Teach Primary Issue 18.7

Environments such as woods and forests offer a rich source of knowledge, resources and activities for learning, as well as providing an ideal setting for hands-on exploration and discovery. Autumn is an opportunity to look closely at trees within these settings during a season where many are undergoing very noticeable physical changes. This session will help pupils use leaves to recognise and name trees on their site, and help them understand how trees respond to their environment as the seasons change. It will also provide opportunities to learn key vocabulary. 1 | SETTING OFF As with any forest school session, carry out a pre-session risk assessment of the site and communicate relevant safety information to the group. The activities can take place in a wooded area, a local park or a school field. Begin by encouraging the children to explore the trees on site. Ask them to get into pairs with one ‘seeing’ person guiding a blindfolded partner safely to a tree. The guiding partner will need to communicate how to travel carefully across the area and place their partner’s hands on a tree. The blindfolded person is encouraged to feel leaves, branches, the trunk and any accessible roots with their hands. They are then taken back to the starting place, turned around three times and the blindfold is removed. They then try to recall key features of the tree to help them find it again. The pair then swap roles. 2 | LEARNING ABOUT LEAVES Ask if any leaves helped them to recognise their tree. Highlight how, during autumn, some trees lose their leaves. We call these deciduous trees. Start a discussion about why trees lose their leaves. The main benefit of shedding leaves is that trees can preserve the moisture in their branches and trunk, instead of drying START HERE MAIN LESSON WHAT THEY’LL LEARN l How to communicate effectively by giving clear instructions to a partner l How to identify some common trees from their leaves, and use features of leaves to help group and classify them l To observe and understand seasonal changes in trees l How to measure the height of a tree in metres and centimetres Outdoor Learning Ask pupils to name the season we are in and how they can tell. One response is likely to be that it is autumn because trees are shedding leaves. Discuss why trees, woods and forests are important. (They provide food for animals, including humans; people make objects out of wood; trees provide shade and shelter; they help prevent flooding and erosion; produce vital oxygen.) Ask why we have different trees on one site. Explain that having a variety of species on a given site reduces the chances of pests, diseases, natural disasters and other threats harming a habitat or area, as each species will react differently to natural dangers or events that take place. Into the woods: A forest school adventure Autumn is an ideal time to explore trees in your school grounds or local area, says Sabina Khanam KS1 LESSON PLAN hinghamprimary.org.uk 76 | www.teachwire.net