There has been a theme of celebration this week in our forest. With two children from both camps having celebrated birthdays over the weekend and a child turning three on Monday- the mud kitchens in both bubbles were alive with the sounds of chefs rustling up cakes. It’s been lovely talking to the children about celebrating special days like birthdays and how we all like to do different things to celebrate.
In green group, a sparkly piece of material was then used to continue the celebration theme. Children were asking to have the fabric tied around their waists and walk around with a large sparkly trail behind them. When an educator inquired about the outfit the children replied, “it’s my coronation day!” The Forest was soon full of newly crowned Kings and Queens. The fabric was requested the next day and this time the theme of play became weddings. Our newest educator, Miriam, was decorated with flowers and leaves by the children and they then attached the fabric to her hair like a veil. Some of the children wanted to hold the veil and escort Miriam through the forest on her way to marry Linn. Then the children wanted a to take turns being the bride.
In the green group the geography theme has continued - children have been using trowels to excavate a river in an area of the forest. They have added to it each day creating islands and making parts of the river wider or narrow. Bridges were added and they love tipping water down it to test it out.
Linn also helped children make papier-mâché to create another mountain after the children studied photographs of Miranda, 20 years ago at a base camp on Mount Everest. Miranda was once a tour leader and has worked in many countries around the world and the children loved having her meet them at the boundary line that separates the social groups to hear about the mountain from someone who has actually seen it! There was us thinking it was her electric scooter that made Miranda cool!
As the children have been enjoying the longer chapter books, this week we have been sharing a poetry book my Michael Rosen and the children have found some of the poems hilarious.
Those children who often frequently request the story of King Henry 8th from Xiao have now progressed to the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st and it’s nice that his camp spin on the Tudor soap opera now features an empowered woman for a change.
In the red group the children have been getting hands on with making their own art resources. Rosa gave the children some turmeric root and the children mixed it and mixed with water to make a beautiful golden paint that they used to decorate a sheet. The children worked on it together and hands proudly in the forest.
Miranda also got the children a collection of bells - each one a different note. The forest was soon filled with the sweet music and singing. With the creation of their own music area, the theme of music making is own that the red group are loving at the moment and introducing them to different instruments appears to be popular.
It is also wonderful to be part of their conversations as they enquire about the world around them. Miranda’s group took the children to the bridge where they spotted some fish they hadn’t seen before lockdown and were talking about the changes that had happened since they last saw them. It’s nice to reacquainted with all our forest friends.
We hope you all have a lovely weekend!
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham