The children at Vallis First School love learning outdoors.

The Science work this term has focussed on learning how to keep our bodies healthy and have focussed on the need for water, sunshine, healthy food especially fruits and vegetables and exercise.

The school has also extended their learning to thinking about what our pets and other living creatures need to stay safe and healthy too.

The new book is Little Echo by Al Rodin. Little Echo lives in lakes, tunnels and caves. 5, 6 and 7 year olds from Vallis excitedly went down to our school field to make habitats for Little Echo using natural materials found in the hedgerows and the wooded area.

The children worked in small groups and used sticks to make shelters and collected leaves, feathers and flowers to make a soft bed for Little Echo . Seeds and berries were used as food for Little Echo. Some children's habitats even included exercise stations for Little Echo to keep fit!

The staff were so impressed how the children listened to each other's ideas and worked collaboratively to make the best habitat for Little Echo. At Vallis school they have dubbed this learning power working as 'Team Ant'.

Back at school the children have used exciting vocabulary to describe the habitats they created.