Snow much fun

This week, our woodland was transformed into a winter wonderland. As we walked down the bridleway into the woods the children squealed with excitement exclaiming that it was like entering Narnia. We ventured through the enchanting scenery to a part of the woodland that some of the group had visited before. Along the way we spotted the patterns and trails of animals and other visitors to the woodland.

Sycamore and Beech group both chose to visit their woodland playground area where they had created a mud slide in the autumn, the perfect place to build a snow slide. 

Following on from our session last week when we discussed our basic survival needs - food, water, warmth and shelter; this week we thought about how inhabitants of our woodland meet their survival needs. We have been thinking in particular about how some animals survive the winter months by creating food stores and hibernating. 


At the beginning of the session the children were set a challenge. In pairs, they were given a warm bottle of water. They had were invited to imagine that it was a woodland creature and choose a place where it could keep warm over the winter. Some of the children decided their animals were owls and hunted for hollows in trees to hide them in. Others decided that their animals were moles and foxes and would be more sheltered underground. They covered them with soil, moss, twigs and leaves. Once their animals were safely stashed, the children went off to explore the woodland.

Holly group found glass-like sheets of ice that had formed over their favourite splashing puddles. They were fascinated by the air bubbles trapped in the ice.

Taking care of our basic needs

Checking the temperature of our 'hibernating animals'

Walking in to Narnia

Snow sliding