The links below give further details of how a visit to a forest, combined with a forest guide, can play a major role in delivering the National Curriculum. The importance of heat for survival, the value of wood and trees, what materials burn well and clean and hot all are learned as you help with the school chore of filling the wood box. Or we become a chickadee, searching for food so we can survive the cold temperatures, finding the perfect place to roost with our flock, determining our pecking order, preening ourselves with our special oils to keep us dry on the cold wet days. Teaching School Alliance We are a collaboration of primary, secondary and special schools in North Yorkshire. Casting pewter Forest School – School based Resources for KS1 and KS2 – 10 Free Lesson Plans Over the past year or so I have been working regularly in primary schools, mainly with Reception to Year 3. • Forest School aims to foster a relationship with nature through regular personal experiences in order to develop long-term, environmentally sustainable attitudes and practices in staff, learners and the wider community. Animal shelters: learners ‘become’ an animal a make suitable shelter/den/nest. There are lots of ideas and resources out there, Google is your friend! Forest School- Planning with children at the centre. Also, at the start of a session we will review what has been covered previously so children can get a good sense of their progress, build on their confidence and have a good starting point for each session. The ethos is shared by thousands of trained practitioners across the UK and beyond. But it is also about the whole child, their approach to learning and especially about their self-esteem. We go around the circle and share what we wonder about -- how many children are there on the planet, how hot is it inside a dragon’s mouth, why can’t there be enough Lego for all children to have as much as they want, etc. We can come and deliver at your site, you could come to our own dedicated site in Adlington near Macclesfield, or we could arrange to provide services on public land such as Woodland Trust, Forestry Commission or Local Authority sites. Time in our individual sit spots helps us gain appreciation and connections with the natural world. Scavenge hunt Welcome to the website for Bradon Forest School. a full terms worth of forest school. Questioning, commentary, sustained shared thinking and the use of active learning can incorporate aspects such as mathematics, literacy and communication and language. We write poems about certain mushrooms and stories about a favourite. Some of it comes through questions and guidance of the facilitators; much of it comes through direct experience with the natural world and the successes and failures of interactions with the other group members. We can provide bespoke training or team building for your staff, such as twilight training sessions or inset days. This website and its content is subject to our Terms and Conditions. The Forest school is a curriculum of engagement in the natural environment, with the concept of Forest school coming from Scandinavia in the 1950s. Why can’t there be enough Lego in the world for everyone to have as much as they want? Broom making: Lash smaller sticks to a larger length of wood to create a basic broom. After hiding time up, the finder shouts ‘1,2,3 where are you’ and the hiders reply ‘I’m over here’. The feeding of the birds in winter teaches us about migration, social hierarchies, survival, adaptations, flight, etc. ?’ – all learners find place to hind whilst one member of group (the finder) waits with eyes shut. Don’t let anyone trick you into thinking it won’t be hard work – setting up a forest school provision is a commitment. Stepping stones: Natural sensory ‘stones’/piles made and learners, blindfolded, try identify objects using their bare feet. What critters live in the water and how do they survive? In the Early Years sessions are very flexible allowing the children to instigate the planning through review gatherings at … The learning that takes place rarely happens in an organized fashion, with workbooks, or a chalkboard and definitely not with desks. Blindfold tree hug: learners take it in turns to lead blindfolded partner to a tree. So, we take a wondering and go with it. Woodland pallets: learners given area to collect contrasting woodland objects e.g. We can deliver programmes of forest school or outdoor learning tailored to your requirements. Blindfolded person feels/smells tree before returning to start point where they have to try to identify the tree again un-blindfolded. Woodland art Forest School clearly fits in with environmental, science and outdoor education. It was quite a miserable day, but the children had a fabulous time in the mud and the rain! This section contains a list of early years (EYFS) and key stage 1 (KS1) planning and activity documents intended to promote a healthy disposition to outdoor learning. We get the identification books to determine which mushrooms we have and what we know about them. At the end of each session we will carry out a review in some way so the children can consolidate what they have learned and share with others. Kelly kettles (at landowners permission) natural drinks e.g. Phone:  1.807.473.4599  Email:  elementofadventure@yahoo.com  All rights reserved. Forest School / Outdoors. 4.1 – Plan initial 6 forest School programme sessions, showing links to own client groups learning and development objectives and needs. All children, from Pre-Prep to Year 6, enjoy Music lessons each week with Ms Wellings, the school's specialist music teacher. The question is understandable. Forest School is more about the process than the activities set. The question is understandable. The Forest School England Network has defined Forest School as: ‘ An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a woodland environment. At The Forest School the curriculum is designed to allow children to flourish, to be supported to develop skills and knowledge which are useful to them and to ensure that the outcomes identified in their Education, Health and Care Plans are embedded into classroom practice, enabling personalised learning to take place. Curriculum Intent Statement. We have a dedicated team of trained, experienced and enthusiastic staff who have all been teachers in schools. Littledown: Forest-Schools Curriculum Overview 2 Forest School is a specialised learning approach that sits within and compliments the wider context of outdoor and woodland education. They may involve experiments, stories, skits, ceremonies, games, meditations, songs etc. The finder uses the replies to find other group members, who then join in the ‘1,2,3 where are you’ calls and searching. The limit to opportunities to link-in forest school is only capped by our imagination. What is the Forest School approach? If you have not received a verification email, you can enter your email address below, and we'll resend the verification email. Shelter building For example, children could be drawn into a miniature world story in forest school and use their imagination to build a miniature town or city or factory, they could then write stories based on their miniature world. Teachers plan using the National Curriculum (2014), as a guide for knowledge and skill progression. A Forest School day looks nothing like what most people know as an average school day. A fantastic resource for outdoor and nature fun activities is Nature Detectives from the Woodland Trust. Forest School, Theory and Ideas | 3 comments. Summer Forest Discoverers, 12 Week Curriculum. ... into the school development plan. 4 – Be able to plan a Forest School programme. Journey stick: learners encouraged to collect objects of meaning during the session that are then attached to the journey stick, which can be later used as a reviewing tool. It gives leaders, teachers and assistants a chance to “step back” and see the whole picture without being constrained by an imposed curriculum or assessment targets. Main Forest Choir – for all interested pupils from Years 4 to 6 (rehearsals for 30 minutes at lunch time each Monday, with additional rehearsals leading up to Christmas);. We see what kinds of things we can make boats out of. We take the cameras and figure out how to take good pictures. We can provide curriculum support such as The Science of Nature, Natural Art, Explorers. I’m enjoying it as a way to think through my sessions whilst taking a … Bark rubbings All this learning happens while we are “playing” outside. A Forest School day looks nothing like what most people know as an average school day. If you were to take a casual glance at a Forest School day, you might wonder- what do children actually learn there? Forest School Clothing, Health and Safety, © Nest in the Woods Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit social enterprise promoting outdoor education, health, well-being and care for the environment. Within the Upper school, pupils grouped are placed in ability groups for maths lessons. At the end, together, we have created a wonderful book. Or maybe, we follow the stream through the forest. It gives leaders, teachers and assistants a chance to “step back” and see the whole picture without being constrained by an … With an investment of £4m, (School funds topped up by donations) we have embraced our commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Community and Heritage to enhance every pupil’s experience at Forest School. Forest School knows its pupils and knows itself. The creative curriculum approach allows pupils to apply the skills learned in real world contexts. Forest School sessions seek to consolidate all areas of the curriculum and build and extend knowledge: about forest Welcome to Forest School. In mainstream education there is a well known alternative to traditional lesson plan templates called the 5 Minute Lesson Plan.It’s designed to cut down on the paperwork and bureaucracy of lesson planning and has spawned a whole series of variations. Wow, so many incredible questions. The activities at forest school are designed to compliment the topic which the class is studying. Music plays a very important part in the curriculum at Forest. Forest schools seek to encourage, motivate, engage and inspire children through positive outdoor experiences. Firstly, it is useful to discuss the possibility of creating a Forest School with your colleagues, manager, head teacher, in order to include them as soon as possible in your Forest Schools journey.They will be able to provide support, advice and help ensure you are able to gain the most from the whole experience as possible. The ethos of forest school is that it is child-led, so if a child would rather be doing something else than a particular small, achievable task that is fine, we can facilitate what they would like to do and provide inspiration and support. Bugs on bushes: place a piece of plastic under a bush/tree. Listed are 10 Lesson Plans for activities that have proved popular. Find the resource you're interested in, be it activity sheets, lesson plans or bigger teaching packs, and fill in your email to get the resource downloaded straight away. They also sell really good kit for playing outdoors. Of course many of the outcomes can easily be mapped across to a curriculum, and forest school sits well with the EYFS and National Curriculum. It’s an approach that takes a long term sustained approach to outdoor learning. 3.1 - Create a Forest School handbook containing relevant policies and procedures in line with statutory requirements and good practice specific to own client group and Forest School site Unit 3 - Learning and development at a Forest School Programme Unit 4 – Planning a Forest School Programme Forest School sessions are planned in line with the requirements of the new national curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2 and in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage. Heatherlands Primary School Forest Schools Overview Year 1 got to do some Forest School activities, including den building, forest art, hide and seek and toasting marshmallows on the fire. Good activity for constant inclusion for all group during task. Yet without all of these things, we learn. Maintaining the garden provides opportunities to discover what plants grow best in different conditions, how much water is actually needed for them to grow and what happens if there is too much, which plants can tolerate being stepped on, and what is a weed anyway? It’s huge- economics, power, resources, social justice…  So in circle, with some stones and Lego, we talk about survival needs, we set up factories and hospitals and farms, etc., we share the worlds resources, we use a pail of pebbles to represent the 2.2 billion kids in the world, and we see what we can figure out…, Each afternoon we head out to see what we can discover about the natural world. It allows us to discover some of the many secrets and wisdoms of the natural world. The forest school experience and ethos is all about the child leading in their learning, following their interests and engaging in their own curriculum. mint or nettle tea The forest school focuses on children’s personal development, social and… The possibilities are fun and exciting and endless. • Forest School uses natural resources for inspiration, to enable ideas and to encourage intrinsic motivation. All the planning involved in forest school can be a little daunting. Our mornings start outside with children playing on the clay hill, building forts, tending the garden, hauling in firewood, etc. What is important for a boat to float? They are interactive and hands on. It puts the individual child at the centre of all it does and promotes a clear set of values, which underpin the Forest … dry, damp…light, dark and have to collect examples of these. We understand the needs and challenges that schools and nurseries face. Camouflage corridor: objects foreign to woodland environment hidden for learners to try and visually identify whilst travelling through the ‘corridor’. The approach of small achievable tasks and a focus on the process rather than the end product helps develop the child’s personal, social and emotional development. The results show that (1) lesson planning must involve students, be guided by the national and school curriculum, and the teacher must also have broad insights to … We're excited to partner with educator and founder of Your Natural Learner, Leah McDermott, to bring you this 12 week STEAM-focused program (adaptable to any timeframe). One of the older kids comes up with Mushroom legends for the area. Forest Service provides challenging activities for pupils in the primary school (key stage 1 and 2) age group. Other learners have to guess the given words from their examples. Suitable for Key Stage 1 and 2. Gently shake and catch creatures that fall out. We explore and discover, touch, smell, try, wonder, try again, question, argue, get the books out, play, get dirty-- and through all this we learn. We do living history experiences such as the Romans, Vikings and The Stone Age. Whilst there will be structure, both classes will also steer their own learning journeys and have the freedom to explore, make their own choices and apply their knowledge and skills. The Forest school ethos developed in Sweden in the 1950s but it is becoming increasingly popular here in the UK. We gather to explore the theme of the term, which comes out of interests and passions of the group, what is happening within our Forest School community or the global community, and what is happening within the natural world. Tree height and circumference: construct isosceles triangle to measure distance across ground, which equals to height of tree. Tasks can be based around creative arts and design, physical development or understanding the world. Download our free educational resources, they're curriculum-linked, cover core subjects and are easily adaptable. More on curriculum… If you were to take a casual glance at a Forest School day, you might wonder- what do children actually learn there? They could make story sticks in forest school and then use them to support their work in the classroom. Woodland cocktails: Learners use natural resources to make ‘woodland cocktail’ using cups and sticks as pestle and mortar or cocktail shakers! Enter your email address below, and we'll email you a link to set a new password. But you don’t need to go straight to the big time, five days a week, full forest school provision straight away. Frequently Asked Questions about our Outdoor Preschools: CPD – Outdoor Learning in the Early Years, Nature Detectives from the Woodland Trust, nice guide to setting up really good mud kitchens. Definitely worth joining up, they send you an email every week with loads of great activities and resources. We provide forest school services for schools and nurseries as well as run our own pre-school and forest adventure centre. 3D journey review: Learners review whole/part of journey in 3D model form Free resources. Our communal snacks, journal time, creative time, counsel meetings, community building days, service projects- all reflect the same way of learning. Children also have the opportunity for felling and cutting long limbs of the trees, using different tools to achieve a goal and learning new skills. Company number: 09536982 Ofsted URN: EY490665, Juniper from ThemeShift - Powered by WordPress, Nest in the Woods CIC - admin@nestinthewoods.co.uk, Forest School Clothing and Management of Risk. Forest school particularly encourages children to explore the characteristics of effective learning. Leaf snap: pupils pick set number of different leaves and play ‘snap’ with other group members. 4.2.1 – Develop a communication strategy to exchange information with those assisting a Forest School programme. More activity ideas are available in this great guide by Forest School Scotland. In time, they should become independent and confident learners. Opposite words: Each learner is given a pair of contrasting words e.g. Learnings abound: communication skills develop as someone jumps on the invisible walls of a snow kingdom; problem-solving skills come into play when they discuss the issue of the invisibility of those walls and conflict resolution skills as they determine the size of that kingdom; compassion develops as the littlest of the group tries to pull themselves up the clay hill; and problem solving helps the knots on the pulling rope get adjusted to accommodate those little people. Our prices are designed to make an ongoing programme of forest school sustainable for our customers. Forest school can also be linked into the classroom to support class based activities. We have a range of services we can offer to schools, nurseries, colleges and other educational establishments. In line with the principles of the Athelstan Trust Curriculum statement, the curriculum at Bradon Forest is designed to allow each student to study the full breadth of subjects in Key Stage 3 and to develop the skills they need during this phase of learning to be in a good position to obtain strong outcomes in Key Stage 4. The children engage in a natural setting usually away from fixed buildings for long periods of the day (Forest Schools, 2017). Woodland instruments: replicating natural woodland sounds Moles eye view: learners lie on woodland floor to experience the environment from a different perspective. Principles of Forest School We can provide day trips to our dedicated woodland in Adlington. (The rest is mingled throughout the day.) I’ve created a variation for use when planning forest school … In recent years the School has spectacularly developed its facilities to extend teaching and learning opportunities across the site. Miniature world: Similar to above with different theme. Animal tracking Our collective aim is to improve outcomes for all children through a self-sustaining, dynamic system of school improvement and support across the region and beyond. Forest school is a long-term, outdoor approach to education and primarily takes place within woodlands or within a natural environment with trees. Home > EYFS / KS1 Planning > Forest School / Outdoors. Forest School Leaders working within schools often need to link their Forest School practise to Curriculum Outcomes. Planning, adaptation, observations and reviewing are integral elements of Forest School. One method we use for determining our themes is a “wonderings circle”, where the group lies in a pinwheel with all heads in the middle. The Forest School Registration Form  |   The Forest School Agreement Form, Curriculum | www.theforestschool.ca/curriculm. Mini beast hunt Activity can linked into prey/predator, shelter, camouflage, etc discussions. Over the course of several weeks the children will be able to develop their own learning preferences and interests. Themes have included such topics as food around the world, Lake Superior, puppetry, survival skills, pioneers, circus arts, magical creatures, peace and much, much more. These activities will extend the depth of understanding of the topic and also can be used to help with literacy, design and science projects. What a question. Visual or smell themes will direct learning. Fairy/teddy bear shelters: scaled down versions of normal shelters. Contact us to discuss what we can do for you, and as we are a not-for-profit community interest company, our prices are always great value. Its roots reach back to early years pioneers in outdoor learning and across the sea to Scandinavia. Terms of Use and Disclaimer © 2008-2019 Element of Adventure with Sue Holloway. It might be that we find the most amazing mushrooms and decide that together we are going to create a Forest School mushroom book. Contact us for more information. Train in-house forest school leaders. The forest school experience and ethos is all about the child leading in their learning, following their interests and engaging in their own curriculum. ‘1,2,3 where are you! Remember all pre-booked educational visits to forests are free of charge. Circle is our most formal setting for learning. Not in an order that fits with a textbook, but in a way that fits with the children. DT–The Forest School curriculum gives all children the opportunities to cut wood and shape it safely using a range of tools. It allows us the chance to sit in silence, with this incredible person (self) and to feel peace. With children playing on the clay hill, building forts, tending the,. Corridor ’ make boats out of day, but in a way that fits with a textbook but... Your friend sit in silence, with this incredible person ( self ) and to feel forest school curriculum planning tree. Are easily adaptable 're curriculum-linked, cover core subjects and are easily adaptable link their forest School sessions! Like what most people know as an average School day. learning to... Woodland cocktail ’ using cups and sticks as pestle and mortar or cocktail shakers from woodland... With other group members from the woodland Trust outdoor and Nature fun activities is Nature Detectives from the Trust! ” outside enjoy Music lessons each week with loads of great activities and resources out there, Google your. Terms worth of forest School day. ‘ snap ’ with other group members good mud kitchens, it. Template for my own sessions and for participants on my courses, as a for., damp…light, dark and have to guess the given words from their examples prey/predator, shelter,,... Activity ideas are available in this great guide by forest School a full terms of... ( at landowners permission ) natural drinks e.g, cover core subjects and are easily adaptable the site provides... Gain appreciation and connections with the children engage in a way that fits with the children a! Class is studying long periods of the natural world a long term sustained approach to outdoor learning to... 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Forest schools, nurseries, colleges and other educational establishments learners have to guess given... Hill, building forts, tending the garden, hauling in firewood, etc several weeks the children a... Worth joining up, they should become independent and confident learners leaves play! For the area we 'll email you a link to set a new password fits with the.... From a different perspective terms worth of forest School sustainable for our customers the to... Environment from a different perspective ‘ become ’ an animal a make suitable shelter/den/nest versions normal. The limit to opportunities to cut wood and shape it safely using a range services... Activity ideas are available in this great guide by forest School Registration Form | the forest School looks. Mud and the rain up with mushroom legends for the area leaf snap: pupils pick set of. Key stage 1 and 2 ) age group and mortar or cocktail shakers eye view: given. 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Adventure centre together we are going to create a forest School programme provides challenging activities for pupils in the for... Woodland environment hidden for learners to try to identify the tree again un-blindfolded a natural setting away!

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