Forest School

We’ve noticed some big seasonal changes at Middle Gully lately. The frosty mornings have well and truly arrived!

Students have continued exploring natural materials, taking a closer look at the different properties that influence how materials behave and what they can be used for. Through hands-on experiences, they’ve been describing the observable features of various objects and mixtures and learning how combining materials can create something entirely new. One popular experiment involved testing different sand and water combinations to build strong, stable sandcastles, discovering how these mixtures behave differently than the individual materials alone. Students also investigated natural clay, observing how clay becomes sticky and mouldable with water, and how it can harden when dried or fired. We chatted about how bricks are made and the science behind heating clay to create something strong and durable, a change that can’t be reversed like air-drying.

We also explored how natural materials can be used to make tools. Aboriginal Peoples have used materials like stone and wood for thousands of years to create tools tailored to specific purposes. Students tried their hand at grinding grains using rocks and experimented with using sticks and vegetable peelers to craft their own small tools. The older students will continue to hone their fine motor skills and concentration through whittling. After learning the basics with peelers and discussing safety protocols, some students have progressed to using whittling knives. They began with the rough cut, and a few have now moved on to more advanced techniques such as the push cut and stop cut. It’s been fantastic to see their focus, patience, and sense of responsibility shine through.

Excitingly, we’ve had a very large male kangaroo visit Middle Gully several times over the past week! While it’s always thrilling to spot wildlife up close, we’ve used this opportunity to talk about respectful behaviour around our local fauna. Students have discussed how to keep a safe distance and acknowledge that we share this special space with many other living creatures. It would be wonderful if these conversations could continue at home too.

Winter Solstice Preparations

We are also getting ready for a special project: Making lanterns for our Winter Solstice night! If you have any clean, empty 2L milk bottles or 1.25L soft drink bottles at home, we would love your donations. Students can bring their bottles with them when they come to Forest School on either Monday or Tuesday.

Thank you so much for your support. We can't wait to light up the night with our creations!

Cheers,

Lisa Pickles

Forest School Science Specialist Teacher