Wildness

I've been looking back through my photos and I've noticed a pattern:

 they are almost exclusively of nature, and within that they are often 'empty' landscapes, with no people or man made structures visible...

They often feature trees...

...and water...

...especially showing reflections.

But I also notice that there is a bleakness, a sense of sadness even.

Maybe I need some reflection of my own....

Outdoor Converts

 

It's been a full term of the whole class non directive sessions and when we started the woods were lush and green and there were nerves all round about what would happen when 30 pupils were taken outdoors and allowed to choose how to spend their time. The only real rule was

"Keep yourself, each other and the grounds safe."

We travelled through a fine autumn,lucky with the weather and found some fine fungi for the pupils to identify.

 

Although sadly the snow waited until after our final sessions together, by the end of term the woods were noticeably bare of leaf and much cooler.

Below are some of the elder groups comments about their time in the woods.

We loved:

*Having our own time to do what we want and being able to learn what we want to learn

*Digging holes because it's fun and allows us to use our imagination

*Experimenting, like using sticks to make different things

*Working with people you don't usually work with

*Learning to use equipment safely

We learnt:

*Boys and girls can work together

*I can get on with people I don't always get on with

*Some people annoy me and now I can deal with my anger

*You can be alone and feel sad and it feels peaceful and it helps you

*You don't have to have technology to have fun

Those comments alone would have made it all worth while but the staff feedback has been fantastic:

* I really enjoyed the whole experience

*Sessions were very beneficial to pupils AND staff

*The children's play in the woodlands often reflected their mood

*New friendship groups were formed

*Pupils took their learning from class outside and vice versa

*Children who struggle in class found something they enjoyed and brought that confidence back into class

*I will definitely continue to use the woodlands whichever year group I am with, I think it's great.

It's sad to say goodbye to those classes, they have come such a long way in a term but it's so great to hear that the staff in those year groups are going to continue working outdoors, with whole classes, allowing their pupils to decide how they want to spend their time.

I can't wait to hear how they progress and next term I get to start again with two more classes to prove the worth of an hour in the woods...



6 weeks in...

Well six weeks into the new term and its been a rollercoaster ride.

Getting to know lots of new staff and pupils, working out how to get around the new schools, finding keys to all the locks that nobody has used for months and eeking out corners to store equipment. Its taken a while to feel settled and safe. As usual sessions with the children have provided an anchor. Feeling that they are being supported and in some cases enjoying the sessions makes all the rest worthwhile, although it can be hard to hold onto that sometimes!

This weeks highlights have included: some environmental art...

a dinosaur footprint...

and some earthworks to defend the den...

It hasn't all been positive outcomes though. We had a failed attempt at a fire which the year 6 (non directed) group had asked for so they could make hot chocolate.  But the two pupils(out of 30!) who stayed the distance were pretty close to getting it going. Fingers crossed they are keen to continue the challenge next session, they had worked well together and problem solved each time it didn't work. Now they need to keep trying and see that the effort of learning was worth it!

They had a lot of peer support too although the class were frustrated when the whistle blew that it was the end of the session and they realised they weren't going to be served hot chocolate.

It will be interesting to see how many volunteers there are this week to create the fire...

Non directive Woodland Session-Part 1

So, we started seated around the log circle...

...and we talked about how to keep ourselves safe in the woods. The teacher asked if anybody had any ideas what they might like to do and the talk turned to den building. Several of the boys wanted to build a den for all their male friends so two of the pupils counted how many boys there were, and then of course we had to count how many girls there were so we knew how big their den would need to be!

But during the counting movement began to occur, which got a little confusing, however it was the cue that everybody needed and suddenly they were all up and away. Nobody seemed uncertain or unsure, they were off to explore...

There were some crude weapons;

and creativity;



and hanging out with friends;

and experimenting;





The only complaint: it didn't last for long enough!

The only request so far: string!!

Further Inspiration

Sometimes working with children and young people every day I forget to acknowledge that the children in my family are gorgeous exciting individuals too, so I have spent the last few weeks nurturing and cherishing them and in turn they have reminded me of why I am so lucky.

We threw rocks in the lake...

We felt small in nature...

We found beauty in natural materials...

Cj tried to find the biggest Wisteria flower she could...

Whilst Wh found a giant catapult...

And we all found a 1000 year old man...

Just what we needed to feel recharged and ready for another busy term!!!!

Practically Perfect

I've been working with some guys lately who are struggling with perfection-and the idea that if its not perfect then its not worth having. They come from chaotic and traumatic backgrounds and desperately want to find a new, perfect world to inhabit. Using their plants and the world around them we've been discussing what perfection is and whether as humans we need to desire it as strongly as they do.

My time with them is coming to an end and when I was thinking about a way to strengthen the message that imperfection can be beautiful and valuable I remembered this picture taken at a local ice cream farm last summer...

That is a serious scar, an impressive imperfection and a magnificent tree. It is a true beauty and home to hundreds of insect which support a much wider eco system so its value is beyond doubt. I shall give my charges a copy each and I hope that they can look at something that they would see as far removed from perfect and remember that a life that is altered by drama and sadness can still be both valuable and wonderful .