What an action-packed and exciting week we’ve had in the forest! This week, we’ve been focusing on letters, writing, and phonics, as well as exploring music and percussion in creative ways. It’s also been Bird Watching Week, where the children have used special binoculars to spot different bird species and listen closely to their calls.
Our sense of the week was listening, and the children had so many opportunities to tune into the sounds of nature. They listened carefully to the different bird songs on our nature walks, including the distinct tapping of a woodpecker pecking against a tree! We also worked on balancing on logs, using a rope for support, which challenged the children to use their core strength and coordination.
From sawdust writing and homemade instruments to bird-spotting adventures and mud kitchen music, it’s been a week full of hands-on learning, exploration, and fun!
Sawdust Writing & Name Sounds ✍️🎶
We started our mornings with a sawdust writing activity, where the children searched for the first letter of their names in the alphabet and carefully traced it in sawdust and sand. This was a great way to practice letter recognition while engaging their senses and fine motor skills.
To add a rhythmic twist, we made lentil music shakers and used them to tap out the syllables in our names! The children had so much fun shaking, clapping, and singing along—some even turned it into a little dance!
Bird Watching Week: Spotting Wildlife with Binoculars 🦆🔭
This week has been all about birds! Armed with their new binoculars, the children set off on an adventure to spot different species in the park. They were thrilled to see grey herons and Canadian geese and loved observing how they moved, rested, and interacted with their surroundings.
We talked about how birds build their nests, the different colours and patterns on their feathers, and even flapped our arms to pretend to fly like them! A highlight of the week was hearing a woodpecker tapping on a tree. The children were fascinated by the sound and worked together to locate where it was coming from!
Nature Walk & Balancing Challenge 🌳🪵
During our adventure walk, the children not only spotted birds but also challenged themselves to balance on logs using a rope for support. This was a fantastic way to develop core strength, balance, and coordination. Some children worked together, helping their friends by offering a steady hand, while others tested how long they could balance without holding the rope at all!
Picnic Land: Writing & Letter Cookies 🍪✍️
At Picnic Land, we continued our letter-focused fun with shaving foam writing! The children eagerly spread the foam and practiced writing the first letter of their names—some even challenged themselves to spell out their full names.
The excitement didn’t stop there! Each child searched for a letter cookie that matched their name and proudly showed it off.
Hammock Adventures & Forest Play 🌳😃
Our hammock has been the ultimate spot for relaxation and play this week. The children took turns swinging, balancing, and creating their own little games—some even worked on their teamwork and coordination by gently pushing their friends.
We also had a blast rolling hula hoops back and forth, then running after them while pretending to be different animals—hopping like frogs, slithering like snakes, and sprinting like cheetahs!
Recycled Musical Instruments: Experimenting with Sound 🎵♻️
The forest was filled with music this week as the children created their own instruments using recycled materials! They experimented with different objects, noticing how some made high, tinkling sounds, while others produced deep, booming noises.
We explored how to play them in different ways—shaking, tapping, drumming—and discovered how sound changes depending on the material and how hard or soft we played. The children were fascinated by the process and even put on their own little forest concert!
Mud Kitchen Music & Magical Potions 🥄🪄
The mud kitchen was transformed into a music stage this week, with children using pots, pans, and spoons to create their own beats and rhythms. Some experimented with the volume of their sounds, playing softly like a whisper and then loudly like a drumroll.
Others got creative with potion-making, mixing leaves, petals, and mud to create magical brews. Some potions were for super speed, while others had special powers to help the trees grow taller—their imaginations ran wild!
Afternoon Adventures: Hide & Seek in Picnic Land 🌲🙈
Each afternoon, we headed to Picnic Land for some hide-and-seek and imaginative games. The children found clever hiding spots among the trees and giggled as their friends searched for them. Some transformed into explorers, adventurers, and forest animals, creating their own exciting stories as they played. Watching their creativity unfold was truly magical!
What a Wonderful Week!
It’s been an amazing week full of exploration, learning, and fun! From bird-watching and writing practice to music-making and imaginative play, the children have engaged in so many meaningful experiences. We can’t wait to see what adventures next week brings!
Little Forest Folk
Chiswick