Forest School

The Winter Solstice is just around the corner, and students have been busily preparing by making their lanterns for our upcoming celebration.

Our Foundation and Year 1 students had a delightfully messy time creating their lanterns using our traditional method of upcycling empty bottles. With colourful tissue paper, autumn leaves, and lots of gluey fingers, they decorated their lanterns beautifully.

Middle years students took a more detailed approach, using tracing paper to create stunning designs inspired by Australian native wildlife. They focused carefully as they traced their images, and we discussed how using silhouettes will create a lovely effect when the lanterns are lit from the inside.

Meanwhile, our Years 5 and 6 students explored sustainability and the value of reusing materials. They made their own handmade paper from recycling shredded paper from the school, learning how to soak, squash, crush, and mix the paper into pulp. Each student then moulded their pulp into unique designs and patiently pressed out the water to help their creations dry. We also discussed other papermaking methods like using a blender and a mould and deckle, which can create thinner, smoother sheets. But many students agreed there’s something special about the textured, rustic look of their handmade creations.

We’re so proud of the students' creativity and resourcefulness and we can’t wait to see all the lanterns glowing together at our Winter Solstice night!

Cheers,

Lisa Pickles

Forest School Science Specialist Teacher