Discovering Our Space: Our First Day of Sprouts
The first day of Sprouts was all about getting to know each other and our new space! Here’s a look at what we got up to:
We started the day by sitting together in our circle to introduce ourselves and talk about the forest school rules. It was great to start the day in a space where we could all connect and set the tone for a day of fun and respect for our environment.
Since it was such a sunny day, we thought it would be fun to create a human sundial! Each of us drew a circle to stand in, and we took turns tracing each other’s shadows with chalk at different times throughout the day. The kids had fun guessing where the shadows would fall next, and it was a neat way to watch the sun’s movement.
During free play, they decided to jump right into the mud kitchen. When I brought out the hose to add more water, the kids came up the idea for a “water race”! They tried different containers to see which one would send water running down the driveway the fastest. It was some good experimentation and having fun with different results.
When it was time for a snack, the kids decided to enjoy it in the secret tunnel where it was nice and shady. One child picked some raspberries from the garden to share with everyone, which made for a sweet treat.
After our snack, we packed up and headed to The Flats, a beautiful area by the river filled with wildflowers, butterflies, and plenty of space to roam. The kids loved searching for clam shells and rocks, and we used an egg carton to collect a “rainbow of rocks”.
After lunch, the children returned to the mud kitchen. They dove right into imaginative play, becoming "mad scientists" concocting their own unique creations with water, mud, and a variety of natural materials. They successfully navigated tricky situations, working out problems such as sharing ingredients, taking turns, and asking for permission before adding to someone else's "experiment."
Once we had the mud kitchen cleaned up, we gathered together to admire the collections from The Flats. We sorted the rocks into a rainbow, appreciating all the colors and shapes we had found. .
We ended the day by making a wish in the wishing well (still under construction!). The kids all shared what they hoped to do next time, with climbing a tree being one of the most popular wishes.
Finally, we gathered back in our circle, using our chant to close out the day: “Here is the land,” we touched the ground. “Here is the sky,” we reached up. “Here are my friends,” we opened our arms to everyone. “And here am I,” we placed a hand on our hearts, wishing for a good week until we meet again.
It was a magical first day, filled with exploration, creativity, and cooperation. I can’t wait to see what next week holds for us at Nurtured by Nature Forest School!
