23 September 2025

During outdoor play and Forest School sessions, the children observed seasonal changes: the colour of leaves, and changes in the flowers and hedgerows.
On this visit, we were amazed to discover the growth of fungi. So much excitement! Their imaginations were sparked by the mushrooms, which they likened to fairy houses. The children began to imagine and make up stories about the magical creatures and insects that might live in these toadstools. We looked at the patterns on the toadstools and mushrooms. We wondered: why are they red? What could that mean? Why are some brightly coloured and others not? So many things to find out!
This led to creative exploration: they used natural materials to build small natural worlds. The children worked collaboratively, problem-solving and making decisions as a team. They decided on a theme inspired by their selection of natural growth. The children all agreed that it was very important not to touch the fungi, as we needed to find out more information about their dangers, uses, and properties. They showed curiosity about plant names, leaf shapes, tree names, and the parts of the plants. With such an amazing garden of fungi, the children treaded carefully so as not to damage the beautiful fungi garden and demonstrated care and respect for the environment. Their fascination with the natural world inspired a desire to learn more. On return to the classroom, we will find out more information about fungi: their habitat and why they grow here. The children used the boundaries to ensure a safe location was observed at all times. They used feeling faces to describe how they felt about the activity.