Creating a context

We are lucky to be able to enjoy going on a monthly basis to a local park with a 'woodland classroom' where the children can sit around on logs to have snack or chat & explore in a natural safe environment.
We have tried to recreate some of that environment back in the playground at nursery & I love seeing the children begin to make a connection with the logs we have dotted around the grass muddy area. It once again proves how once a young child has seen something in the proper context they can then relate to it in a more meaningful way.

Prior to going to the forest & sitting around the logs to have snack the children tend to use the logs in our playground for climbing or balancing on but once they have seen their potential as seats their play takes on a whole new meaning.

What I do find fascinating is that even before we have ever had the experience of a real fire to cook popcorn or marshmallows on, they still instinctively 'cook' when sitting around on the logs.