In Mini Explorers, we have been looking at the changes we can see as we transition from summer to autumn. We thought about the weather and how this affects what we might have to wear, especially when we are spending time in the forest. We decided that autumn can bring lots of different types of weather, sometimes all in one day, so we need to be prepared for all possibilities! This includes having a raincoat and wellies at all times.
We have been noticing lots of physical changes in the forest. The days are becoming cooler, the mornings can be darker and mistier, leaves are changing from green to beautiful shades of yellow, orange, red and brown, and many leaves are beginning to fall from the trees. We have also noticed conkers, acorns and other seeds appearing on the ground, as well as changes in the plants and trees around us.
As the autumn winds knock the colour-changing leaves from the trees, we were able to use them for two creative activities: journey sticks and leaf collages.
For our journey sticks, we thought carefully about the story we could tell through the different natural items we collected and attached. Each journey stick was unique and represented our own experiences and discoveries in the forest.
For our leaf collages, we created artwork using natural materials. We were incredibly creative! We made hearts, ribbons, birds’ nests, portraits, abstract trees and so much more. This linked beautifully to our previous learning about Andy Goldsworthy in Year 1, where we explored how natural materials can be used to create art.
This also connects to our current English unit which is poetry. We are writing an autumn poem about what we can see, hear and feel as the season changes so we used our forest learning to inspire us!
Getting hands-on in the forest and noticing the changes happening around us has helped to increase our awareness of the world we live in. We are becoming careful observers of nature and are beginning to understand how the seasons change the environment around us. ππ³
How can you support learning at home?
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Go on an autumn walk: Look carefully for signs of seasonal change. Can you spot changing leaves, acorns, conkers, seeds or different types of weather? Which trees areΒ deciduous and which are evergreen?
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Create nature art: Collect fallen natural materials and make your own picture, pattern or sculpture inspired by Andy Goldsworthy. Remember to only collect things that have already fallen and leave living plants where they are.
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Keep a weather diary: Record the weather each day for a week. What do you notice? What clothes would you need to wear each day? Can you spot any patterns?
