The week started with some early morning obstacle course building on the field. This began with one child identifying a wobbly length of log and asking an educator to help. In moments like these, Forest School educators scaffold in the right amount of support, so children are thinking and acting on their own discoveries. As such, a suggestion to find logs and other parts to wedge under and against, sent several children on a jubilant mission to get the right parts. On the success of this reinforced section, children soon felt that many other parts of the obstacle course needed adapting and improving, and we were particularly impressed with the way 2.5 meter long, doubled up scaffold planks were lifted sensibly with supportive teamwork! This all culminated in several dozen happy tours of the circular obstacle course by many of our explorers.
This area later transformed into a pirate ship with the raised obstacle planks becoming the sides of a ginormous galleon. Play continued around themes of treasure and fishing for food that was cooked in the ship’s kitchen by a busy crew of chefs. This type of imagination fuelled play is a constant at Little Forest Folk and narratives are helped by the way children understand the world around.
This sort of play is also absolutely informed by the stories children read, so days like World Book Day entirely compound the fun! We were excited to see so many great outfits this year and we all enjoyed reading countless stories and playing games which revolved around our favourite characters. Nicol, our talented face painting expert delighted children by implementing their ideas and everyone looked fab all day long!
May your weekend be full of equal amounts of adventure and rest! See you all soon next week.
Little Forest Folk
Wandsworth