Forest School Project: Nature Art Inspired by Wild by Emily Hughes

This week, Year One took their learning into the wild — quite literally! As part of their English work based on the beautiful picture book ‘Wild’ by Emily Hughes, the children headed out to Forest School for a hands-on adventure in nature.

The story of Wild tells the tale of a little girl who grows up in the wilderness, completely at home with the animals, trees, and streams around her. To help bring the story to life, our Year One students explored the forest setting and imagined what it would be like to live there themselves.

During their visit, the children took time to engage all their senses. They described what they could see — tall trees, colourful leaves, and wriggling bugs! They listened carefully to the sounds of the forest, from rustling leaves to chirping birds. They talked about the smells of damp earth and fresh air, and described how the breeze felt as it passed them. These rich sensory experiences helped them build a vivid picture of the story’s setting and develop language to use in their writing back in the classroom.

The highlight of the session was a wonderful art activity. Inspired by the wild child in the story, the children used clay and natural materials, such as twigs, leaves, and stones, to sculpt their own wild forest faces. Each face was full of personality and reflected the creativity and imagination of its maker.

It was a fantastic cross-curricular experience, combining English, art, and outdoor learning. The children loved getting their hands dirty and thinking creatively about both the story and the natural world around them.

Well done, Year One — you truly brought Wild to life and we are PROUD!