Ice Post

It seems a long time since we have had a prolonged period of cold weather in Forest School.

You can read about the last time here. 2012 really!

While the snow may have gone there are still plenty of things to do while the cold lasts.

Year 6 have been outside in Forest School making some ice towers.

So why not see what you can do?

Can you make an ice tower?

Can you make an ice decoration? You need a small plastic pot, cold water, string, something bright to put in the water. Leave over night to freeze then hang up in your outdoor space.

Can you skim ice pieces over frozen water?

Can you make ice cups for candles? Secure a weighted container in a larger container full of water. Leave overnight to freeze. Remover the next day to reveal your ice cup. Use as a candle holder to light up a dark evening.

Hope you can have some fun before it gets warm again.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2021

In case you missed it you can watch the assembly here.

Link to RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch page

Here you can sign up to take part in the Birdwatch.

Link to How to take part in the Birdwatch

Here you can find all the instructions you need to help you take part. You can also print id/counting sheets here.

Link to How to attract birds to your patch

What do birds need, like to eat. Find out here.

Link to What to look out for

What type of birds might you find on your patch.

Link to Take a quiz to find out what garden bird you are

Mr Crees is a Blackbird!

Follow on social media Twitter  Instagram

Link to printable school survey sheets

Includes bird feeder recipes, activity sheets and creative resources.

Link to remote learning support from RSPB and BBC

Also watch out for live streaming events so even if you can't take part you can watch someone who can.

Whatever you do have fun. I will post about my birdwatch and anything that happens in school as soon as material is available.

ID and Counting sheet

                   

A Message from Father Christmas

 Father Christmas has sent a video call, here is his message:-

He was so pleased with the Elf houses made last week by 3S and said he will be round after Christmas to sprinkle so magic fairy dust so the elves can take up residence in the Spring.

Here are just a few of them.

Here is the letter from Father Christmas to Year 3.

Hope you can help Father Christmas. Send your photos via Twitter if you can, drawings of your ideas would be great too.

But most of all have a wonderful Christmas.

The 12 Wild Days of Christmas

 

Soon to be starting is the Wildlife Trusts 12DaysWild. Similar to the one in the summer just a bit colder.

Lots of good ideas for wilding yourself can be found on their site along with a sign up form to show your interest.

So if you fancy getting out and about for a walk or getting creative with your camera pop over to their site for some inspiration.

Can you spot ?

Can you spot this amazing creature featured on the Woodland Trust site as one of ten strange creatures?

Known as a Water Bear or Moss Piglet this eight-legged creature can survive in outer space! They feed on small insects and can grow up to 1.5mm in length. Amazingly they always have the same number of cells in their bodies meaning that their cells just get bigger as they grow rather than dividing to increase in size.

Look for them in damp places, stone walls where there are mosses and lichens.

Happy hunting.

Day 29 Plant some wild seeds

Ensuring part of the garden has a wild feel to it has always been in my planning and with events this year I have now managed to fulfil my aims. Part of the front garden has a hedge and low wall with shallow soil as it is over a drain pipe. Any form of planting has been difficult so it seemed like the ideal place for some wild flowers.

After clearing the overgrown grass and edging the lawn I sowed a number of seeds.

Hopefully it will become a colourful place for wildlife. After just a few weeks progress is being made and it looks like this...

Lots of little seedlings already beginning to appear and hopefully by next year there will be a display like this one I walked past today.

So try and find a small patch of garden or a plant pot and sow some seeds to attract wildlife.

Day 26 Squirrel Day

After last years attempt to tempt a squirrel to use a feeder failed I'm ready for attempt two.

A handy Father's Day present means we are all ready to try again with a new feeder and after the squirrels have so successfully navigated ropes and so to get nuts from a basket I'm hoping this time will be a success. Not to take any chances though I've put in a prop to make access easier to start with. So now all we have to do is watch and wait.

The old feeder chewed away by the squirrels.

New feeder with prop.