Our first day back after the Holiday Break was a very cold winter day. We met at the Magic Line and then gathered around the campfire.
Provocation: Forest School educators asked if the students had noticed any changes?
Play: They had this question in mind as they set off in two groups, wolves and owls, mixing the 2 classes (after a snack in the cabin). The snow was deep and the students found many tracks in the forest. We also found crystals around the frozen puddles on Trail 12.
Sit Spots: We skipped this routine so that students would keep moving and stay warm.
Story of the Day: What did you see with your wolf or owl eyes?
Back at school the story became about what we saw when we looked down. With so much snow on the ground, it became easier to notice all of the animal tracks, even though we did not see any animals? We could see evidence of animals being in the forest but no actual animals. Was it too cold? Where they hibernating? Where could they be hiding? Further investigation would provide some answers about the secret kingdom (the subnivean zone) in the following weeks.
Thinking Outside the Classroom 