Dream Weaving

The idea behind this weeks flash challenge is to pull together some of the children’s varied interests and increase their skillset. Creativity and rope work have been their key interests over the last term, so making dream catchers was the perfect way of meeting both these topics. Some children delighted in the decoration of their catchers, carefully choosing colour, comparing dreams and whether they wanted to catch bad ones or keep good ones safe. Others took a more practical approach and planned to replicate the knotting technique on a larger scale to create a spider crossing on their rope lines.

Once they moved into free play the children applied these skills if they desired. Some continued creating Tree Wardens from clay, these creatures are a particular delight to our younger children when they discover them hiding on the tree trunks.

Allowing the children time to develop and apply taught skills, in their own way, encourages personal development. We all learn in different ways therefore having time for experimentation and problem solving improves independence and self esteem. There is no failure in Forest School, no judgement, only positivity and freedom to grow.

During reflection children were shown a selection of spirit animal cards, could they choose an animal they felt represented how they felt about todays session. “A lion, because I need to be powerful to control the ropes” “A fox, because I needed to use my crafty brain to try and solve problems” ,”An eagle, because I felt free”.

6. Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for development and learning

Article 28 – We all have the right to a quality education.