Forest School ideas
Forest School at Home
Edit: Mountain Leopard Training are now doing the Forest School posts on their website as well as on Facebook. https://mountainleopardtraining.com/forest-school-at-home/
If a family member has Facebook, give Mountain Leopard Training a follow (https://www.facebook.com/mountainleopardtraining/). They are posting daily inspiration of Forest School ideas to do at home. Today they are making a shelter for teddies and on Monday they gave instructions for these lovely crafts.
'Forest school at home-
As promised every few days we will post some ideas for outdoor crafts & activities you can do in your own garden- we need to isolate where possible, but time outside in your own garden can help with both physical and mental wellbeing.
As promised every few days we will post some ideas for outdoor crafts & activities you can do in your own garden- we need to isolate where possible, but time outside in your own garden can help with both physical and mental wellbeing.
Today we had a go at a great simple craft, all you need is -
A few sticks
Some scissors
Some lengths of wool (or you can use string if necessary, but wool makes it a bit more colourful).
Some scissors
Some lengths of wool (or you can use string if necessary, but wool makes it a bit more colourful).
As with all these crafts, this is only the way we have done it - so use this as a guide and feel free to vary it however you wish.
Step 1 - cut or snap some twigs into two short lengths. And remove all leaves.
Step 2 - tie the two pieces of wood together to form a cross.
You can do this however you like, but we have used a variety of square lashing.
If you want to use a square lashing, start by attaching one end of a piece of string or wool to one of the sticks using any type of knot you like (in the photos we have used a clove hitch).
Next loop the string over the top stick then under the bottom stick, then back over the top and continue altering sides. After a few of these wrap the string between the two sticks a couple of times to tighten the knot and tie it off to one of the sticks.
This ties the sticks nice and secure, but tie them together however works for you.
You can do this however you like, but we have used a variety of square lashing.
If you want to use a square lashing, start by attaching one end of a piece of string or wool to one of the sticks using any type of knot you like (in the photos we have used a clove hitch).
Next loop the string over the top stick then under the bottom stick, then back over the top and continue altering sides. After a few of these wrap the string between the two sticks a couple of times to tighten the knot and tie it off to one of the sticks.
This ties the sticks nice and secure, but tie them together however works for you.
Step 3 - start to create your design.
Tie one end of a length of wool to one of the sticks, as close to the middle of the cross as possible. Then start to work the string around each of the four points of the cross in turn, starting in the middle and working out.
Again do this how you wish but try and do it in a consistent way - for example we did it in the photos by going over the stick and looping it round, over the next stick and loop it round, over the next stick and loop it round and so on.
Tie one end of a length of wool to one of the sticks, as close to the middle of the cross as possible. Then start to work the string around each of the four points of the cross in turn, starting in the middle and working out.
Again do this how you wish but try and do it in a consistent way - for example we did it in the photos by going over the stick and looping it round, over the next stick and loop it round, over the next stick and loop it round and so on.
Step 4 - get creative.
From this point on do it however you wish to create a nice pattern.
When one piece of wool runs out tie another on of a different colour and keep going.
You could alternate the way you loop the wool - i.e. you could start by going over the stick then loop it round then later start going under the stick and loop it round to vary the design.
From this point on do it however you wish to create a nice pattern.
When one piece of wool runs out tie another on of a different colour and keep going.
You could alternate the way you loop the wool - i.e. you could start by going over the stick then loop it round then later start going under the stick and loop it round to vary the design.
Step 5 - when you are happy you have finished, tie off the end of the wool to one of the sticks, leaving enough tail to hang it up.
No two will look alike, and allowing kids to try and go as much as possible themselves boosts resilience and helps with dexterity.
Have a go, ask any questions and post a picture of your craft.'
Have a go, ask any questions and post a picture of your craft.'
'Day 3 - forest school at home.
Shelter building
It’s difficult in your own garden to find enough materials to build a full size shelter- so today we are going to build one for toys.
What you need-
Natural materials- leaves, twigs, branches or anything you can find in your garden.
A cup of water.
A soft toy or action figure.
Natural materials- leaves, twigs, branches or anything you can find in your garden.
A cup of water.
A soft toy or action figure.
There are a few different designs you can use, but it’s best to try and make whatever works for you.
You need to think about things such as wind proofing, waterproofing and making it stable and big enough for your toy.
You need to think about things such as wind proofing, waterproofing and making it stable and big enough for your toy.
Step one-
Build a frame from twigs long and thick enough to support the weight of the other materials you are going to pile on top.
At this stage, make sure it is big enough for your toy as it will be difficult to change this later.
Try and only natural materials you find in your garden, but you may need to tie some sticks together to hold your frame together.
Build a frame from twigs long and thick enough to support the weight of the other materials you are going to pile on top.
At this stage, make sure it is big enough for your toy as it will be difficult to change this later.
Try and only natural materials you find in your garden, but you may need to tie some sticks together to hold your frame together.
Step 2-
You need to make the walls/roof of your shelter thick enough so that when you put leaves on for waterproofing they don’t just drop through.
To do this you need to build up the walls with thinner sticks, if can manage to weave some into a cross pattern it will help hold it together.
You need to make the walls/roof of your shelter thick enough so that when you put leaves on for waterproofing they don’t just drop through.
To do this you need to build up the walls with thinner sticks, if can manage to weave some into a cross pattern it will help hold it together.
Step 3-
Water and wind proofing.
To do this simply place or weave leaves or grass onto the shelter - as thick as you can get it.
Water and wind proofing.
To do this simply place or weave leaves or grass onto the shelter - as thick as you can get it.
Step 4-
The test.
Put your toy into your shelter and pour the cup of water over the top.
See how well it works and if you’re toy stays dry.
The test.
Put your toy into your shelter and pour the cup of water over the top.
See how well it works and if you’re toy stays dry.
Let us know how you get on and post your pictures if you can.'
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