This week we’ve been reading The Shape of My Heart by Mark Sperring and Alys Patterson and we were inspired to make this Printed Heart Silhouette. We also took advantage of a morning without rain and went to Wendover Woods to hunt for shapes in the great outdoors. The woods are high up in the Chilterns and if I had realised I would have taken an extra jumper, as being that bit higher up it was colder than I had expected! Burt was wrapped up warm so we carried on regardless and I promised myself a coffee in the Café In the Woods to warm up later. It was quite misty when we started our walk, however that didn’t spoil the stunning views, they just looked more mystical.
We were hunting for any shapes that we could find: circles, squares, rectangles, triangles and hearts. Once you start looking it is amazing how many shapes there are around us. Very quickly we found circles on some tree trunks. Burt and I traced the rings of the tree trunk with our fingers. Exploring shapes in a physical way is a great way of developing an understanding and some children will learn much more quickly doing this kind of activity rather than just looking at pictures of circles in books, on the computer, or colouring in shapes.
We carried on through the shapes created by the path and the trees to a stump on the ground. Despite the chill in the air what did we see? A ladybird! The ladybird was a circle, it had black circles on its back and it was crawling on a cylindrical tree stump which had a circle on two sides! This was very exciting and it was very difficult to leave the ladybird behind but we had more shapes to find.
The wind has been hard at work recently blowing small branches and sticks to the ground. Burt decided to collect some sticks and we made our own shapes out of the sticks that he found. This might not be a rectangle in the strict mathematical sense but it shows an understanding that there are four sides, two short sides and two longer sides. If you have older children you could challenge them to find more unusual shapes or create equilateral, isosceles and scalene triangles with natural materials.
Along the trail we were following we stumbled upon the Den Building Area! This is an area where lots of trees have recently been felled as part of the management of the forest. The branches of the fallen trees have been removed from the trunks and left in piles on the ground so that you can build your own shelter in the woods. We tried out a few of the dens that had been built already and we thought this one had an entrance that looked like a triangle. It was very warm once you got inside and out of the wind.
After clambering in and out of dens we carried on our search. We found rectangles in the fence as the sun started to break through the mist.
On the way back we discovered the children’s play area and had a swing and a climb. We found lots of shapes here: the circles in the tyres; the squares in the scramble net; the rectangles in the wooden structures.
Our shape walk reminded me that there are learning opportunities all around us and it helped Burt to see that shapes are not just things in books, they are part of our world - natural and man-made. In our society the overall attitude to maths seems to be a negative one but maths doesn’t have to be boring and irrelevant. Shapes help us understand and make use of the world around us, they are everywhere, we just need moments in our daily lives to pause and realise their importance.
You can read more about the story that inspired us The Shape of My Heart by Mark Sperring and Alys Patterson or discover some more crafts and activities linked to the book.
Have you been inspired by a book to craft, go on an outing or do an activity this week?
I’m linking up this week with Coombe Mill Country Kids linky with lots of other bloggers who love spending time with their kids outside, even if the weather is shocking!
Great idea, you can get a lot out of educational material out of nature.
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mellissa williams recently posted…What Something For Free? Sign Up To The Work Perk
Absolutely lovely ! Nature is blooming amazing when you really look
Becky recently posted…Savvy and Simple Money Saving Tips #2
I love this idea. It reminds me of Drew Barrymore’s book, which is photos of heart shapes that she has found in every day things over the years. It’s good to remind ourselves that we should really look around rather than ignore what is around us.
Alison Perry recently posted…My Name Is Alison… And I’m Addicted To My Onesie
Haven’t heard of that Alison. Off to Google now!
Shapes, that is a really good idea. We usually do colours or things starting with a certain letter or sound.
Pinkoddy recently posted…Hearts & Flowers Home Made Gift
This looks like our sort of thing - there’s so much to be learnt from nature - and I’ve had a ladybird in the house this week - odd times! x
Mammasaurus recently posted…38. How Does Your Garden Grow?
Reading this makes me wish I could drive and get to some of these wonderful places. I’m a complete lover of woodlands and nature trails and can’t wait to go on longer trips with my kids so that we can explore. Gorgeous, lovely post!
That view is spectacular!!!
It was beautiful but freezing!
Awww what a lovely day out!
maggy, red ted art recently posted…Valentine’s Decoration: Paper Heart Garland
What a lovely atmospheric walk! Gorgeous pics too!
Lovely! So much more fun to learn in the great outdoors than in a stuffy classroom!
So simple, yet effective! We’re planning a trip to the woods or beach at the weekend - will definitely be giving this a bash
Gorgeous photos btw 
It is so easy Cas and kids love it! Makes a walk much easier for us if we are looking for something!
What an inventive way of encouraging children to walk more
Those pics have really made me miss my little boys now he’s at ft school but you have inspired me again so am taking him on such a shapehunting walk later, thank you
x
Anya from Older Single Mum and The Healer recently posted…The Road to Ruin.
You can even do it on the walk home from school. We are always on the look out for something. Have a lovely walk x
A fun education walk out
We like looking for faces in things! I see faces everywhere in nature x
Michelle recently posted…Booze Free Dinner Party [BRITA Boost Challenge]
What a wonderful walk. It’s so great that you can learn so much from just walking in the woods. And the photos are gorgeous
Orli D recently posted…NatWest First Saver and Growing Up Fast
A you know I adore this, so much so I have featured it on this week’s something for the weekend
Jen aka The Mad House recently posted…Something for the weekend - Heart Activities
You are a treasure, thank you x
Such gorgeous photos - looks like you had lots of fun x x
Cass recently posted…Five things I’ve done this week to save money….
This is such a good idea! I am going to do this with my youngest to help her learn her shapes
x
Keri-Anne recently posted…Valentines sailing boats diy
What a great activity… simple but yet creative way of spending a quality time together
I whole heartedly agree that hands on learning can be much more effective than reading about it! Burt’s natural curiousity means he’s learning without even realising it and what lovely memories he will have when he gets older!
Lucy Dorrington recently posted…Top Ten Tips for Fussy Eaters!
What a really good idea. Going to do this with my son as we home educate so this will be a great little learning trip out one morning. The Cafe in the Woods sounds perfect.
Sam recently posted…Gardens on my travels - New Zealand
That’s not too far from us and looks like a lovely place to visit with the children
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What a fantastic idea! I love finding shapes in new places, but mine tend to be random. I will have a go at looking out for specific shapes in the future. Lovely photos - and it looks like you had a lovely walk
Vicky recently posted…Visit to Porchester castle: what’s the story?
What a great idea - I have to admit I don’t think I’ve ever thought about how much shapes surround us
x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…On a Wick and a Prayer Heart Candle: Review
sounds like an amazing day out, super photos - we say ‘we’re going on an adventure’ when we go for a country walk - looks as if that’s exactly what you had!
How lovely - I do like Wendover and we’re well overdue another visit.
Penny Carr recently posted…Valentines Crafting with Bostik
Oh my goodness Kirsty, Wendover Woods look amazing. Sounds like you had the best time too. I grew up in Berkhamsted so we may well have gone there before - or may in the future (my sister-in-law lives in St Albans) x
Charly Dove recently posted…Butterflies in the Glasshouse
It is a small world, I am sure you must have been to Wendover Woods as they are so close to Berkhamsted and it is a great place for families.
What a beautiful post. Stunning scenery and superb photography. So great that you have walks like that around you. Super stuff xx
Liska recently posted…Wood Green Shopping City Was Opened by The Queen - The Photo Gallery
wonderful pictures! x
Fritha Strickland recently posted…A month of vegan
What a fabulous idea - had not thought about doing a themes walk!
Kara recently posted…Where do you come from?
Brilliant - bringing outdoors, maths, learning and fun together!
This walk looks beautiful and I love the idea of finding shapes along the way! So much better than learning from a book x
Lisa recently posted…A Little Garden Update on a Rainy Afternoon
This is such a lovely, yet simple idea. I think we’ll be looking for shapes on our next walk now - thanks!
The Reading Residence recently posted…The Puddle Quest
Such a beautiful place for a shape hunt and some great family fun. What a great idea for a fun maths lesson that engaged Burt in his learning. Thanks for linking up and sharing your outdoor fun with Country Kids.
What a lovely walk and shape hunt! I love that they leave the branches for den building! Wish I could find something like that close to home to do with my son.
Wow that is such an awesome idea! Am definitely going to try this x
Charlotte recently posted…How a flooded park turned into the perfect day out
I am loving that den!! i so need to have ago at den building! x
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I used to run environmental activities for children and so many subjects can be taught outside in the garden, school grounds, park or countryside … and the best bit was more often than not the children had such a good time they didn’t even realise they were learning! Trying to remember if I ever did a shape walk - I did design a maths garden once!
Rosie recently posted…Chickens in the Naughty Corner
Wonderful idea for a walk - and amazing views to behold.
Kriss MacDonald recently posted…A walk with the wind
What a brilliant idea! We normally play I spy on our walks but have never searched for shapes before. Some very interesting photos, love the den area
Angela recently posted…Moshling Series 9 Countdown No.14 Toots
Great photos. What a good idea hunting for shapes. Will have to try that with my little boy.
Mummy of Two recently posted…Silent Sunday #5
Gorgeous pics and a shape walk is a brilliant idea. I’ve made a note to try it.
Emily recently posted…From neglected junk room to beautiful bedroom (stage 1)
It looks like you had a great day out. So much fun den building and exploring
Emmys Mummy recently posted…Karcher 5.800 C Steam Cleaner Review
That looks like a great way to learn. We love going out for walks but I never remember to do learning stuff too, mind you mine are a bit more resistant now they are at school. Love the heart shaped log!
Rollercoaster Mum recently posted…The Year 2014 in photos - Week 9
Oh this is a lovely way to learn! I’m going to go hunting for shapes the next time we go to the woods
Kate Williams recently posted…St Patricks Day Card
This is such a good idea to bring their learning in to real life and to show how many different things there are too see on a walk. But I’m starting to feeling a little frustrated because Wendover Woods sound so similar but I can’t think that we’ve ever been. Is it well sign posted? We have friends in Aylesbury maybe I’ve seen it on signs on our way to them. If not, maybe I’m just being drawn to the woods.
Kate Davis recently posted…Stats: February 2014
What a beautiful place! I am going to look this up. Such a clever idea to look for shapes in nature, fab idea and one I will keep in store for the future x
Emily Greentree recently posted…The sleep creep
fab idea, might have to borrow that one!
HPMcQ recently posted…this forty year old face
That is just brilliant! I will be definitely be stealing this idea - with my own kids, as well as with the children I childmind.
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…What is my guilty pleasure?
What gorgeous pictures. Looks like you had a lovely day !
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