Fires, Meteorites and Turbo! A great morning on the mountain.

Our first visit to the mountain for the term was a huge success. Olivia and Rachel had a wonderful time and took it all in their stride, while the other girls reconnected with past experiences.

Our first stop was at Turbo 's house to ask his mum if he could come with us. After receiving lots of cuddles and attention he followed us along the road and up the steps and stayed the 

whole time we were there. 

His tree climbing skills astound us. There was a little concern about whether 

he would be able to get down again!

When we walked through the gate the girls were excited to see that someone had built a fire. They ran down into the crater and the fire became the focus of their play for the next hour.

"Maybe the sun made it for us" said Féline

"I think that the sheep made it" said Jacqui.

At first the girls thought someone had built the fire for them. They were delighted to see Turbo walking in and out of it and it didn't take long until they decided that the stick 

structure was actually Turbo's house.

Dakota and Féline tried to make Turbo another house and rallied the other girls to help. They tried to make a structure like the fire they had found, but it was all a bit too tricky.

When the girls made a fire last term, it was Féline who had organised the girls to collect stones and put them around the fire. At first she used the stones as seats and then changed that idea into using the stones to contain the fire in a circle. Today she was so excited to 

find lots and lots of stones near the fire.

"Look, there are meteors. This is big; the big one is the daddy one and there is a mummy one and these are all the babies". 

We find it interesting that the girls often 'family- ise' their play. Turning the rocks into family figures seemed to be another example of this. Here is Féline making a meteorite family.

The girls also spent a lot of times turning the rocks upside down and looking 

closely at all the creatures underneath the rocks.

After morning tea, in which Turbo joined us...

... we went off to the fairy grotto.. This is the place the girls play their games around the large roots of the tree on the bank. Their imagination really takes off. We can see friendships developing and as we all know, friendships need a lot of talking things through, rule making (and breaking), 

 negotiating and planning. Skills that are vitally important at any age, 

and better to learn earlier than later.

 

To finish off our lovely morning, we played 'The Three Little Pigs'. Some of you will know what happens in this game from stories your daughter has already told you.

 

The highlight is always Mrs Bayes' bottom getting burnt with the 

boiling water that the girls prepare on the fire.

The girls love collecting treasures and they took great pleasure bringing lots of different things back to the classroom.

 

Then it was time to go home again.

Rachel had spent a lot of time with Turbo during the morning, so it was wonderful to 

see her making sure he could get out the gate and that he didn't get left behind!