after school, Mondays in October 2011

An after school club with the focus on outdoor play.  Written by Edward or Louise.

Monday 31st:-

We had a pumpkin on the table as it is halloween.  Rachel lit up the path with empty tins and tea lights in side.  It was so pretty.  A huge pumpkin was at the gate made be rachel's mum.  "spooky."  Fleur played a chase game with Phoebe.  Dylan and Fleur picked some flowers, "white ones."  The children enjoyed the club today because it got dark at 5pm because we out the clocks back.  All the children played a good game of chase and Phoebe used her soft toy and spun it around like it had magic power.  Ollie and Barney played footie 2 - 2.  "I liked everything," said Dylan.  "It was good excercise," said Finlay.  As club came to an end we were joined by bats in the garden, and we discussed their use of sonar. 

Monday 17th:-

Leila, Finlay, Jack, Ollie, Fleur, Danny and Dylan rolled down the hill in a giant box.  Phoebe did some friendship bracelet weaving and some woodwork with Barney.  Danny, Oliver, Jack and Hayden played rugby.  It was Leila's last day, we hope she will come back.  Leila played lego with Danny and the marble game "screwball scramble".

Monday 10th:

A warm and windy day, from the south west: although I had lit a woodburning stove in the middle play room to take the edge of the not cold but not warm feeling! Barney was brilliant as ever with teaching sportsmanship to some of the keener footballers. he confided in me that it's hard work this constant theme of fairness, but in the long run it will benefit the boys. I'm sure of that too! Dylan and Arthur joined in the game, whilst others decided to cook with Louise. Danny and Phoebe wanted to work with wood, as Edward (me) finished off a froe handle (at the 3rd attempt!) Barney came to the workshop as Jack, Phoebe and Danny picked some raspberries...nearly the last of the autumn variety. Danny suggested apple and raspberry juice which sounded like a good combination.  I watched one of the younger children, quite by accident, pour the tub of berries on the floor, as they negotiated their way through the canes. It is interesting the relationship of balance, holding something and maintaining its equilibrium. At tea there was some beautiful singing from Leila, as Fleur looked on. Finlay left early to bike down to the dentist with his mum...well done him! Dylan served cupcakes...another triumph. Well done the cooks!!

Monday 3rd:

It was another hot day; in many ways too hot for this time of year. Nevertheless we all enjoyed playing in the garden. A new guest came up from Swainswick called Fleur. She enjoyed looking around the house and garden, followed by some weaving on the top lawn, helping and watching Louise and Barney.  Finlay and Danny made a good game of building a den under an old boat, whilst Oli trooped around playing chase with both Finlay and Danny. Jack was at the dentist, so the football was led by Arthur and Oli; shooting the ball. Dylan and Phoebe wanted to do some woodwork in the newly set up shelter, so they worked on shaving sticks. Phoebe also snacked on a few raspberries, picked with Louise.

Louise added that earlier on Danny and Dylan enjoyed a game of chess, to relax after school and that Leila and Fleur made a slider out of wool.