What a wonderful week we have had in the forest! Despite the rain showers greeting us at the start of the week, our adventurous spirits remained undampened. Rainy days bring a special kind of magic to our woodland home, and the children embraced every moment, splashing in puddles, investigating the flow of water, and discovering the endless possibilities of water play.
Puddle Play and Water Explorations
The start of the week saw heavy rainfall, turning parts of our forest into a watery wonderland. This was a perfect opportunity for the children to engage in sensory water play, from jumping in puddles to creating little rivers and building bridges over it.
With all this active play, we made sure to warm up with delicious hot drinks, wrapping chilly hands around cups of hot milk.
Adventuring Through the Forest
To keep our bodies moving and spirits high, we went on adventure walks. The children led the way, climbing over logs, balancing on fallen trees, and following winding trails through the undergrowth. We talked about how the rain changed our surroundings—how the leaves glistened, the earth smelled richer, and the sounds of the forest became softer with the patter of raindrops on the canopy above.
These adventures not only allowed the children to develop their physical skills, such as climbing, balancing, and navigating different terrains, but also encouraged problem-solving and teamwork. Working together to cross a particularly muddy patch or find the best route up a slope helped strengthen their social and communication skills.
Exploring the Senses: Smell and Sight
This week, we continued our journey into the world of the senses, focusing on smell and sight. The children took turns describing what they could smell—damp earth, fresh pine, mud. We collected different natural items to investigate further, rubbing leaves between our fingers to release their fragrance and comparing the scents of bark, moss, and flowers.
Spice Exploration
One of the highlights of our sensory exploration was our spice investigation. We introduced the children to a selection of aromatic spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. They took turns smelling each one, describing what they reminded them of—some said cinnamon smelled like warm biscuits, while nutmeg reminded others of baking with their families. We also talked about where these spices come from, tracing their journey from trees and seeds to the jars in our kitchens. This led to a wonderful discussion about how people all over the world use different ingredients in their cooking.
Wild Cooking: Chopping, Measuring, and Tasting
Our wild cooking sessions were a fantastic opportunity to practise fine motor skills and mathematical thinking. The children helped chop fruits, measure ingredients, and stir mixtures, using real tools and developing their confidence in handling them safely. Cooking in the wild is always an exciting challenge, and the children took great pride in their contributions.
Celebrating Chinese New Year
As part of our celebrations for Chinese New Year, we immersed ourselves in the rich traditions and stories of this vibrant festival. We read folk tales about the origins of the zodiac animals, sparking lively discussions about the different characteristics of each one. The children were fascinated by the story of the Great Race, where the animals competed to cross a river, each one using its unique skills to reach the other side.
We also explored the art of Chinese calligraphy, learning how to write some Chinese characters for numbers and letters. Using paintbrushes and water on large sheets of paper, the children practised forming careful strokes, developing their hand-eye coordination and learning about the meaning behind each symbol.
What a great week, we hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Little Forest Folk
Chiswick