IN-SCHOOL SESSIONS
WORKING WITH SCHOOLS TO BRING THE CURRICULUM TO LIFE
In-school sessions for your classes take place in school time, either with the full class or split sessions with half the class at a time.
These sessions are designed to complement the children's age and stage of learning and I work closely with you to link the activities to key themes in the curriculum, if required, as well as promoting physical, social and emotional health and well-being.
I bring all the resources needed, taking inspiration from the season and the school grounds.
A few examples of how the curriculum can be brought to life outdoors
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For World Book Day we brought the story of ‘Going on a Bear Hunt’ to life in a nursery setting.
The children walked through the long, tall grass, then crossed our make-believe river before sploshing in the mud, experiencing a snowstorm and stumble-tripping through the ‘forest’ to reach the cave to find the bear! Which then chased them all the way back!
They enjoyed this so much that they must have gone on about four or five bear hunts in a row! We then gathered around the fire to sing some songs and have a snack to bring our session to a close.
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Looking at the difference between liquids and gases -what are gases? Do they have mass? What happens to molecules when they are heated and cooled?
I used the Kelly Kettle (an outdoor chimney kettle also known as a storm kettle) to boil water and we observed what happened as the liquid inside turned into a gas, and the pressure built enough to make the kettle whistle.
The children were highly invested in hearing the kettle boil as we made a lovely warm drink for them afterwards with the freshly boiled water!
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Games can be a wonderful way to bring. these topics to life such as the food chain game, bat and moth and predator versus prey. All these games are great fun and give us a wonderful launch pad to look at ecosystems, predator and prey relationships and the interconnectedness of our natural world.
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I brought in a selection of different seeds and we discussed all the different methods the plant utilises to spread its seeds far and wide.
The children then had a group challenge to get their seed the furthest distance utilising one of the methods discussed, making use of any of the scrap materials from the box. We then measured the distance each group were able to project their seed as well as gave out additional points for the design of the seed pod and method of projection.
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We made wooden mallets during our outdoor learning session and looked at charcoal drawings, leaf prints and made natural dyes.
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we have looked at different items found in nature, discussed their textures and looked at whether the children could make predictions as to whether they would float or sink.
We bring in numeracy through collecting different objects found in nature and discussing them as well as literacy with stories and folk tales about our natural world.
There are also plenty of opportunities for creativity with clay and mud painting and lots and lots of physical activity!
One of my favourite activities for key stage one is the web of life where the group stand in a circle and each person represents a part of the woodland; a tree, a rabbit, a climbing plant, a stream etc. Then with a ball of wool, I show how each part is connected to another and what happens when one part is affected, such as the stream becoming polluted or the tree is chopped down. It is a wonderfully clear demonstration of nature in balance and the interconnectedness of our natural world. This activity links well with well-known children’s stories like ‘The Lorax’ by Dr Seuss.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! I deliver outdoor learning for the whole class with many similar activities and methods to my forest school practice. The outdoor learning sessions are however more structured than traditional forest school sessions. As well as being led by the seasons, I will often link in with any themes and topics the class may have been looking at that term and so consolidate their learning in the classroom with the practical application outside.
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I charge £30 per hour plus £30 for planning and preparation.
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Yes, I request that a teacher or teaching assistant remain with the group and play an active role in the session.
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Unless there are high winds or extreme cold or wet weather, we will aim to continue with the outdoor learning session outside.
I will ensure the activities are appropriate to the weather for example, rain showers give us a wonderful opportunity to enhance our den-building skills, to build a watercourse with guttering, buckets and loose parts or to embrace the rain and enjoy the mud kitchen!
The children will be asked to bring in clothing appropriate for the weather and for getting muddy.
Where it is deemed unsafe to be outside due to high winds or extreme cold, for example, I will ask the school for an indoor space, such as a hall where we can still do nature-based activities and games.
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Yes! I am insured with Birnbeck Insurance for public liability and employer’s liability and for all forest school activities undertaken at Claire Pickman Forest School. A copy of my insurance certificate is available upon request.
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Yes! I undertake regular Outdoor First Aid training including Paediatric First Aid. I am happy to share my latest certification upon request.
Children thrive in an outdoor environment…
“Outdoor Learning with Claire has been one of the things all of our pupils absolutely love and look forward to! ‘When is it our turn?’ is a frequent question!
Not only are our children outside learning new skills, they are also developing confidence, social skills, language and communication skills, motivation and concentration, physical skills and knowledge and understanding. Outdoor learning promotes problem-solving and working as a team. It touches all areas of the curriculum and benefits every child.
Claire is highly organised and the children love the variety of activities and games from outdoor art using the natural environment, to making shelters, dens and swings, to making fires and outdoor cooking. It is so exciting, the children are literally buzzing with excitement after each session! We would highly recommend Claire!”