Forest School Activities

As we all know, getting outdoors in nature is more important than ever at the moment and multiple studies have proven the positive impact of nature on our wellbeing and on reducing anxiety. Each week Miss Wilkinson will post a new activity for you to complete whilst taking your daily exercise or some can be done in your back garden. If you want to share any of the outcomes of these activities, feel free to e mail: swilkinson@south-kilvington.n-yorks.sch.uk or share them with your class teacher on Seesaw.

​​​​​Ice sculptures

The weather forecast is turning colder this Sunday 7th Feb and early next week so hopefully you'll be able to create some ice sculptures! It's a really nice activity to experiment with, see what different results you get and the whole family can get involved. It also forces children to look really closely at the nature around them when finding things to put in your ice sculptures. Please share your results with your child's class teacher - we'd love to see them! Watch the video below on how to make them.

This weekend it is the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch!

Look out for our feathered friends at the moment. Now is the time of year that you may see a starling murmuration or you may hear a woodpecker tap, tap, tapping away in the hope of finding a mate! It is also time for the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch where people from all over the country count the birds and type of birds in their garden. To get involved, click on the following link: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

The RSPB website contains lots of ideas for attracting birds to your garden too. One way, at this time of year, is to create some bird food. Find out how here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/bird-feeder

Nature Challenge - scavenger hunt!

A really easy challenge to complete on your daily walk or even in your back garden. You just need a phone and the following app.

1. Download the following app: 

2. Watch Miss Wilkinson explaining your challenge: https://youtu.be/j4GKk0CEHLI

How many challenges can you complete and how many different species can you find? Can you learn to identify a plant, tree or animal that you didn't know before? 

Other useful websites/resources:

John Muir trust https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/john-muir-award/

https://www.ltl.org.uk/free-resources/ Brilliant resources with learning ideas across all ages and subject areas (the resources in the leaflets I sent home at the start of lockdown in March are just a few from this fantastic site)

The Woodland Trust https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk   http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/packs

The National trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Outdoor inspired ideas- 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾ https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50-things-to-do

Child friendly app with plenty of great learning ideas and starting points https://www.missionexplore.net/

This is a great way to get children outside walking and exploring, a worldwide treasure hunt! https://www.geocaching.com/play

http://ypte.org.uk/ Environmental Involvement for Young People- are a charity that aims to encourage young people’s understanding of the environment and of the need for sustainability.  A good child friendly (KS2) reference section.