In this reflective, free-flowing episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma retreat to the cabin and let a single newspaper article take them down multiple woodland rabbit holes. Beginning with signs of spring and the comforts (and perils) of recording indoors, they unpack a recent Guardian piece on children’s questioning, ponder why curiosity collapses once formal schooling begins, and explore how Forest School can keep the flame alive. Along the way they share vivid stories—snowdrop rambles, improvised “woodlouse sanctuaries”, and the moment a statistics bombshell (107 questions an hour!) stopped them in their tracks. Listeners will leave with practical ways to model inquiry, validate every “why?”, and embrace the glorious messiness that deep learning demands.

⏱ Chapter Timings
00:00 – Back in the cabin: weather chat, graded exposure & creature comforts
01:11 – First true spring session: energy, long-term group bonds and why duration matters
02:23 – Snowdrops, footpaths & getting “half-lost”: nurturing sense of place
03:46 – Guardian article spotlight: the power (and decline) of children’s questions
07:26 – 107 questions an hour: what schools suppress and Forest School can revive
09:40 – Curiosity as social leveller: outcomes for disadvantaged children & loose-parts play
12:06 – Deep vs shallow play, consolidation time and meeting learners where they are
17:02 – Curiosity is messy: time, kit, risk and the courage to go off-script
24:30 – Facilitator tactics: personal stories, thinking aloud and the art of answering with questions
34:46 – Woodlouse sanctuary case study: the environment as silent co-teacher

🌲 Keywords: curiosity in learning, children’s questions, loose-parts play, deep play, consolidation, reflective practice, modelling inquiry, open-ended resources, sense of place, Forest School pedagogy, disadvantaged learners, intrinsic motivation, playwork principles, emergent curriculum, environmental co-teaching

🔖 Hashtags:
#ForestSchool #CuriosityDrivenLearning #OutdoorEducation #ChildLedInquiry #LoosePartsPlay #ReflectivePractice #DeepPlay #SenseOfPlace #NaturePedagogy #MessyLearning

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