This has been a very exciting week in the forest, with the lead up to Easter there have been lots of crafts. One morning our Forest Folk-ers engaged in a sensory tray, filled with colourful rice, eggs and scoops. The children were able to experiment with filling, scooping, pouring as well as sharing their materials. The children made their very own Easter Chicks, using yellow paint the children created the Chick's body, then they added their own decorations such as drawing legs, sticking googly eyes and writing their names.
There has also been lots of maths in the forest this week. On the walk in on Monday our Little Forest Folk-ers found arrows on the ground, it was so exciting following the paths set out by the arrows and seeing what was to be found. This inspired mark making of our own arrows as well as other shapes such as squares and triangles. The educators also set up a maths activity in which we had to match the number stone to the bugs on some lollipop sticks and see how many dots there were on the other side. The children then used the numbered stones to find other items around the forest. There were also dice used in a game of hopscotch where they would jump the number of spaces the dice rolled.
There has been lots of rope play this week, we have loved using it to add to our climbing, to make skipping ropes and to tie sticks together. We have been so impressed with the children’s creativity and skill at using rope, for example a group of children worked together to make a zip line. They started by tying one side of the rope around the tree and then the other side onto a pallet on the floor. They then pulled the pallet far away and made the rope tight. After an adult checked the rope to make sure the knots were secure the children used the rope to swing down from the tree. What amazing inventors we have in the forest!!
The highlight of the week has been making our own log cars. With all the wood cut down by the tree surgeon a few weeks ago we decided it was time to use the logs for tool work. Children helped select the thickness of the branch, chose the length of the body part and how many wheels. Some children chose to add a steering wheel, and some decided to put a spare on the roof in case of a flat tyre. First the children went to the sawing station before moving over to the hammering station. There were lots of safety talks and turn taking, but so much fun making our very own cars.
An excellent week in the forest. Have a wonderful Easter break!
Little Forest Folk
Wimbledon