Forest Kindergarten at The Patch
At The Patch Primary School and Kinder, our Forest Classroom brings learning to life through joyful, hands-on adventures in nature. Each fortnight, our Year 5 students buddy up with our four-year-old kinder children to explore the school’s rich outdoor learning spaces — from the fern gully and wetlands to the vegetable garden, arboretum and frog bog.
Our learning is grounded in First Nations perspectives, honouring the deep knowledge and ongoing custodianship of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. Children are guided to notice seasonal changes, respect living things, and understand that we all share responsibility for caring for Country.
Together, students splash through puddles, create nature art, hunt for minibeasts, track water flowing through the landscape, and discover the plants and wildlife that call our grounds home. With outdoor gear provided, they embrace every kind of weather and grow in confidence, curiosity and resilience.
Environmental care is woven into every session — from planting and protecting habitats to exploring how our actions impact the land and waterways. Through “kids teaching kids,” our mixed-age model empowers Year 5 students as leaders while giving younger children a gentle, exciting introduction to school life.
Most importantly, the Forest Classroom nurtures a lifelong love of nature. As children explore, question, build, observe and create, they develop the knowledge, empathy and sense of responsibility needed to become future guardians of the environment. Families often tell us how these discoveries continue at home — a sign that the Forest Classroom is sparking learning that lasts well beyond the school gate.