Another wonderful week has passed in the forest, filled with all sorts of weather and plenty of adventures! From sunshine and rain to strong winds and even thunder, our Little Forest Folk-ers embraced every moment with resilience, curiosity and enthusiasm.
This week, we spent time talking about "big school" and the exciting changes that lie ahead. The children shared their thoughts about what they might wear and what school might be like. We also began some role-play activities, with many of the children enjoying taking on the role of teachers and guiding their friends through different learning experiences.
Despite the rainy and gloomy weather at times, our wonderful educators brought so much joy, energy, and excitement to the forest through music, singing, and shared laughter. Their enthusiasm helped create a warm and positive atmosphere, whatever the weather brought.
Later in the week, we experienced a thunderstorm. The children did an amazing job listening carefully to instructions and remaining calm as we made our way back to the room. This became a valuable learning opportunity as we talked about staying safe, understanding potential dangers and why we sometimes need to evacuate an area quickly. We were very proud of how sensible and responsible everyone was.
On one particularly rainy day, the children worked together to create their very own boat in a large puddle using logs from around the forest. This was a fantastic teamwork project, with children collaborating to carry logs, discuss ideas and carefully decide how to position them to make their boat safe and stable. Once the structure was complete, they decided it needed a flag. This presented another challenge, as they had to work out how to make the flagpole stand upright by itself. Through brainstorming, problem-solving, and cooperation, they successfully found a solution and proudly raised their flag.
We also continued our popular chalk-bashing activity, which combines creativity with physical development. The children thoroughly enjoyed breaking the chalk into smaller pieces by banging it against logs before experimenting with different wooden tools to crush it further. They discovered a variety of techniques and were fascinated by how the chalk could be transformed into a fine powder, ready to be used in their creative play.
Another highlight of the week was creating small dens and shelters for insects around the forest. The children were excited to design and build special spaces for the creatures that share our woodland environment. It was wonderful to see their care for nature and their eagerness to help the animals around them.
We also continued our adventure walks in search of signs of summer. Along the way, we observed new flowers blooming, noticed changes in leaves and plants and explored how the river is changing as the seasons progress. These walks continue to inspire curiosity and encourage the children to connect with the natural world around them.
Thank you for another fantastic week of exploration, learning, and adventure. We look forward to seeing everyone again next week for more forest discoveries!
Little Forest Folk
Chiswick