Our week in the foresT
This week in the forest has been full of creativity, curiosity and joyful exploration, with every day bringing new experiences and discoveries. The sunshine set the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures as the children eagerly embraced every opportunity to learn through play.
The forest came alive with vibrant colours as children explored Holi, the festival of spring and new beginnings. They created their own string wands, carefully selecting wool, wrapping it around lolly sticks and practising cutting and knot-tying skills. Expressive dot paintings encouraged experimentation with colour mixing and children delighted in seeing what happened when different shades merged. Outdoor play with flying “colour monsters” inspired teamwork, as some ended up in trees and required a group rescue, while petals and ice in the tuff tray sparked imaginative creations such as petal pies and forest tea parties, blending sensory exploration with storytelling.
Storytelling and sensory play continued throughout the week, inspiring imagination and hands-on learning. The children recreated Goldilocks and the Three Bears with a muddy porridge tuff tray, mixing ingredients, pouring into containers and repeating the familiar phrases: “Too hot!”, “Too cold!” and “Just right!”. Flour-sprinkled gingerbread outlines and leafy caterpillars inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar encouraged careful attention to detail, fine motor skills and collaborative play. In the reading corner, favourites like The Three Little Pigs and Monkey Puzzle sparked lively discussion and imaginative retelling, bringing stories to life.
Hands-on science and mathematics experiments brought curiosity to the forefront. Children designed their own weighing scales using buckets, string and hangers, predicting which objects were heavier and testing their guesses. Clay weights added an extra challenge as they learned to balance the scales, requiring patience and resilience. Volume experiments with muesli, ice and water gave children insight into how different objects occupy space, sparking thoughtful conversations about measurement and observation. Creative spaces such as the sticky-note scientist station and block city building area encouraged problem-solving, collaboration and imaginative design.
The week concluded with a celebration of stories and imagination for World Book Day. Children dressed up as their favourite characters, from Tigers and George from Peppa Pig to Spiderman, exploring a wide variety of costumes. They also enjoyed creating colourful Elmer collages, layering paper and glue to decorate their patchwork elephants, combining creativity with fine motor practice and self-expression. Laughter, storytelling and shared joy filled the forest, highlighting the sense of community that has grown throughout the week.
This week has truly captured the spirit of early spring: curiosity, growth and joyful discovery. From colourful art and imaginative play to hands-on maths and science, the children have shown resilience, creativity and confidence at every turn. We look forward to more adventures in the forest, full of learning, laughter and new beginnings. 🌿✨
Little Forest Folk
Putney Heath