Year 1

Year 1 enjoyed a wonderful Forest School session this half-term, where we explored the world around us through our five senses. As we spent time outdoors, we slowed down, listened carefully and noticed the many sights, sounds, smells, textures and tastes that God created.

We used our sense of hearing, listening to the world around us through prayer. We took time to be still and quiet, appreciating the sounds of nature and reflecting on the beauty of God’s Creation. We then used our sense of smell to explore a variety of scents on cotton balls, thinking carefully about the different smells we could recognise.

Our sense of sight helped us to explore the colours of the natural world as we searched for things that matched the colours of the rainbow. We used our sense of touch to investigate different natural objects, finding things that matched our touch chart and describing how they felt. Finally, we enjoyed using our sense of taste with delicious hot chocolate and marshmallows!

 Year 2

On Tuesday 22nd September, Year 2 enjoyed a wonderful trip to Bridge Farm Allotments as part of their Forest School session. During the visit, the children harvested a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and explored the rich natural environment around them. This experience linked beautifully to our RE learning about God’s Creation and our responsibility to care for the world He has given us. 

As we explored the plants, animals, and habitats, we reflected on the wonder, beauty, and diversity of creation, recognising how each part of nature shows God’s love and creativity. Together, we discussed how God calls us to be stewards of Creation, caring for the environment and protecting the life it sustains. 

By spending time outdoors, learning where food comes from, and appreciating the natural world around us, the children gained a deeper understanding of the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Care for Creation and how they can live this out in their daily lives. 

Year 3

On Tuesday 29th September, Year 3 became palaeontologists in Forest School as they explored how fossils are formed. The children searched for hidden fossil cards, matched them to different fossil types, and worked in teams to sequence the stages of fossil formation. They also created their own fossil imprints using natural materials and enjoyed a mini dig, carefully excavating hidden bones and shells. It was a fun, hands-on session that brought their science learning to life. Of course, the afternoon was completed with toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate enjoyed together around the fire pit.

 

Year 4

On Tuesday 6th October, Year 4 enjoyed learning all about habitats and searching for invertebrates. We linked this to our RE learning about God’s Creation and our responsibility of stewardship. 

We used classification keys to identify new and unfamiliar invertebrates and we created observational drawings to learn more about the characteristics of creatures that we had found. We then went on a nature walk around the local area to look at positive and negative changes to habitats. 

We played team games, built dens and identified many different leaves and berries on our school site. We finished off our busy day with toasted marshmallows around the fire pit.

       

 

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Year 5 

On Tuesday 13th October, Year 5 continued their history learning by looking at how life today is still influenced by the Ancient Greeks.

The children learnt about the Olympics and explored how some words that originate from Ancient Greece can still be seen in the English language we use today. We looked at pottery designs from Ancient Greece and replicated these in our own clay designs. Using the Greek alphabet the children made their own  wood cookie.

They used a palm drill and practised using the knots they have learnt in previous sessions. The session ended with s'mores and hot chocolate around the fire. It was a lovely sunny afternoon!