Forest School at Haslingfield School provides the children in Cherry Tree class opportunities to learn through experience in a natural outdoor setting. They work in a practical way to develop their self-esteem and confidence and foster a sense of awe, wonder and respect in the natural world.
Forest School aims to look at the child in a holistic way, developing emotional intelligence. (children’s self-awareness. self-regulation, social skills, empathy and self-motivation)
The children are encouraged to be curious, fascinated, interested and inventive in the world around them. It is based on a children's right to play and the freedom to meet challenges and learn to handle risk.
Children to develop personal and social skills, work through practical problems and challenges and develop an ability to review and reflect on their learning.
They use tools to create, build or manage and develop practical skills that improve physical motor skills and build confidence in decision making and evaluating risks.
The connection between ourselves and nature are explored, this supports the understanding of the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle and fosters a lifelong respect and love of the world around them.
Children are allowed time to pursue knowledge that interests them, which results in greater motivation and improved concentration skills.
The Fire Circle
The fire circle is a place to meet, a place to talk, a place to learn, a place to share, and a place to reflect. The campfire gives up warmth and cooks things for us to eat.
We are learning to be safe near the fire. We can only go in the fire circle if we are invited. We use the 'respect' position. One knee up and one knee down and wear a protective glove.
We learn about the trees in our Forest
We can learn their names and how to identify them even in the winter when they don't have leaves.
Here are some tree twigs in our classroom.
We watched them carefully and saw some changes. The buds opened. The catkins and pussy willows made pollen. Some leaves started to emerge.
Willow, ash, alder and horse chestnut.
We are learning to use tools.
Using saws to cut wood. Can you see the glove on our helper hand?
We learn a 'tools talk' for the tools we use. There are actions to go with the talk.
- This my saw
- This is the handle
- This is the blade
- This is the cutting edge
- I stand with my saw like this
- I walk with my saw like this
- I only use my saw when I am this far away from anyone else
- I always use a glove on my helper hand
- I always use a bare hand on the saw
- When I have finished I put the saw away in the tool bucket
We learn to use peelers to whittle sticks.
Can you see our whittled sticks hanging in the tree?