On Thursday 28th March, the whole school celebrated our Willows’ Outdoor Learning Day. Activities, games and challenges were organised by teachers and specialist external providers to ensure that the children could learn outside, ALL DAY! Thankfully the weather held off and the children had an amazing day – what a way to end the half term!.

Year 3 started the day by brushing up on their problem solving and teamwork skills when trying to figure out the ‘Magic Number Square’. A magic number square is a grid in which every row and column adds up to the same number (the magic number.) It is a fun way for children to problem solve through trial and error, consolidate number bonds and work as a team. 

After break time, the children completed a squirrel hunt, a pre-made track through the willow tunnels that were lined with random objects. There were 20 objects scattered high and low and it is amazing how hard it is to see every object, no matter how hard you look! 

The children then worked in teams to create an idea for story and think of an appropriate book cover design. They used natural materials that they scavenged from around the school grounds to create their book covers and we all had lots of fun trying to guess what each story was going to be about. 

Next, Year 3 were led in orienteering games by the team from Outdoor Education North West. Aled and Christian put the children through their paces on map reading, making accurate maps and orientating maps, before setting off for lots of competitive orienteering games. 

After lunch, teamwork and communication was our main focus. The children completed some teamwork style tasks where listening and communicating your ideas clearly were a huge part of succeeding. We really saw how listening to one another can help us all to achieve and do better! 

We then headed to the church grounds for a Forest School session led by Rachel, Julie and Dave form Fylde Forest School. The children created journey sticks of their adventures of the church grounds and finished the day by toasting marshmallows – a prefect end to an amazing day!