Year 2’s flash challenge this week was to lay a fire in the woodland using only materials they could find themselves. In class we looked at some different styles of fire, what they could be used for and what shapes the children could see. Then we went outside so they could build their own. First job choose a good location near one of the rain shelters, then time to hunt for materials. This is a quick dynamic task to keep the children moving and a cold soggy day and get them thinking about the benefits and risks of fire.
As you can see the children built some fantastic fires and enjoyed some imaginative play toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate. Miss Rowe lit a fire in the fire bowl for them so that they could warm up their hands, by which time it was snowing!
The children helped Miss Rowe to extinguish the fire safely using the snow they gathered to put it out, sticks to stir in the ember soup, then emptying into a cleared mud area.
At the end of the session we reflected on what we had learned. Reflective practice is a feature of each session to ensure learners and practitioners can understand their achievements, develop emotional intelligence and plan for the future.
Principle 4: Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
Article 19 – We all have the right to be protected and kept safe.
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- Clearing ground.
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- This is a tangled mess.
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- Selecting the right kind of tree.
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- Now we’ve got some height on the roof.
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- Planning.
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- Hmm anything we could use from here?
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- This is a great shape for a fire.
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- Once the challenge was completed some children chose to play on the rope spiders.
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- Most children stayed and played in their dens.
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- Finally the tangles were sorted out and the tent put up.
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- Time to get warm.
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- I little fire bowl creates a safely contained fire that can be moved if necessary.
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- Very important discussion about flames and heat.
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- The yellow flames are very visible but actually but look how quickly they move.
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- The children are always surprised by how much heat is above a fire.
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- The children were shown how to extinguish the fire safely.
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- Using the icey snow helped douse the fire.
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- Watching the steam rise was very exciting.
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- Stirring in the ice to make an ember soup.
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- This ensures all embers are completely out.
