In the forest

  Plot ideas

A walk in the woods gives children first-hand experiences. Some activities are also suitable for the school grounds or a park:

• Sounds: Listen for one minute, describe what you hear and identify the likely sources of the sounds.
• Leaves: Sort the fallen leaves, draw one and describe two features.
• Bark: Carefully feel its texture, describe its characteristics and, if appropriate, make bark rubbings.
• Wood: List objects in the classroom and describe what they are used for.
• Leaf litter: Observe small ground-dwelling animals with magnifying glasses, then leave them where you found them or put them back there.
• Deadwood: Examine a decaying branch for signs of feeding, fungi and cavities, and record your observations in a drawing.
• Forest rules: Derive rules to protect animals, plants and habitats from what you have learned.
• Finally, bring the results together in a topic folder or a small class exhibition.