We have had a very busy week in the forest! Our ‘Bunny’ and ‘Fox’ groups have been enjoying the very mixed autumnal weather and making the most of it in every way possible!
Mud play has been the highlight of our week. There was already some mud left from last week and the children used it for making mud sculptures and building towers to see whose was the tallest. Once they were built, the children spoke about different heights and which was wider or taller.
Our mud play went even further in the middle of the week with the added down pour of rain. We used some plastic pipes to make a water slide. The children worked together to place the tubes where they thought the best place was, then attached other ones onto them. This then led them into a puddle at the bottom. Everyone took it in turns to pour water from the top tube and watch as it cascaded down into the puddle at the bottom. Some of the children wanted to race the water and see if they could make it down before it got to the bottom. Everyone worked together to make sure the pipes stayed connected and worked well to take it in turns to pour the water.
Having some amazing autumn sunshine this week has meant the children have been able to go on some very exciting adventure walks. We have escaped bears by the swamp gate and have safely investigated mushrooms on trees. The children have taken it in turns to choose which direction they want to go in, and this means that it can feel more special for them as it’s their decision.
During our walks we have spotted new mushrooms arising on trees and on the ground around us. Sticking to our “no picking and no licking” rule, the children have known not to touch the mushrooms but are allowed to get close enough to investigate them. It has provoked great conversation about the different sizes and colours of the mushrooms, and then looking at finding more information to see which ones may be harmful. It was a great way for the children to learn about nature around them and how we have to be careful of some things that grow.
With the autumn breeze blowing across the meadow, the children took some time with Christie to make some kites. They used different bits of coloured string and then attached bags to the end. The children ran across the meadow seeing whose kite would fly the highest and then worked out ways to make them better if they didn’t quite work. Some thought longer bits of string would work, some used shorter bits, and some thought that different ways to attach the bag would make a difference. It was a great sight watching everyone run around in the beautiful sunshine, with smiles on their faces!
One of our other small activities that the children enjoyed was making leaf stories. A group of children took time to collect different leaves that had fallen on the floor and then sat and made them into characters. We used pens and chalk to draw on them and give them different expressions. Once our characters had been created, we then made up stories with the characters in. We had Mums and babies, friends in the forest and even superhero leaves who were flying to catch the baddies. It was great for the children to use the things we have around us daily as something to be able to tell stories with. The amount of leaves around us is endless, just like the number of stories that can be told.
It’s been another great week at Wimbledon, and even though the weather wasn’t always kind to us, it never stops us having so much fun! Have a lovely weekend all!
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” - Albert Camus
We hope you all have wonderful weekends!
Little Forest Folk
Wimbledon