There are lots of ways in which trees and woodlands can be used to explore various aspects of the Early Years Framework. For example, children can be supported to ask questions to develop their communication and language skills and focusing on trees and woodlands will help them to meet many of the Early Learning Goal’s in Understanding the World.

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• Explore an individual tree through its textures and ‘personality’. Each child takes a ‘character’ outside and explores the different spaces within the school grounds, whether natural or human made before settling on a tree/s. Ask them to take time exploring the textures, colours, shapes and mysteries of the tree/s. Focus in and look for patterns on the tree/s trunk.
  • Which is your favourite tree?
  • Do you know anything that feels similar?
  • Can we make a bark rubbing? Let’s try.
  • Can we find any faces amongst the patterns?

• Use small characters such as Lego figures to recreate a variety of natural environments and features including forests, rivers, grasslands and deserts.
• As a class look through a range of picture books and explore what the settings are like. Use the school grounds or local park to match some of the features such as a woodland or tree swing.

• We can help to bring our trees to life by giving them a face. You can find out more about how to do this here: https://ourdaysoutside.com/mud-play-make-these-adorable-tree-faces/

What might the faces be saying to each other? Where might they go when we can’t see them? What do these ‘tree elves’ who live at the top of the trees look like? Do different species of tree have different tree elves?

The Geographical Association (GA) has worked closely with the Field Studies Council (FSC) to develop these resources.