Flying the flags

It felt like spring today at forest school as we returned after half term.  The sun was out, it was warm and not dark when we finished.  After reminding ourselves of the forest school rules we had a round of the name animal game.  Most of the group went off to mulch the trees we planted at the end of term while three of the group helped build the fire for boiling the water for the hot chocolate.

Once back together we started making flags to decorate the forest school site.  Using charcoal to draw with, everyone drew pictures of their animals and used watered down clay as paint to added colour.  We threaded sticks through our flags and then using round turns and two half hitches we tied string to them so we could hang them in the trees.

After hot chocolate and biscuits we built two rope swings using our new climbing ropes.  Once again using our round turn and two half hitches (it’s a very handy knot) we fixed a piece of wood to one end of the rope and the other end was tied around the tree.

Next week there is no forest school because I’m off to Devon on a forest school course.  The following week we will be looking at knots and spending more time on the rope swings and building a rope walk between two trees.

Hot dogs and trowels

Last session of the term, which must mean a cook out.  Before we could cook we needed a fire, so while everybody else went is search of wood the three eldest children set to building.  Each child was sent to the wood store to find different lengths and thickness of wood.  When they returned to the fire pit they built a raft and then added newspaper and the matchstick size sticks crisscrossed on the top.  Then around the outside they built a giant tipi of pencil and thumb thick sticks.  I was not allowed to use matches today but told to get the fire steel out and with one spark the fire was alight and then promptly went out but it was soon roaring away after the initial false start.

While the hot dogs cooked and the water boiled for hot chocolate we went tree planting, not the easiest task as the ground was only just unfrozen but they were trees from the Queen to celebrate her jubilee. A sterling effort by everyone as they planted 60 trees one for each year of service and an extra one grown from an acorn from one of the oak trees in her garden.

Hot dogs eaten we started making toasting forks for marshmallows.  These forks are based on a Swedish design where you twist wire on to a stick ending up with two prongs.  Of course two prongs mean two marshmallows once these were eaten it was time to go.

Next term we are going to return to knots, as there has been a request for rope swings and we may have a go at making a rope bridge too.  Although it is snowing as I type this spring is just around the corner so we will also be planting some wildflowers into the Forest School site.  We might also make a wood and clay totem pole.

Behaviour Policy

I've been asked about what behaviour is exspected at Forest School so below is our policy taken from Tinderbox Forest School Hand Book.

Tinderbox aims to support children to:

• Develop self-esteem, independence and motivation to learn whilst always maintaining a safe environment.
• Develop in both children and adults a pride in their achievements.
• Develop awareness of acceptable and responsible behaviour in the outdoor environment.
• Promote respect for and care for the individual, those around them and the natural environment.
• Working together.

Tinderbox Forest School will show continuity in expectations of behaviour and behaviour management during Forest School sessions.

Tinderbox will promote positive behaviours through role modelling, positive reinforcement, verbal praise and the opportunity to undertake additional responsibility.

For the Forest School community to achieve these aims we all need to demonstrate a certain standard of behaviour through the following expectations:

The role of the Adults at Forest School

·        Create a positive environment that encourages and reinforces caring, nurturing and acceptable behaviour towards one another, the environment and the equipment.

·        Provide a positive role model for all in the Forest School.

·        Keep in mind that we need to be safe at all times.

·        Maximise individual success and raise self-esteem by placing at the centre of the Forest School the needs of the children such as learning styles, social and behavioural needs

·        Make sure that individuals know when they have done well.

      The role of the child

·        Listen carefully and respond to instructions and requests, especially those concerning safety.

·        Develop and maintain an acceptable attitude towards everyone at Forest School, the environment and all equipment.

Sanctions

When sanctions for inappropriate behaviour are need, the Forest School leader will ensure that the following steps are taken, escalating as required.

1.      Talk to the child in a calm manner and find out what caused the behaviour.

2.      Child is taken to one side and a verbal warning is given prompting them to think what is acceptable behaviour at Forest School.

3.      The child is given breathing and thinking time away from the main group (time out to calm down).  The child can return to the group once calm and will be supported to rejoin the activity.  

4.      If three lots of ‘thinking times’ occur during a session then the child will miss out on the next session.  A letter explaining what has happened will be sent to the parents and the head teacher will be copied in.

If the child’s actions have put themselves or others in danger the matter will be dealt with as follows:

·      The child’s emergency contact will be called and they will be asked to come and collect the child.

·      A letter will follow and be sent to the parents and the head teacher explaining what happened.

·      The child will miss the following Forest School session if the behaviour is deemed to have been very unsafe.

·      If the behaviour is deemed to be less severe, the child will be expected to produce a piece of work explaining why what they did was unsafe to bring to the following session.  Failure to turn up with the work and they will miss the following session.

·      In all cases the Forest School leader will complete an incident report. 

Week five or week Freezing!

The Forest School site sits in a Frost pocket so this afternoon the ground was rock hard and still white so we kept moving about as much as possible to keep warm.  The activities planned last week were shelved for another week and we played more active games, so instead of sitting around the fire pit we played sticky elbows to form a circle.  Sticky elbows is played by making a circle by touching the elbows of the people on either side of you, then touching knees and finally toes.  You end up with a circle of strange looking human ducks.  Once we had a nice circle to get warmed up we did some cross-brain training where you tap the knee with the opposite hand and then introduce elbows and knees and finally hands and heels its safe to say the kids are much better at this then the grown ups especially when you mix the actions up and start going fast.

Once warmed up, stick collecting came followed by a game of hide and seek.  We then started to weave hoops out of willow to play quoits.  The game was soon being adapted so that the stick we were throwing the hoops over had a defender who had an improvised bat to knock the hoops away with. 

After hot chocolate and biscuits served by the new catering team, some of the group, helped to tie down the tarp roof on our wood store so completing the project.  Next week we will start planning for next term with the kid’s ideas.

I have been asked about keeping warm on days like today and the best advice is layers.  So think base, mid and outer layers. Base layer long johns or tights and long sleeved tee shirt followed by jogging bottoms (avoid jeans they hold no heat and can cause chaffing when wet) and a fleece.  On the outside, waterproof trousers and a coat as well as a hat and gloves but avoid scarves as they can get in the way but a jersey buff will keep the neck warm.  On your feet wellies, with a couple of pairs of socks.