Stories by candle light

Last week we recycled empty jars into some colourful lanterns, the children produced some wonderful designs.

This week we used used a tarpaulin to set us a shelter, just like the ones we sometimes build in the woods to sleep in. This time we lit our lanterns and used it as a story telling space.

Each person chose one item form the story box, then together we used all the items to build the story. Which item would you choose?

This week our story was about George Bear, who lived in a house at the bottom of a huge beech tree in the woods. In the spring George enjoyed watching the buds grow on the trees, and the bluebells spread out across the forest floor. Once summer came George loved looking up and see little patches of sky through the leaves of the tall trees, but as autumn came and the leaves turned brown and started to fall from the trees George began to feel cold whenever he looked out of his window. He knew that soon it would be winter and the leaves would all be gone until Spring came round again.

George decided that he would gather together some things which reminded him of the long summer days, and he made a little space on the window sill where he could gather them all together.

His sunglasses came first, reminding him of the time he spent at the beach. He didn;t need sunglasses in the woods, the trees made plenty of shade. Then a pebble he'd collected on holiday, and a flower, and a lovely picture of the trees on a sunny day. He found a picture of his friend butterfly too, and added that to his display.

Finally once he'd set everything up he settled down in his chair, with a big bowl of porridge. Now he could look out of the window at the Autumn colours and then down at the windowsill and his display of summer memories and be reminded that after the snow and frost the bluebells would poke back through the ground and the trees would grow fresh green leaves again.

More autum leaft fun

The range of colours, textures and shapes of the fallen leaves gives us so may different ideas for craft activities.

This year the Elfins made window pictures with the leaves. Using clear sticky plastic means that when they are hung up the autumn sun will show off all the colours.

The pioneers have used their leaves, along with some clay to make little trinket bowls. Each one has the shape of the leaf and even the patterns of veins can still be seen inside the bowls.

After drying out for a week the bowls were ready for painting. Sadly due to a computer error we don't have many pictures of the finished bowls, but they were really special.

We do have one we can still show you

Spooks and Sparkles

As the clocks have changed and the nights are darker we're making the most of the seasonal changes.

The Pioneers went for a spooky week, playing vampire and zombie tag in the dark, they even had a treasure hunt in the dark.

The Elfins had a much brighter evening, making their own firework printing blocks.

They made some wonderful November skies

Inventing our own games, part 1

This term the pioneers started focusing on games. We play lots of games every week, from the very active ones with lots of running around to quieter thinking games which really get our minds working. After breaking down some of the games they already knew to see what makes them work so well it was time to get into groups and invent something new.

The new games have been tried, tweaked and tested again till they were ready to go.

Each group has made a short film, demonstrating their games. Here's the first one for you, introducing Animal Dodgeball.

Hopefully once the editing is completed we'll be able to share some more games with you too.

Youth Shelter

Back at the start of the year we wrote a letter to help the Friends of Jubilee Green with their fund-raising for a youth shelter.

The grant bid was successful and over the summer they have been working hard to get the shelter built, after some running repairs it's looking fantastic.

Have you been to see it yet?
http://www.friendsofjubileegreen.org.uk/welcome.aspx

Out and about

The end of September saw several of us heading down to Exeter to join with other groups form the South West for the annual fun day.

This year the Devon woodland played the part of Sherwood Forest for a Robin Hood themed event, while everyone worked to earn the four necessities of medieval life, Bread, Beer, Meat & Salt whilst dodging the Sheriff's band.

Everything from  balancing along a rope bridge while collecting your tokens to crossing Little Johns bridge. The Woodland Jousting was a particularly popular game, how many rings do you think you would be able to catch?

After an action packed day it was time to settle down and to set up our beds for the night, a hammock under the stars!

A camp-fire, hot chocolate and marshmallows finished the day off.

Pirates Ahoy

Every couple of terms we have a time where the children suggest ideas for activities they would enjoy, then we vote for the top favourites. This term the Elfins (6-9 year olds) chose pirates.

We found so many watery games like Captain's Coming, Sharks and Jaws that our games sessions had a very nautical feel.

Possibly the most fun was the craft time though, we started with treasure maps, of course each map needed an X to mark the spot but you defiantly needed a map to guide you through all the sea monsters, swamps, deadly caves and haunted towers.

Of course no map would quite work without the treasure, we used salt dough to create ours, and then metallic paint to give it a touch of sparkle.

What pirate would be seen without their parrot on their shoulder and what a colourful collection ours were.