Year 1, Forest School

During this week’s Year 1 Forest School session, the children took part in an exciting team-building challenge in our forest school area. Split into two groups, the children were given the task of designing and building a safe, waterproof shelter that could fit as many members of their team as possible.

Working together, the children showed fantastic teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills as they explored the woodland to gather natural materials such as sticks, leaves and branches. They carefully discussed their ideas, tested different building methods and thought about how to make their shelters strong, stable and able to keep out the rain.

The challenge encouraged the children to think creatively while developing important practical skills. They considered how to make their shelters large enough for their team, how to strengthen the structure, and how to use natural resources effectively. There was lots of collaboration as children shared ideas, supported one another and adapted their designs when things didn’t go to plan.

Once completed, each team proudly tested their shelter to see how many children could fit inside and whether it would provide protection from the weather. The session was full of curiosity, perseverance and laughter, with the children fully immersed in outdoor learning.

This activity helped develop resilience, cooperation and confidence, while giving the children a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and apply their learning in a hands-on, meaningful way. We were incredibly proud of their creativity and teamwork throughout the session.