get both rain and sunshine but were then a little concerned that it might be trampled underfoot and squash the seeds before they had a chance to grow. We decided what we needed to create was a way of marking the area so it was easy to see for anyone running by. Claudia and the group used bright straws and carefully threaded them onto a length of string until they had made a piece long enough to surround the patch. They found twigs just the right size and pushed them into the ground to create the supporting posts before hanging their bright high viz fence around their planted garden.
After completing this the children were still concerned that people might see the fence but still not understand what it was, so they decided to make a sign. They decided what it should say and dictated to Claudia before attaching the sign to a stick and planting it like a flag for everybody to see and understand. They were very proud of their creation and brought other educators to come and see what they had made. On following days, the play was extended by the children building a little garden within the fenced off patch, by bringing fallen twigs with greenery still attached and planting them like little trees and replanting little patches of grass and moss as well.
A blast of heavy rain knocked a wonderful haul of pink flowers from our tree beside camp and a group used a bowl to gather up a large number of blossoms. Nasila pushed a large branch into the ground and the children carefully hung the blossoms onto the twigs to recreate their own tree in camp.
A whole afternoon was taken up with the construction of a large family car big enough to carry 7 people and the whole team involved themselves with rolling logs, carrying planks, lifting pallets and filling gaps with smaller stones and sticks until the car was complete. The effort was a genuine collaboration with a lot of problem solving, sharing of ideas and complimenting of each other’s efforts. “We’re driving to Germany!” they shouted, and everybody climbed aboard. “Seatbelts everybody!” shouted one and they all pulled the belts across their bodies and clicked them into place. They stopped off at the zoo and the station and visited friends and family on the way to Germany and when they decided it was time to have some snacks, it was revealed that this car even had a kitchen! Cookies and chocolate were handed around and then they set off once more.
One of our older friends who came to play at camp this week taught us a number code game which was really fun and it was lovely to see how she automatically helped the younger children with their numbers and involved them in her game. They all took turns at guessing numbers and seemed to really enjoy the game, so I am going to create a simpler version of it to play with our own children to help with their number recognition and, eventually, writing.
It has been a hugely fun week with a lot of laughter and sunshine too! It has felt positively spring-like at some points this week and the birdsong has become richer as our feathered friends similarly welcomed the warmer days!
We hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Little Forest Folk
Fulham