This week we have been talking about pumpkins and how people light them up for Halloween. Some of the children were able to tell us that pumpkins have candles inside them! This led to an important conversation about candles, fire and keeping safe.
We talked about how only adults should light candles or fires and that we must always keep a safe distance because fire can be very dangerous, even though the flames can be lovely to look at.
We then went on a pumpkin hunt through the woods and around the allotment. When we discovered our pumpkins, the children were quick to notice their different colours and sizes, as well as the spooky faces carved into some of the bigger pumpkins!
Our conversations continued as we talked about another celebration coming up – Bonfire Night! We discussed bonfires and fireworks and reminded ourselves of the safety rules around fire. We also learnt a little rhyme together:
“We are waiting for the fireworks, as quiet as quiet can be!
Here come the fireworks, flash, bang, weeee!”
To help the children understand what happens when we have a bonfire, we explored a piece of wood and talked about how this is what people use to burn on a bonfire. We discussed how, once a fire has completely gone out and cooled, it can leave behind charcoal.
The children were then given some leftover charcoal from a home fireplace, along with paper, to explore mark-making. They enjoyed experimenting with this different material, making their own marks and noticing how the charcoal left dark marks on the paper. Some children were particularly interested in how dirty their hands had become!
It has been a lovely opportunity to combine seasonal celebrations, outdoor exploration, creative mark-making and, most importantly, some important conversations about keeping ourselves safe around fire.
