Created on: 22 Dec 2020 | Last modified: 10 Apr 2024
HWB Focus: Mental and Emotional HWB, Relationships, Food and Health
Week 1
Either on a class walk or if using blended or remote learning, perhaps on a family walk, encourage the children to find as many different leaves (and depending on the time of year, petals and blossoms) as they can from different trees and bushes. This blossom and tree ID Kit will help them to identify the different trees in their area - https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/tree-id-kids/
Why not use what they have found to experiment with the Japanese art of Hapa-Zome? All they will need is leaves, berries and flowers and some material. The idea is to press the colour from nature to create beautiful patterns on the cloth. For more detailed instructions, you can access this website - https://outdoorclassroomday.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/The-japanese-art-of-hapa-zome-Final-version.pdf
Alternatively, they could do some flower or leaf pressings and make their own beautiful pastel pictures, cards or gifts - https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-press-flowers.html or https://www.redtedart.com/how-to-press-flowers/.
Encourage the children to keep the outdoor theme going and to build their own den, using a range of natural resources or alternatively some sheets and pegs. If the weather isn’t so good, they could still build a den indoors. What magical space will they create and how will they decorate it? Let their imaginations run wild. If they are building these dens outwith school, ask them to take pictures and share their creations with you…For some tips on den building, these websites might help - https://www.playfulchildhoods.wales/top-tips-for-dens-at-home or https://youtu.be/t8lkpoD7hTE or https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/10/how-to-build-a-den/
When they have built their den, the children might enjoy listening to the sounds round about them. If they lie quietly in the den, what can they hear? Can they use everyday objects to recreate those sounds and make a sound journey or even some music of their own from these objects? These websites might help with some ideas of what can help - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zgfwhyc or https://arts.onehowto.com/article/how-to-make-musical-instruments-at-home-334.html or http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activities/pdfs/pdf_woodland_wind_chimes.pdf
Maybe the children would like to listen to the poem, ‘What is Pink?’ by Christina Rossetti – you can read it here - https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/what-is-pink/ or https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/poetry-what-is-pink-by-christina-rossetti-11206302 or listen to it being read here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z74n6v4/articles/zv7qwty
Invite the children to create their own poem using the same format as ‘What is Pink?’. Instead of writing on paper, the children might want to become Pebble Poets and write their poems on stones. Here are some examples of Pebble Poetry - http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activities/pdfs/pdf_pebble_poems.pdf or https://unsplash.com/s/photos/pebble-bee-kind or https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/uploads/store/mediaupload/2463/file/How%20to%20make%20poetry%20stones.pdf
Week 2
Recap on their Pebble Poems from last week. This week we are going to continue with the outdoor learning theme and using natural resources.
Why not start the children off by looking at the trees that they discovered in their local area last week? Using their blossom and tree ID kit (https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/tree-id-kids/), which type of tree is the tallest and widest they can find?
Can the children work out the height of the tallest tree without a tape measure, ladder or even a trampoline? Here is a fun way they can do it and all they will need is a stick and one other person from their family - https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/outdoor-learning-with-trees . Ask the children to compare notes and see who can find the tallest tree in the land. Maybe ask them to take a picture and bring it into school or send it in, if remote learning is in place.
As an extension activity, the children can look for trees which have been cut or blown down. By counting the rings on the trunk, can they work out the age of the tree? For more information, this website might help - https://mocomi.com/age-of-a-tree/ They may also want to do some bark rubbing.
Now introduce the children to Enid Bylton’s ‘Magic Faraway Tree’. The children might like to read or listen to the book over the next few weeks. The audiobook book can be accessed here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuwyvYR_qqw . As a little taster, they could listen to this audio-clip of one chapter, where the children explore ‘The Land of Topsy Turvy’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF_UeQjhVXs. Alternatively, the children might want to watch this short video clip of ‘The Land of Spells’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEomYrVy-k
Ask the children what would be at the top of their Magic Faraway Tree? What sort of world would they like to find? Invite the children to share their world with you, in any way they choose. This might be by audio clip, a video, a dance (if in accordance with public health guidance in place at the time), drawing or painting or a story. Why not create a class novel to rival Enid Blyton’s bestseller!
Time to continue the magic. Last week the children had fun building their dens. Why not see if they can build a home for a woodland elf or fairy? This website might give them some ideas to get started - http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activities/pdfs/pdf_elf_houses.pdf
The children might now like to make their own magic potions, using natural resources from the school garden or their garden, park or a local wood. What magic will their potions bring? All they will need is a jar with some water, a stick to mix their ingredients and a magic spell! Ideas for a spell can be found here - http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activities/pdfs/pdf_woodland_potions.pdf or perhaps the children could make up their own rhyming spell! For an extra touch of magic, don’t forget their wand. Here are some tips to create a colourful wand from a wooden stick - http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activities/pdfs/pdf_magic_wand.pdf
If the children would like to experiment with magic potions indoors, this website provides some ideas to extend the learning and even make Rainbow Potions - https://redtri.com/pretend-magic-potions-kids-can-make/slide/1
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