Summer is on its way!

Nature and the great outdoors play an integral part in a child’s education at Pilgrims.  The summer term’s topics, in particular, ensure that every year group has the opportunity to learn about the environment and life in the natural world.

the topics we are covering this term:

Pre-School: Down on the Farm (to include a visit from a local farm, finding out about farm vehicles, animal babies, food from the farm and bees)

Reception: Wild and Wonderful (to include learning about reptiles, spiders, bees and making a habitat for a mini beast)

Year 1: Let’s Stick Together Whatever the Weather (to include a wild wood adventure, pond life, plants, Forest School and a visit to local shops)

Year 2: A Walk in the Woods (Forest School, pond-dipping, a residential trip to Hindleap Warren with lots of outdoor activities and a look at food chains and life cycles)

Countless studies support the theory that children are more receptive to learning when you take them out of the classroom and into the great outdoors – we embrace this approach wholeheartedly!

In keeping with our love of nature, our nesting box is currently playing host to a blue-tit who laid six eggs and whose recently hatched, hungry chicks are keeping their mother and father very busy.  There is also a nesting box outside one of our Kindergarten rooms, and the children in Little Pilgrims have all the excitement of watching, first-hand the arrival of baby birds.

In addition to the summer term of planned topics, we will also be dusting off our May pole and limbering up for some frolicking around it in the playground.  Our children will be able to learn some traditional May pole dances as well as making up their own.  We will be sharing photos as soon as we can.

What’s planned for later in the year?

Later on this summer, in early August, and for the third year in a row, our choir will be joining the star-studded line-up at the Bedford Park Proms in the Park event. Last year our choir’s participation led to them being invited to record a number of carols which then became part of a very successful CD called Olga Thomas: Jubilation.

Before that though there will be gardening, growing vegetables, outdoor play and of course the usual summer term activities such as Sports Day.  While the weather might not be predictable, the joy our children get from enjoying all these activities is, and we can’t wait!  Roll on long days, freshly mown grass and the sound of children’s laughter in the air!