Session 25 - Reely Good Time!

 

In preparation for the rest of Class 6 joining us at Forest School tomorrow for a den building afternoon, we decided to haul out our big reel of polypropylene rope. We needed to cut varying lengths of rope to use for securing the tarpaulins and for our warm-up games. We used a fixed blade knife to cut the lengths of rope. As we have not used this tool for several sessions, we agreed that to ensure that we were using the tool safely, we needed to remind each other of the tool talk for using a fixed blade knife.

Our fixed Blade knife tool talk.

• This is a fixed blade knife
• This is the blade cover
• We remove the cover like this
• This is the blade
• This is the cutting edge
• We use the knife two arms and a tool's length away from other people
• We wear a glove on the non tool hand and work away from our body
• We cut with the knife like this
• We pass the knife like this
• When we have finished using the knife replace the blade cover like this and back in the tool box.

We also talked about the risks involved when using ropes. SL said that there is a risk of being strangled if you use ropes where they could be wrapped around people's neck. NK said that ropes can cause burns if you pull the rope through your hand. JA said that ropes can be trip hazards. SS said that ropes can cause you to get injured if you tie them around your body. We discussed how we could use the ropes safely and how we would have to make the rest of Class 6 aware of the risks associated with using the ropes tomorrow.

After safely cutting some lengths of rope (which SS said looked like waves when all laid out) we played 'Rope Spaghetti' This is played by tangling some ropes together (on for every two players). Each player picks up a rope end and then has to try and untangle the rope and find their partner, without letting go of the end of the rope. We agreed that this game would work even better with more players.

Next, the children took it in turns to design a rope trail for the rest of the group to follow blindfolded. They had to invest a great deal of trust in their guides to lead them safely around the trail. They proving to be a very caring bunch as no-one tried to lead anyone else into the obstacles placed around the trail. I hope the rest of Class 6 prove to be as considerate tomorrow (especially when they are leading me around the trail!).