World Around Us
Resource for NIFSA Survival Thematic
Children within Key Stage 2 stage will investigate, explore and learn about the environment
by utilising and working in a Forest School setting. This may be within their grounds or
forest area nearby. They will meet the objectives of the Northern Ireland Curriculum whilst
also developing the aims and values of NIFSA.
The children will use the forest to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills across
a range of learning areas. The theme allows the teacher a wide variety of opportunities
to connect the learning from the Forest School setting to other opportunities within the
classroom and to make relevant connections across the curriculum
How many moths can you identify? Look out for different types of moth fluttering through the twilight and use this sheet to ID them. Some moths like the poplar hawk-moth have a wing span of up to 9cm! Lots of moths come to light, while you’ll find others sipping nectar from flowers Make your own sugar solution and tempt moths to visit your garden
Head into the twilight and hunt for nocturnal animals. Grab your torch and head outside at night to see how many different animals you can spot. Listen carefully can you hear anything snuffling through the undergrowth? How many different creatures can you see? Don’t forget to look out for minibeasts! Lots of animals come out at night, so keep your eyes peeled!
Setting up an outdoor programme
Outdoor policy for early years relating to Covid
Can ye find these pirate treasures hidden in the woods? Keep your eyes peeled look on the forest floor and among the bushes Can you find any other pirate treasure? Think up a pirate name like Peg Legged Pete, or Scallywag Susan Remember X marks the spot
Grab your net and bucket, and pull on your wellies it’s time to go pond dipping! Check out our handy tips and checklists so you’re fully prepared search through the watery depths… To be a successful pond dipper, you’ll need the right equipment follow our handy guide Be a real scientist and predict then record your finds did you spot everything you were looking for? Follow our top tips and get dipping! What creatures did you find lurking in the deep? Use our super spotter sheet to help you identify them and see what else you can discover.
Products and uses for trees
Products from forests
Colour recognition in nurseries
Collect leaves and sticks and make your own musical rattle! This is a super simple activity that’s a whole lot of fun! Only choose the crunchiest, driest sticks! Do big leaves or small leaves work best? Make other natural instruments and set up your own woodland orchestra!
Scavenger hunt for early years
Gather sweet- or rich-smelling items and create a woodland perfume. Take a deeeeeeeep breath next time you’re in the woods. What can you smell? Collect your favourite scents and pop them into an empty yoghurt pot Do they smell strong, sweet, earthy? Smells can come from all sorts of places sticks, flowers, leaves Does early spring have a different smell to late spring?
Plants to go in your school grounds
Can you crack these bird anagrams? Many wild birds nest and lay eggs in spring. Can you unscramble the bird names and discover who the eggs belong to? Solve the anagrams to identify the bird eggs Keep your eyes peeled for broken eggshells in the wild they often fall from nests after baby birds hatch Use your puzzle answers to identify the real eggs you find! Did you know? Bird nests and eggs have special protection. It’s illegal to take them from the wild, thanks to the Wild Bird Act 1954.
Follow these simple steps and find out how to plant seeds. Growing anything from a seed is exciting, but it can be tricky. Just follow our top tips and watch your seeds flourish! Gather seeds during autumn look for acorns, conkers and helicopters beneath trees Once you have your seed, all you need is a bit of compost and a yoghurt pot You can grow all sorts from seeds have a go at wildflowers too!
Collect different textures and create a sensory box for your mini Nature Detective. Babies and toddlers are fascinated by textures and smells. What will you add to your box? Make a memento of your woodland journey Add items that your little one makes a beeline for leaves, feathers and sticks are great! Remember to choose lots of textures
Hunt for shapes in your outdoor space
Keep your eyes peeled for these super summer signs. Lots of animals and minibeasts are active during summer. How many different signs can you find? Look out for minibeasts visiting flowers Use your different senses what can you see, hear and smell? Can you spot any other signs of summer? Do you notice more summer signs when the sun is out, or when it’s raining?
Make a super simple feeder to help your garden birds. This seed feeder is really easy to make, and your feathered friends will thank you for it when the weather gets colder. All you need is a loo roll inner, some peanut butter and some bird seed This is a great activity for Nature Detectives of all ages Keep your eyes peeled for birdy visitors, and identify them with our garden bird ID sheet
Head out in the snow and make your own snow angels. Pull on your warmest woollies it’s time to play. Create a whole family ask your friends and grown-up to help you Can you think of any other ways to make angels? Try using sticks Don’t forget to practice! The first few can be your trial angels The snow needs to be quite deep, so look for a completely fresh, untouched patch.
Listen to the woods in summer what can you hear? Next time you’re in the woods, stand still and listen for the sounds of summer. Listen carefully can you hear insects and animals chirping and snuffling? Try coming back another day, or when it’s raining. Does the wood sound different? Write a poem using the sounds you hear Woods have a different song during the morning and at night, and in different seasons. Note down what you can hear each time you visit.
Listen up! How many different sounds can you hear in the woods? Nature is so noisy! Get your ear to the ground and listen to the woods. Find a quiet spot, stand still and listen carefully. What can you hear? Try and pinpoint different sounds insects, birds and trees How many noises can you make? Once you’ve heard everything on the sheet, try listening out for other woodland sounds. What do you think they could be?
Head outside and listen for busy birds and buzzing bees. Spring is a noisy time the woods are alive with the sounds of nature! Download the tick sheet and see how many you can hear. Ribbit ribbit! Listen out for friendly frogs. Rat-a-tat-tat! Can you hear a woodpecker pecking? What sound do raindro_ps make pitter patter or plop plop? Grown-ups: Buzz and quack with your little one. It’s a fun way for them to practice making different sounds and helps improve speech development.