Forest school At watton at stone
The Forest School Ethos
We are extremely lucky to have a great outdoor learning facilities on our school site. Forest School is a unique educational experience and process that offers children the opportunity to succeed and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland environment.
Outdoor Learning opportunities at Watton-at-Stone:
Forest School Club - runs on a weekly basis after school on Monday.
NO PENS DAY - every class visits the Forest School site on a termly basis. They children have been developing their tree identification skills, knot tying and creating art from nature.
PICS TO FOLLOW...
With all these wonderful green areas to work with, we have developed our curriculum to include as much outdoor learning as possible. When visiting the school, you might see children on a mini-beast hunt, doing orienteering across the curriculum, or many other exciting outdoor activities. All class teachers aim to teach 2 - 3 lessons per week outdoors as well as weekly P.E lessons too.
It is important that primary school children receive regular opportunities to carry out their learning in the outdoor area. It is essential for children to experience the outdoors as the physical activity can positively have an impact on their fine and gross motor development as well as encouraging them to be active and healthy. Spending time outside can also promote a sense of well-being and freedom. Learning outside the classroom allows children to interact with the natural world and offers them real life experiences such as the changing seasons and the changes in weather. Children learn to respect nature and can begin to understand the role humans play on the earth. It can encourage children to take risks and help with independent problem-solving. It enables children to be imaginative and supports children with being independent.
The outdoor area offers opportunities for children to explore space and help with those children who learn best through being active.
The Forest School concept originated in Denmark, originally aimed at preschool children, where it was found that children who had attended forest school then arrived at school with strong social and communication skills, having the ability to work in groups effectively, generally had high self-esteem and a confidence in their own abilities. These foundations helped them to raise their academic achievements. However, at Watton at Stone we promote the benefits of outdoor learning all through the school. The older children love it too!
A Forest School encourages children to:
- develop personal and social skills
- work through practical problems and challenges
- use tools to create, build or manage
- discover how they learn best
- pursue knowledge that interests them
- learn how to manage failures
- build confidence in decision making and evaluating risk
- develop practical skills
- understand the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle
- explore connections between humans, wildlife and the earth
- regularly experience achievement and success
- reflect on learning and experiences
- develop their language and communication skills
- improve physical motor skills
- become more motivated
- improve their concentration skills
Hawthorn Woods
Our Forest School at Watton at Stone takes place in Hawthorn Woods, a piece of land adjacent to the school. As the name suggests, there is an abundance of native Hawthorn trees in the woods, along with Ash, Sycamore, Field Maple, Oak and Beech trees. We always have our fair share of nettles and brambles and the children quickly learn the best places to explore and play. In the Spring we all look forward to seeing the magenta coloured cones develop on the Larch tree.
Forest School Websites
www.forestschoolassociation.org
Spotters Sheets
Out and about in Watton at Stone, then how about taking these Spotter sheets with you!
Things to Remember...
Whilst we know and understand that Forest School is not about giving the children a list of rules and regulations to follow, we are aware that there a few sensible Things to Remember when we are in the woods. The children are very adept at helping any new visitors learn these Things to Remember...
- Keep your hands out of your mouths and remember to wash your hands when we get back to school
- You can run around in Hawthorn Woods, but be aware that the ground is lumpy and bumpy. If you do fall over, pick yourself up and brush yourself down!
- There are lots of brambles and nettles in Hawthorn woods - so, only squeeze into a space if you can get out again!
- Moving sticks and branches thicker than your arm - then they need to be dragged along. Remember to check sticks etc. before picking them up; they might be thorny!
- Only climb trees if an adult is present and remember 3 bits (2 hands, one leg or two legs, one hand) of you on the tree at any one time. Feet can go as high as the adults head - so choose your adult carefully!
- And most importantly....have fun!