What could be better than an outdoor classroom where pupils not only learn about but also experience the world around them? Ifield’s Woodland does just that! The natural setting of the wood encourages pupils’ learning within a natural environment and promotes their independence by challenging them to adapt to the different situations they encounter.
In creating our woods as a learning and social resource we are ever mindful of the need to uphold the integrity of the woodland itself. We do this by ensuring that, wherever possible, we use naturally occurring woodland materials and disrupt, as little as possible, the natural landscape.
Various areas, provide a range of learning activities and opportunities, which are linked by a woodland trail which has been created from wood bark, and chippings. The trail provides a safe means of access to, and movement around, the site without affecting its natural appearance.
Areas:
- Woodland Café and mud kitchen
‘A mud kitchen is a prepared outdoor environment that helps children explore on their own and interact with nature and their environment.’
Mud kitchens are very beneficial for pupils. They provide opportunities to grow in almost every aspect of learning. Here are a few of the benefits:
Fine motor skills development: When working in a mud kitchen, pupils practice using utensils, measuring and pouring mud, and mixing up items. These techniques help pupils to develop and practice their fine motor skills.
Math skills: A mud kitchen provides lots of opportunities for measuring, weighing, filling, and emptying. All of these contain mathematics and are beneficial in supporting pupils develop and practice.
Roleplay and imaginative play: Mud kitchens allow pupils creative freedom to play. Imaginative play helps pupils to develop language skills, practice what they have learned and observed, in real life situations at home and through experience and so helps them make real-world connections. These real-life skills are so important such as laying the café table for the diners.
Sensory development: Sensory play and development are important for pupils developing at this stage. The mud kitchen offers an opportunity to get hands in different textures, using natural items found in the woodland to add to the mud concoctions.
Social skills: The pupils may share ideas with their peers as they create and develop the role play narrative. They may support others to access resources, such as finding water together, filling and holding pans. Pupils learn together about what happens when they add different resources to the mixture and experiment with new or unknown utensils.
Health: When pupils get the chance to explore on their own with the freedom to express themselves, their mental health is likely to be higher. They will have greater self-confidence that stems from a sense of competence and self-sufficiency. Playing in the mud also helps with physical health. Playing in the dirt helps to strengthen and build up their immune system. The more that pupils are exposed to the bacteria in the dirt, the stronger their immune systems will become.
General skills: The pupils can use their writing and mark making skills to write on the menu board. They can use these skills to take orders in the café and making lists for shopping. They can follow recipe instructions to cook imaginary meals, as well as lay the tables.
- The Ship
Although it may seem a strange place to find a ship in the middle of a woodland, it can become anything the pupils wish it to be. It is an opportunity for them to engage in role play scenarios with their peers, facilitated by resources, props, and stories to accompany their play. Role play can motivate and engage students, where they can learn skills used in real-world situations (negotiation, debate, teamwork, cooperation, persuasion). When observing a role play game, there are no rules and the pupils can take on the role of their choice. The story or narrative develops as the game moves along, taking on new ideas, challenges and characters. The key benefits of role playing for the pupils are to:
• Develop communication and language skills.
• Act out and make sense of real-life situations.
• Explore, investigate and experiment.
• Develop social skills as they collaborate with others.
The Ship provides lots of climbing opportunities added to by the wobbly rope bridge and a way of travelling onto the ship and to the other tree hide.
During the Summer Term a slack line is provided to further develop and challenge balancing skills.
- The Tool area
The pupils will be using real tools such as a hammer, a bow saw, a wood saw, a hand drill, a palm drill, an auger as well as a safety knife.
They will measure out pieces of wood to create and build bird boxes and bat boxes, as well as individual crafting ideas, brought by the pupils. They will learn to share and take turns as well as develop their skills to persevere in the face of a challenge.
- The Well-being Glade
This area of the woodland was developed by volunteer staff and parents over a weekend. It was funded by a bequest from a pupils Great Grandmother. The area offers a tranquil space to lay on cushioned mats adorned with wildlife or to sit on the wooden carved toadstools. Sometimes listening to the music on a speaker or just enjoying the woodland ambiance. There are a host of insect life and many different butterflies frequent the wildflowers growing in this area.
Other areas of learning
- Hammocks
- Bird watching with over 15 bird boxes around the woodland.
- Fairy door trail with challenges
- Digging area
- Bug hunting and nature watching.
- Obstacle course, tyre balancing and climbing wall
The woodland experience brings to life what pupils might otherwise only learn about and see in books. The opportunity to see, hear, smell and touch the natural environment around them develops their appreciation of nature and allows them to experience situations in, what is for many, an unfamiliar setting.
The woodland is a calm environment where pupils can learn whilst experiencing peace and quiet. It is a location that provides them with the outdoor space and tranquillity to explore and make discoveries independently or with support. Learning is multi-sensory and pupils are encouraged to express their feelings and make observations using either gesture or through vocalisation. Focused learning tasks and simple challenges are carefully planned to increase confidence and self-esteem. One of the most beautiful aspects of the wood as a learning environment is that its challenges are stimulating and enjoyable.
The woodland provides healthy exercise, fosters team work, and hones pupils’ practical and organisational skills as well as resilience and independence.
