Autumn has arrived, minibeasts seek shelter in leaf litter, log piles, and compost heaps to hibernate or survive as larvae and pupae, with many creating winter homes in plant stems and bark. You can observe common minibeasts like ladybirds, spiders, woodlice, worms, slugs, snails, and beetles in damp, dark, and sheltered places during an autumn minibeast hunt. You can also help minibeasts by building bug hotel from fallen leaves, twigs, and hollow stems

• Searching for minibeasts is so much fun, we get to spend time outdoors in the fresh air with our friends and family

• A very important part of learning about minibeasts is learning about biodiversity and why we need to look after the bugs around us!

• Let’s think about all the different areas you might find minibeasts. You might find them in dark places, under rocks, flying around, underneath leaves, behind fences, hiding in small gaps – outside you will find them in so many places.

Below are different activities which will help you explore, learn and familiarise yourself with different mini beasts.

Mini Beast hunt sheets:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MLBrRzyyAWGAHg2wc0Zn8Oc2Sf-eJIpl 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HF39pMJFbWBIQx54e62XADrEb7PIP6IV/edit 

Follow 'how to build a bug hotel', creating habitats for many minibeasts. 

https://the-gingerbread-house.co.uk/how-to-build-a-bug-hotel/

Click the link for some facts about minibeasts: 

https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/insect.html 

Exploring 

Exploring outdoors will create excitement and adventure! Spending time outdoors is your free time to use the environment around you with all of your different senses which will help you to explore.

Follow the link which will take you to some different exploring activities which you can choose from.

Remember you may need an adult helper for your exploring! 

Autumn Exploring

What to Look For in Autumn

• Changing leaves: Look for trees with leaves turning gold, crimson, and other warm colours.

• Migrating birds: Keep an eye out for birds that are migrating as the weather cools. 

• Seasonal fruits and fungi: Forage for fruits like apples and berries, and look for interesting fungi growing on the forest floor. 

• Animal preparations: Observe animals as they prepare for the colder months ahead. 

Activities to Try

• Nature walks and scavenger hunts: Explore local parks or your garden to find autumnal treasures.

• Sensory exploration: Engage all your senses by touching, smelling, and hearing the sounds of autumn, such as the rustle of leaves. 

• Outdoor nature art: Create collages or impressions with leaves, seeds, and natural objects you've collected. 

• Picnics: Enjoy the crisp autumn air with a warm picnic amidst the falling leaves. 

• Seasonal cooking: Taste seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as apples and pumpkins. 

• Attend local events: Experience the season's traditions by visiting a harvest festival or local Halloween event. 

Den building is fun, creative, exciting, challenging and adventurous. When you design and create dens you gain so many skills and learn along the way. It is a great way to keep physically fit and on the move!

You will need to look at the space you have around you and spot the best place for your den. Think about if it is an open space in case the weather changes, would you be safe in your den, how flat the ground is, if you have resources around you such as trees and fences to attach any rope to. Next you will need to gather your resources, are you using tarp material or large to smaller branches, do you need some rope to attach resources to keep hold, or to tie resources together? Gather all the resources you need and explore your designs!

When you are designing and creating your dens make sure you help each other and work as a team! The better the team work, the greater the den! Remember – team work makes the dream work! Speak to each other and discuss what you all think – communicating will help create the best den you can make!

Remember sometimes it might not work out and might go wrong but this is when you can use problem solving and resolve the problem, creating solutions! Persevere and keep your resilience up!

Finally have fun with it! Enjoy your den making – once you have made it have fun with it and spend your day playing in it. Is it a pirate ship? An ice cream shop? Are you camping out? I’d love to hear about what you have created.

Click on the link for different types of dens you might want to create. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vHM9s0vQX8kTWfjGGcq8nYk7_q-jf8xC/edit 

Autumn Challenges

Click the word document below which will take you to some fun outdoor challenges! Read each instruction carefully first and make sure you follow each step, ticking them off when you have done it. 

You could time yourself and take a picture of your creation and ask your friends if they have done the challenge. Thereafter comparing how different each challenge you have completed is from each other.

Have fun! 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mNc4wv-0kaVd2uLy9CHOD6IButJM3g6M/edit 

Knot Tying 

Knot tying is so important in Forest School as we use it for a lot of activities. Not only is it beneficial for Forest School, but it is for yourself too as it improves coordination, gains life skills such as tying shoes and improves fine motor skills! I would love for you to learn how to tie some knots. 

Below is a link for guided practice on certain knots. I would like you to concentrate on the five different knots - they will be very useful. All you will need is a piece of string, rope or ribbon. You might need something such as a stick or a ruler to help your practice.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c5xI-3SnUU