What's going on in the Forest School?

This week in our Forest School session, the children learned through a creative story about goblins.  These creatures had created a wonderful village on our school field that was sadly flattened by a kind but terribly clumsy dragon.  We asked the children to think about how they could help the goblins.

The responses from the children were amazing.  Our Forest School activities are very much child led because this gives each child the opportunity to explore their own ideas, try different ways of doing things, express their own creativity and succeed for themselves.

The children naturally formed teams and set about making and recreating the goblin village.  This was done using only natural materials that the children could find.  They made villages, houses, castles and forts.  The children knew the goblins loved dancing so they made a dance floor.  They made sure that the goblins were comfortable so houses were full of soft furniture, beds and even decorated with flowers.  It didn’t stop there.  The children created play areas and parks for the goblins.

We were struck by the level of empathy the children showed for the goblins.  For example, they made a campfire to help them keep warm.

At the end of the session, the children loved sharing their creations and explaining what they had made.  Many of our sessions finish in this way so the children can reflect upon and share their achievements.