Forest Schools
First the children relayed their names with an action. They are getting increasingly confident at doing this. They are now settled and familiar with the routine. Children like patterns and routines which help make them feel safe.
We introduced the game Creeping Comanchi by showing the children how to creep like a dear, silently so they can hide. We explored how to use our hands to make ‘dear ears’ which can change how we hear things. Alicia then became the guardian of the magic eggs (egg shakers). The children sat around her in a big circle. Each child had a turn to try to creep into the circle and steal an egg without being heard. Alicia, who was blindfolded, had to listen carefully and point towards the child if she detected them. This game develops the children’s awareness of each other, their concentration as well as the physical skills of moving silently. They will also have been developing strategies to transport the egg silently, so developing problem-solving skills.
Once the game was over the children could choose from a selection of activities to develop their fine motor skills, imagination and creativity. These included cutting circles from leaves, rolling clay into long sausages and making them into circles, either by joining the ends or by winding it into a spiral and making circles from willow which they could decorate. We also had a den, digging for treasure and an obstacle course.
We closed the session by asking the children to tell us who they had played with in Forest School, again increasing their awareness of each other.
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