This week’s Forest School theme was wind.
We began by discussing where wind comes from. The children shared lots of thoughtful ideas, including that it comes from the sky, the Earth moving, and the trees. We explored how movement can create wind by spinning our arms and feeling the air moving around us. We then talked about how wind is created when warm and cold air move and meet. Warm air expands while cold air contracts, and this movement of air creates wind.
We read part of the non-fiction book Gusts and Gales – A Book About Wind to learn more about wind and discover why places such as the seaside are often windier than others.
The children had the opportunity to make flags using the Japanese printmaking technique Hapa Zome. They used leaves and flower petals to create colourful patterns on fabric before attaching their creations to sticks to wave in the breeze.
They also explored sycamore seeds, often called “helicopters,” enjoying dropping them from different heights and watching them spin gracefully through the air.
To finish our very hot session, we worked together as a team to shake a tarp with water pooled on top. Everyone got a little wet, which helped cool us down, and as the sunlight caught the spray, we were even lucky enough to create a beautiful rainbow! 🌈
