Reception learnt the names of some wild flowers
Year 5/6 were invited by George Cox Civil Engineering and City Of Trees to help plant trees at Penny Lane. It is part of a project across Greater Manchester to plant 3 million trees to help make Manchester greener, improve air quality and create habitats for wildlife. It was a very enjoyable and productive afternoon. Well done 5/6, this work will benefit the people of Stockport and Greater Manchester for years to come.
Reception and Y3/4 have been learning to identify birds and making fat balls to feed the birds during the winter. They are taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, spotting birds this week and recording the numbers that are seen.
Y4/5 found some Ashy Miner Bees on the field. They have individual nests in the ground which they dig out themselves.
Y1 were looking after our local hedgehogs by making a nice, cosy bed for them to hibernate in over the winter.
Year 1 learned about the orange-tip butterfly which is only seen in April and May. They made some fantastic art in small groups using natural materials.
The children made a variety of animals using natural materials. They were very creative and resourceful and produced some beautiful pieces. Their art will return back to nature over time but it was fun to make and can be done anywhere.
Year 2 planted 45 trees on the school field. They had lots of knowledge about the benefits of trees from Science. They said trees give us oxygen, help to reduce air pollution, provide habitats for lots of wildlife as well as being good for peoples' wellbeing. They did an amazing job which will benefit the people of Stockport for years to come.
Year 3/4 cooked pancakes on the fire. Well done, they were delicious!
Reception made birdfeeders to look after the birds over the winter. They learned to identify robins, bluetits and wood pigeons for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch which is taking place this week. They have shown great resilience too, as the weather has been very cold over the past few weeks.
This week the Reception class completed a scavenger hunt of natural materials, using their sorting and counting skills. They also searched for bugs and played in the mud area. There was lots of super teamwork happening - well done everyone!
This week at Forest School, the Reception class learned to identify a robin. They explored the forest and participated in the creative activities.
Year 1 have been very busy this half term. They have made craft pieces relating to the following stories : Room on the Broom, Bee and Me, The Very Busy Spider, Owl Babies, as well as working on a bug hotel project with year 6.
Year 6 and year 1 worked together to make bug hotels and a hedgehog house in order to care for the wildlife around school.
Year 4/5 worked together making an Anglo-Saxon wattle and daub house.
Year 4/5 were learning the skill of fire lighting using fire sticks. They showed determination and perseverance, successfully lighting their fires and toasting marshmallows. They will build on those skills next year and become more proficient. Well done everyone, great listening skills and teamwork.
Year 3/4's last forest school session of the year. It was a whole class free play session making dens, digging, finding bugs and toasting marshmallows.
Year 3/4s anthotype print bookmarks in progress.
Year 4/5 were making bookmarks using a method called anthotype printing. We used beetroot juice and spinach juice to colour the card and leaves to make the design. We leave them in sunlight for a week to create the effect.
Year 4/5 found some very interesting insects on the school field during our bug hunt. The creatures identified included grass bugs (stenodema), Alder Leaf Beetles, Ladybird larvae, Ground Beetles and moths. The children were very enthusiastic and engaged in this activity - the wonder of nature. check the website next week for more photos.
The finished swift boxes. Well done, we made a home for the Swifts after their 3000 mile migration.
Group 2 displayed excellent perseverance as they made Swift nesting boxes. They all had brilliant 'can-do' attitudes toward the task. Well done!
Group 1 were making nesting boxes for a bird called the Swift. Swifts migrate from Africa to the UK each May to nest but sadly their numbers are getting lower. We are helping them by giving them a safe place to raise their chicks. The children showed excellent teamwork and communication skills.
Year 3/4 enjoyed 'smores' at Forest School as well as some digging and den building.
It was Group 2's turn to make clay faces. They used perseverance to mould the clay, which was very hard, and they improvised with various tools to create some wonderful pieces.
Group 1 let their creative talents flow making clay monster faces.
Group 2 enjoyed the sun shine today. They made fires and had marshmallows.
Group 1 year 3/4 successfully and very safely made fires this week. They listened carefully and followed the instructions very well.
Group 2 year 3/4 displayed some excellent communication and teamwork today. They developed empathy by thinking in a positive way about their classmates.
st mary's Forest School
Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth.
It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.
It is a long-term programme that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.
The process helps and facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. It creates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks.
Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and an understanding of how a learner fits within it. Our approach to risk means that learners constantly expand on their abilities by solving real-world issues, building self-belief and resilience.
We believe that risk is more than just potential for physical harm; there are risks in everything we do and we grow by overcoming them.
Forest School, therefore, helps participants to become healthy, resilient, creative and independent learners.
At St Mary's our forest school sessions are led by Mrs Monteith and Mrs Vaughn-Aimson.
Year 3/4 group 1 worked together making friendship bracelets and explored the Forest School area. Great to have everyone back at school.
The children who have been in school in year 3/4 have been learning to use tools safely. They made a lovely rainbow ornament using wood.
Policy and risk assessment:
