We ended December a special Forest School lesson. Brandon came in and taught the Herons about the perfect cooking fire and we put together hobo packets of potatoes, butter and seasoning salt. They were delicious (and perfectly browned…thanks, Brandon!) The Herons were excited to try more outdoor cooking in the new year.
We also had our first snow ball fight of the year on Wednesday. "Snow ball fight? How is that curriculum?" you might be thinking. Learning how to gauge others' reactions and monitor your own reactions is a crucial part of snow ball fights, sports and, indeed, working with other humans in general.
Kids learn how to assess their own feelings: Are you still having fun? Are you starting to get angry? Are you starting to take things personally? How do you maintain your cool (not literally)? They also learn how to take a more global view of the situation: How do you make it fun for others? Who is being included? How do you connect? They watch for cues from others, too: When did you go too far? When is someone playing along? When have they had enough?
Alliances are made and broken. A snow ball occasionally hits a head (or makes its way down someone's back). Learning how to laugh and watch and adjust one's actions are key skills to learning how to work together in any setting. We had a great time (and, whew, did I get clobbered!)
The Rookery 
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