On a warm Friday in May, Reception headed to High Elms for a day of outdoor exploration, minibeast hunting, tree shaking and pond dipping.
We were met by two teachers from the education centre – known, to everyone’s delight, as Spider and Pumpkin – before splitting into groups to begin their day of discovery. Forest School came first for RH, who hunted for minibeasts beneath logs and leaves, spotted caterpillars hanging from trees and witnessed a beetle eating a millipede. RB followed after lunch, unearthing speedy centipedes and some considerably slower millipedes. Tree-shaking sessions followed, with nets held ready to catch whatever tumbled from the branches above.
The highlight was undoubtedly pond dipping. The water was teeming with tadpoles, and the children were thrilled to catch froglets with legs, water boatmen, backswimmers, shrimps and even a mussel.
Back at school, the learning has continued in our own Forest School, where Reception pupils have been hunting for minibeast habitats and building bug hotels from dead wood and pinecones.
Written by Mrs Brown, Reception Teacher and Head of Outdoor Learning
