Where Learning Knows No Boundaries OUTDOOR LEARNING Recep ti on and Year 1 enjoying Forest School Beach School At Queen’s, the shoreline becomes a classroom rich in crea ti vity, collabora ti on and discovery. From Recep ti on through
Year 1 at Beach School
Year 2 enjoyed cra ft ing necklaces from pebbles and shells at Beach School
this year became a fully quali fi ed and accredited Forest School Leader — our sessions are designed to foster curiosity, con fi dence, and crea ti vity in a natural se tti ng. Recep ti on and Year 1 pupils have had a
to Year 6, our Beach School days o ff er pupils a chance to connect with the natural world, explore curriculum topics in context, and build las ti ng memories together. Recep ti on joined Year 1 for a day of discovery by the sea, learning about how Victorians once used the seaside. Together, the girls explored the past through play, conversa ti on, and hands ‐ on learning — fi nding joy in the textures and stories of the shore. Year 2 enjoyed a beau ti fully calm day making sand whales and cra ft ing necklaces from pebbles, sea glass and shells. These tac ti le experiences helped the girls build a deep apprecia ti on for natural materials and the ar ti s ti c possibili ti es of their surroundings. For Year 3, a rainy day only added to the adventure. Equipped with wellies and waterproofs, the girls collaborated to dam a stream fl owing onto the sand — experimen ti ng with stone placement and teamwork to control the water’s path. Channeling their topic on the Stone Age, they took on the role of hunter ‐ gatherers, scouring the beach for food, tools and fuel, before crea ti ng imagina ti ve sand creatures inspired by their class text, The Barnabus Project . Year 4 embraced blue skies and the spirit of environmental stewardship with a though tf ul beach clean. Linking the day to their Humani ti es work, the girls used natural materials to map out the physical features of Egypt in the sand — a crea ti ve and cross ‐ curricular approach to learning that brought their studies to life. Year 6 enjoyed a truly unique Beach School experience that spanned the seasons, with both snow and sunshine making an appearance! They explored their Mayan topic by crea ti ng logograms from shells, stones and dri ft wood, before tes ti ng
joyful year embracing the forest environment. Together, the girls
explored woodland habitats, discover ‐ ing worms, spiders, beetles, slugs and woodlice while developing their understanding of the ecosystems around them. They prac ti sed knot ‐ tying, worked in teams, and honed fi ne motor skills — all while embracing the joy of being outdoors. Further up the school, pupils have con ti nued to engage enthusias ti cally with outdoor learning. Year 3 kicked o ff their Forest School experience by designing and building shelters, tes ti ng their construc ti ons with a high ‐ pressure hose to see if they could withstand the elements — with great success! The session ended around the camp fi re with gooey s’mores and lots of laughter. Year 4 brought their knowledge of 3D shapes and lashing techniques into the forest, working in teams to construct crea ti ve shelters before taking on the challenge of building wooden tripods. The girls used their structures to light their own fi res — tying in brilliantly with their history topic on Anglo ‐ Saxon life. It was a day of teamwork, problem ‐ solving and outdoor adventure, made all the more special by lunch in the sunshine and s’mores. Year 6 put their crea ti vity and teamwork to the test, designing and building swings for the Recep ti on class dolls using natural materials. The fi nished crea ti ons were met with smiles and glowing reviews from the
Year 3 at Forest School
Recep ti on pupils, who eagerly arrived to inspect and test them
their physical resilience on the obstacle courses they designed.
out — a joyful example of collabora ti on and outdoor learning in ac ti on.
Forest School At Queen’s, we know that some of the most meaningful learning takes place beyond the classroom. That’s why our Forest School programme plays such a vital role in our outdoor learning o ff er. With though tf ul planning and input from our dedicated sta ff — including Mrs Bartram, who
Year 4 roas ti ng marshmallows at Forest School
Year 3 enjoying Beach School
Year 6 building swings at Forest School
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