15 May 2026

Following on from last month, when the children created their own dens, today they were tasked with building a den for a tiny mouse. At the start of the session, we sat around the log circle and looked at some pictures of animal homes and shelters in nature, and discussed some important elements we might need to consider – camouflage, an entry, a roof and waterproofing. The children were then given a tiny black pompom to be their ‘mouse’. They were allowed to work by themselves, in pairs or in small groups, but reminded that their den should include an entry and roof, and they should consider both waterproofing and camouflage. We talked about predators and why camouflage is important. The children used all sorts of natural materials to build dens for their mice, and enjoyed sharing their creations with the rest of the group.
Before moving on to free play, we ensured we left no trace by collecting and returning all the pom pom ‘mice’.
During free play, some children chose to dig, play at the mud kitchens, play hide and seek, or look for dens for themselves.
We then tidied to leave no trace before returning to school.