Our Week in the Forest
Our Little Forest Folk-ers have been exploring a wonderful selection of books, not only about Halloween and autumn, but also celebrating Black History and learning about the achievements of those who brought positive change to the world.
One of the highlights of the week was the pumpkin hunt! The children were full of excitement as they headed off along the winding paths, keeping their eyes peeled for tiny pumpkins hidden among the trees, nestled under leaves and tucked behind logs. There were squeals of delight each time a pumpkin was discovered, it was lovely to see the children working in teams, helping one another and sharing in the joy of the hunt. The forest was alive with laughter, autumn colours and a little touch of Halloween magic.
We’ve also been exploring early maths skills using natural resources gathered on our adventures. Conkers, acorns and colourful leaves have been turned into counting tools, number lines and creative number shapes. Our little explorers have been using them to form numerals, match quantities and even design simple sums. These hands-on, playful opportunities have really sparked their curiosity and strengthened their understanding of numbers in a meaningful, engaging way.
Alongside our outdoor learning, we’ve spent time focusing on emotions and wellbeing. Using our emotion wheel and a set of expressive picture cards, we’ve had some beautiful conversations about feelings: what different emotions look like, feel like and what might cause them. We’ve also been practising calming techniques like deep belly breathing, mindful listening to the sounds of the forest and gentle stretches. It’s been wonderful to see the children becoming more confident in recognising and expressing their emotions.
This week, our forest adventures took on a new rhythm - quite literally! After noticing the children’s growing interest in musical instruments during recent sessions, we decided to bring some of our favourites along into the forest. The result was a truly magical experience, blending nature and music in the most joyful way. Surrounded by rustling leaves and birdsong, the children explored a selection of instruments including drums, tambourines, shakers and bells. It didn’t take long before the forest was filled with the sound of spontaneous rhythms and melodies. Some children chose to play quietly under the trees, while others formed their own “bands,” working together to keep a beat or echo each other’s patterns. There were moments of laughter, focus and pure delight as they experimented with tempo, volume and different ways to create sound.
And of course, the mud kitchen has been as busy as ever! Inspired by the season, the children have been whipping up some imaginative autumn recipes, from "spooky stew" to "pumpkin soup" using mud, leaves, conkers and water. There’s been a lovely blend of role play, collaboration and creativity as they mixed, stirred and served their delicious forest creations. The sense of ownership and pride in their concoctions has been a joy to witness, it’s such a great reminder of how powerful imaginative play can be.
Little Forest Folk
Chiswick