Very young class

[Wilderbeast]

Hey guys i'm giving another presentation on fire talks on sunday, nothing special...........except it's with 8 year olds- not my usual audience!

I haven't got any of the advanced fire stuff planed because I haven't got any of my gear with me and I don't want to bore them.

What sort of things should I go for, so far my thoughts are:

Types of fire and layout
A few natural tinders
How to light a good fire with matches
and
How to dispose of a fire correctly (Scattering wet ashes etc. A little boring but I feel it absoloughtly ESSENTIAL that young kids know this, maybe if more people my age new it there wouldn't be such awful fire messes left at campsites )

Wilderbeast will

[Mesquite]

Show them fire making by flint and steel. That will amaze them

You can make steels really easy and cheaply by getting hacksaw blades and breaking them down and let them have a go as well.

[Wilderbeast]

Show them fire making by flint and steel. That will amaze them

You can make steels really easy and cheaply by getting hacksaw blades and breaking them down and let them have a go as well.

I'd love to but i'm just so strapped for time to get the stuff at the moment, got no flint and no tinder either

[WolfCub]

They'l love trying to get sparks from a firesteel, especialy onto cotton wool or charcloth. With a bit of help to start most of them should get a result.
There is a 'poem' about the burning properties of different woods ?

[wicca]

Try to get hold of a pair of tights or something nylon/synthetic and show them the danger of those fabrics shrivelling and clinging if they catch fire. Warn them about loose nylon jackets etc: and not leaning over the fire. Don't frighten them, just warn them...

[sam_acw]

8 year olds need to see and do, not be told stuff. They generally fall under the heading of a kinesthetic learner

[Wayland]

Once you have your fire going you could show them how to toast marshmallows or make dough twists.

[Tengu]

Id suggest Potassium permangnate and Glycerine

Thats always impressive.

[Graham_S]

wire wool and a 9v battery is always fun

[timboggle]

Understanding the fire triangle, Heat, Fuel, Oxygen !!

also, using a first aid dressing to get it started with a spark or match.

enjoy, a good age to work with mate

[spamel]

Be very careful, they're 8! Matches will become something they believe they have mastered, I know 'cos I was that kid! Fortunately, I didn't burn down a patch of grass the same size as a football field, Dad did that trying to find his wedding ring!

Anything you show them must be enforced upon them the danger of going away and trying it out without adult supervision, both at the start and end of the lesson. I'd go with matches or a lighter (the safer option) amd go with basic fire lays, how to harvest some basic tinders such as birch bark peelings and thistle down and as you say, the correct way to clear a fire place up at the end. You pour the water on and pick up the embers, then let them do the same, kids love getting their hands dirty! Scatter widely and then throw loose leaf debris over the old fire place. Job done!

[hog]

A large piece of sodium in a tin of water reacts nicely and create a very nice mini explosion at the end.

[silvergirl]

Are you inside or outside

for this age group really needs to be hands on to be memorable.
get them to touch birch bark or sometimg similar and compare sizes of tinder/kindling etc.
Emphisis what the ground underneath is like, will it cause damage/ spread etc.

The last page of the Children's bushcraft sticky has a few suggestions for what people do with kids (4 yr olds) and fire.