An Introduction to Making a Fire
This lesson plan/ activity will guide you through having a fire with your children. It is intended for children aged 4-8 but can easily be extended for slightly older children.
The activity follows the Forest School approach to fire making and is the ideal means to introduce fire to children. The fire-making is in a Kelly Kettle (Storm Kettle) and the plan guides you through the process of getting the children involved (gathering fuel) in order to boil water for their own hot chocolate! I have found this to be one of the most enjoyable sessions taught outdoors but I recommend it only be carried out when the practitioner has complete confidence in the behaviour of the children. This suits nicely towards the end of a series of Forest School sessions and feeds beautifully into cooking on an open fire, which should follow the following week as a means of extending and imbedding the learning.
The activity follows the Forest School approach to fire making and is the ideal means to introduce fire to children. The fire-making is in a Kelly Kettle (Storm Kettle) and the plan guides you through the process of getting the children involved (gathering fuel) in order to boil water for their own hot chocolate! I have found this to be one of the most enjoyable sessions taught outdoors but I recommend it only be carried out when the practitioner has complete confidence in the behaviour of the children. This suits nicely towards the end of a series of Forest School sessions and feeds beautifully into cooking on an open fire, which should follow the following week as a means of extending and imbedding the learning.