Issue 2 – Volume 1 w/c 14th November 2016

Word from the WoodsWritten by Gillie Gorse and Jo Jasmine, Forest School Practitioners

Issue 2 – Volume 1 w/c 14th November 2016

The benefits of frustration…..Many children at Forest School this week felt frustrated when the task they were presented with was hard. We explained that it was given for that very reason. One boy really struck a chord. He is a very capable child both academically and in most areas, so I can imagine the feeling of frustration is not something he often experiences. I explained that there are some of his classmates that feel this as routine in class when they do their writing, reading etc. We encouraged him to persevere because of what he would learn from it. Our children will come across other things in life, potentially even academically, where they will remember the experience and it will help him to ‘keep at it’ instead of giving up. There are many enjoyable experiences that are not within our natural abilities but with perseverance we can find enjoyment from many things. If we only ever do the things that come easy, we will not grow as individuals in the breadth of our abilities.

Issue 2 – Volume 1 w/c 14th November 2016

Word from the WoodsWritten by Gillie Gorse and Jo Jasmine, Forest School Practitioners

What’s been happening…..After our traditional name game, with actions, and the greeting of our King Tree the children were set a challenge which many found difficult and only a few found easy. We set them the challenge of creating leaf crowns. This involves using dry grass or other fine plant material as ‘jabbers/pins’ to hold the leaves together. Working in an add-on fashion such as when you make daisy chains, they produce a crown. The children learned that the use of big leaves produces a much quicker result. Some decided that producing an intricate or symmetrical effect was more satisfying. Most children got there in the end and for those that didn’t we emphasised that there was more learned from the process of making it than producing a final product.

There were a few children throughout the year groups that took a very methodical approach to the task. All their materials were collected at the

outset and a working station was set up. In general these children ended up being successful in the task.

There were also a few children who relied on their more capable friends (at this task) to complete the task for them. Nicely though when challenged if they had done it themselves they were honest and said no. Does this sort of thing not happen in life too?

Child’s Voice“This isn’t going to plan.”

“I don’t think today is a climbing day.”- a child said on finding that the tree was wet.

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I’m so proud!

Issue 2 – Volume 1 w/c 14th November 2016

“I am a great leaf collector!”

“This is too difficult.”