Celebrating 10 years of Forest School
DSP is celebrating ten years of providing Forest School sessions to all children. As part of this celebration, the Scaip Project was formed to inspire and support more Nature Based Learning happening in schools across Ireland.
The goal of the project is for all children in Ireland to have the opportunity to lead their play and learning in nature as an integral part of their education and healthy development by providing resources and examples and training in this. Have a look at www.naturebasedlearning.ie
DSP Forest School sessions
Our sessions bring the children and the curriculum to the forest on Killiney Hill weekly for a block of time. The structure of each session allows the children to build connection: to themselves through sit spots, creative opportunities and reflection; to each other through games and teamwork; and to the world we live in through experiencing it with all their senses.
The aim is to foster resilient, independent, confident and creative learners using a flexible approach and natural resources.
The learning flows out of the sessions in so many ways. English, Geography, Science, Maths, SPHE, Music, Art, PE, Ethical Education and drama are all covered in the sessions and then the richness of the experience continues the engagement and motivation in the classroom and at home.
Have a look at the wonderful blog posts below and those by Liz McMahon with whom we collaborate to run these sessions. https://dlrcreativityintheclassroom.wordpress.com/
Forest School
Forest School Updates
Senior Infants – Growing together in the woods
Over the past sixteen weeks, our Junior Infants have journeyed through the seasons and grown into confident Senior Infants, learning and discovering through the magic of Forest School. Each session has been an opportunity to connect with nature, develop essential life skills, and nurture curiosity …
Senior Infants – Hedgehogs and magical music
Autumn journey Autumn has really arrived. The light was golden through the trees. The children were fascinated by the growth of new mushrooms. They wondered about the ‘dust’ that they saw come out of the puffballs. As we have been noticing seeds of plants, it …
Senior Infants – foxes and building dens and playing in the rain – resilience
A key aim of Forest School is to build resilience in our learners, helping them develop the confidence and adaptability needed to face challenges both in nature and in everyday life. Rainy days offer some of the richest opportunities for this kind of growth. When …
Senior Infants – Rope experiments and Hares
Noticing interesting things on the way to base camp. Scientific enquiries and experiments Making forms for being leverets in our sit spots
