The week started with some communal construction that began with one child pulling planks onto pallets with a vision of a pirate ship in mind. One became two, as a shipmate joined in, asking the original captain if certain wooden parts around the field were the right ones for the plan. With adjectives and prepositions galore, a sturdy base was taking shape. Soon a third pair of hands arrived on deck, and colossal cable spools were rolled and pulled into just the right place. Wedged branches became masts and flagpoles, whilst logs were lumped along from A to B, which naturally became seats. The captain began bringing over the smaller wooden blocks and placed in rows, becoming the controls to change speeds. Next, a crew wielding chalks arrived from the art and crafts island and helped to embellish various parts around the ship with marvellous circles, squares, and patterns. All in all, this was a tremendous team effort with good communication culminating in fun and friendly play!
From Pirate ships to Post Boxes as all children this week have been given the opportunity to practice letter writing, stick down stamps, lick seal envelopes, and post them through a replica red wooden post box. Educators have supported children to write own names, mummy, daddy, or sibling names. Many of these envelopes will have made it home in rucksacks as children were rightly proud of their creations. Back at the bowling club, Educators have been laminating several other named envelopes which will be used regularly for children to recognise their own name, and once successfully found can be delivered. The post box is also labelled up with the correct day which helps children to begin to think about measuring time and their position in their weekly routine; this can greatly help with managing their expectations of what comes next.
Another letterbox was created this week, in the middle of a giant door created from a folded box. This door was cleverly suspended by rope master Dan, so it could be opened and shut at the entrance of a space under a holly bush that children have always identified as a house. This door was labelled with a 43, combining two numbers many children are familiar with on account of their age, and several two-year-olds proceeded to ask “can you do my number please?”. Who could refuse such kind language?! So many games were played around this house area, with occasional support to remember not to shut doors quickly, which we know will help the way doors are used safely in other environments.
The week in the forest ended with much fun, with Matt as the Big Bad Wolf, huffing and puffing as hard as he could, with little piggies vigorously chanting with as much might back “NOT BY THE HAIR OF MY CHINNY CHIN CHIN!”. The wolf did manage to snatch a few giggling piggies out of the window, but atypically didn’t get very far as very brave children always came to the rescue, reaching out saying “Don’t worry, I’ll help you, hold my hand” as they pulled their friends away from the tired old wolf!
Another great week, with no doubt another one incoming after the weekend. Have fun!
Little Forest Folk
Wandsworth