Welcome to Ellwood Community Primary School

Curriculum

Forest Adventures

Mrs Gail Rees

PPA cover teacher
g.rees@ellwood.gloucs.sch.uk

I qualified as a teacher in 1994 with a BEd. Art. I taught in Chippenham before moving to the Forest of Dean in 2005 where my 4 children attended Ellwood Primary. Having set up and run the garden for many years I am a Level 3 Forest School Leader.
Click on the documents below to see the photos. Scroll down to see old photos of past groups.

FS school curriculum strand links

Progression of Skills Ellwood.pdf

Evidence_Beech_2020_website.pdf

Evidence Chestnut Autumn 2020.pdf

Evidence Willow Autumn 2020 .pdf

Evidence Sycamore 2020 + Vikings pdf

Evidence Beech 2020 second sessions.pdf

Evidence Sycamore 2021.pdf

Evidence Willow 2021.pdf

Chestnut Class 2022 read 'Bears Winter House' and the children made mini dens

We worked on the school site

The children loved making larger dens out in the local forest.

Great fun and challenge was had climbing a newly fallen oak tree.

Another fabulous time in our amazing surrounds. We walked to the old quarry and found materials produced in the Forest of Dean.

Spotting plants on the way to the quarry

Finding hidden items

Feeling and guessing items before unwrapping

Discussing the wool, wood, iron, coal and stone.

Thinking about what these raw materials can be used for.

Chestnut enjoyed 5 more sessions where we explored British Flora and fauna.

Week one onsite making mini dens for an animal.

Our shelter over the log circle.

Week 2 making larger dens up at the log circle.

Lots of tree climbing on the fallen oaks.

Bird spotter sheet

Observing the roots and soil type around them

Week 3 we walked to the old quarry spotting native plants on the way.

We searched form hidden packages and in teams found one of each colour negotiating with other teams until everyone had all 6

We guessed what was inside and then opened them.

We found wood, iron, coal, charcoal, stone and wool all materials found in the Forest of Dean.

We played 'Tinyaki' also known as 40:40

We drew with charcoal.

Finally we walked to another part of the woods and had some free time to run and play.

Week 5 we made a fire and put in a tin of willow sticks to make charcoal.

We played 'Tinyaki' again in a different environment.

Some whittled sticks to toast marshmallows.

Some creative stick people were made.

Toasting marshmallows

Stone sculptures

When we got back to school, the tin had cooled and we were amazed to find that the sticks had become charcoal.

Week 6 began with using the charcoal we made and it worked really well.

Whittling

Lots of expert whittlers in Beech Class.

Using a compass.

The Year 5 children have enjoyed a Spring Term of Forest Adventures. Here are some photos of the fun we have had whilst developing our self esteem, confidence and resilience.

Oak Class have been having their Forest Adventures on the school site so far this year but today was our first trip up to the log circle. We listened out for birds and spotted their nests on the way. Then we ran around and discovered all the hidden birds and finished with making our own nests and free play. We even had a Pterodactyl nest!!

Reception Classes first trip up to the log circle this year.

Introducing the 'Sculpture Stone'

It was a little rainy, but we didn't notice!

Making nests.

How many 'birds' can you fit in a nest?

"Little bugs have made the holes"

We spotted a pheasant in our neighbors garden

We visited he old quarry to find treasure and play games.

Creating a treasure trail for the Reception children to follow

Trying out some obstacle courses.

Forest School activities in the Spring of 2019 with Year 5. We worked on teamwork, resilience and raising self esteem. Here are just a few photos of what we did.

Our first session started with a challenge to work in teams to build the tallest or most attractive free standing tower.

The boys lashed three sticks together and the top is way up in the tree canopy.

In our second session we created our own settlement with shelter, fire and food.

Whittling sticks for marshmallows and baked apples.

There was also time for some cracking tree climbing.

The finished camp.

We split into three groups to experience different activities over two weeks.

Everyone managed to start a mini fire over the final two sessions.

We enjoyed flipping and eating drop pancakes.

the 'toxic waste challenge' involved moving a bucket from one place to another keeping at least 2 m away. Some great teamwork was needed.

Christmas tree willow weaving.

Willow weaving.

We also played games like Bat/Moth where we chatted about echo location and predator prey hide and seek.

More toxic waste challenge.

The Year 5s have thoroughly enjoyed our Forest Adventures. We have made fire, whittled sticks to roast marshmallows, made dens, created sling shots, played lots of team games and enjoyed finding out about the fantastic nature surrounding us in the forest. There have been plenty of opportunities for the children to choose activities and develop their self-esteem, resilience and confidence.

Teamwork moving logs to use as a seat.

We created sling shots and had great fun making improvements and target games.

Toasting marshmallows.

We will not be firing at people or with stones!

Sanding and whittling.

The Den kept us dry.

Making fire.

One of out games is 'Forest Fire'. We had to work together as a team to catch the 'animals'.

Pond dipping.

Creating Forest Stones.

We still love puddles!

Sawing a disc to create something special.

The whole group.

Another game. 'Mother Hen' protects eggs from the 'Cheeky Rat' who tries to steal them.

The Easter Bunny hid some eggs. We had to climb to get some of them.

Cracking hazel nuts while we chatted about how squirrels hide food which also helps to spread seeds.

Exploring seed dispersal with thistles.

Of course we made dens

We discussed what we need to make our own settlement. Shelter came first.

We had some fabulous 'Bake Off' creations

Whittling

We baked apples on the fire and toasted marshmallows using our whittled sticks

Super see-saw.

We visited the old quarry and found materials that come from the Forest of Dean.

The fairies moved in.

Lots of running around and hide and seek games.

Web challenge.

Fashion parade with elder beads, whittled sticks and wood cookies.

More creations

On our way back.

Autumn 2019 Beech Class have enjoyed 5 sessions in the forest.

4 sessions of Forest Adventure with the Year 6 in November and December 2019

On a more windy session we stayed at school and created a Willow seat.

The finished structure with all the people who helped. Let's hope it grows!

Sawing pegs to make an edge for the seat area.

A fantastic base camp complete with back off style 'food'. Lots of imagination and knots practice.

Using an axe to make enable the pegs to go easily into the soil.

Using a drill to add to our 'Rainbow Tree' artwork in the school garden.

Pond dipping and maintenance.

This group loved making dens!

Making fire and toasting marshmallows on the sticks we had whittled.

Whittling

Making fire.

More drilling for the 'Rainbow Tree'

Pleased with their creation.

The Reception children have been very interested in mini beasts in 2017. We have used the school grounds and local woods. We have observed mini beasts and created homes for them.

Curriculum

Forest Adventures

Mrs Gail Rees

PPA cover teacher