Today we went back to the woods but worked in a new area. I asked the children to build new dens and to write down a set of instructions that someone else could use if they wanted to build a den just like theirs. We discussed the need to begin each instruction with a time connective or bossy word -direct link to recent writing lessons.

The children quickly got down to work building their dens and the more academic children took ownership of the clipboard. I had to remind groups to work together and that they had a job to do.

The instructions were initially very brief but I asked leading questions and the children added in more detail. I had thought I would take step by step photos and then ask the children to write another set of instructions, in class, as an assessment. It soon became clear that this would be far too complicated and I would have to give the children so many clues that it really wouldn’t be a valid assessment.

We love den building and ran out of time again!