Nestled in the beautiful, leafy countryside between Godalming and Haslemere, our Nursery and Forest School is the perfect place for children to explore, learn, and grow. As a full day care provider, we’re dedicated to engaging each child with hands-on, seasonal activities that foster curiosity, creativity, and skill development. This week we've embraced the magic of the season with an exciting line-up of activities that celebrated the colours, textures, and changes in nature.
Our journey into autumn began with a beloved book, Leaf Man, which inspired a leaf hunt to explore the diverse shapes and colours of leaves around us. The children learned about the trees that grow in our countryside, identifying the unique shapes and patterns of their leaves. This discovery led to creative “leaf men” and other whimsical designs, sparking plenty of excitement and curiosity!
Creating Garlands, Crowns, and Seasonal Artwork
Back at the nursery, we continued our autumn theme with a leaf garland project. Each child selected their favourite leaves—some for colour, others for shape—and carefully threaded them to create beautiful garlands, which now brighten our classroom. This fine motor skill activity kept them engaged and focused, helping to develop essential coordination skills. During forest school, we also created leaf crowns, which the children wore proudly as they explored our scenic outdoor spaces, surrounded by the beautiful woodland in Brook.
Painting, Prints, and Playdough Faces
Our art activities added even more autumn colour to our nursery. The children created autumn tree paintings, blending vibrant shades to mimic the golden, orange, and red hues of the season. They also explored making faces out of natural materials, mixing leaves, twigs, and pine cones with playdough to bring their unique expressions to life. We even turned our windows into an autumn display with colourful leaf prints made from paint sticks, adding a cosy seasonal feel to our classroom.
Learning Through Maths and Ice Play
Throughout the week, our maths activities focused on sorting leaves by size and shape, helping children develop categorisation skills and an understanding of comparison. A highlight was our “leaf rescue” activity, where autumn leaves were frozen in blocks of ice, and the children used small hammers to chip away the ice and free their leaves. This activity combined sensory play, teamwork, and problem-solving with a touch of science, making learning hands-on and exciting.
Outdoor Fun and Seasonal Songs
In forest school, the children enjoyed toasting bread over a campfire, savouring this simple snack in the fresh autumn air. The parachute was another hit, as we simulated leaves swirling in the air—just like the autumn leaves in our favourite stories. Our nursery has been filled with new seasonal songs that the children have learnt, as they have sang and played musical instruments along to the new melodies.
At Sunny Days at Brook, Nursery and Forest School, our day care provides children from Godalming, Haslemere, Milford, Witley, Chiddingfold and beyond with enriching seasonal activities that support their growth and love for nature. With so many autumn adventures, we’re looking forward to even more fun as we approach Halloween, Diwali and the rest of the season!
