Camp Catastrophe

Our Deconstructed Role Play Area has been many things this year but this term it has proudly been turned into an expedition basecamp by our intrepid FS1 and FS2 explorers .(With a handful of reversions back into Arandelle for our Frozen Superfans!)

Whilst your children were busy with their phonics and funky fingers learning something catastrophic happened to 'Camp Lister.'

A tropical storm had hit and destroyed our homely base. All of our treasured building materials were strewn across the playground. Tents were flung atop mountain peaks and the much important pegs had been tossed to different corners of our outdoor classroom.

A plan had to be made! Lucas was quick to bravely search the playground and compile a list of the materials scattered from the main base.

Finlay drew a picture of what he thought happened. ''It must have been a hurricane. it only hit one part of the school and we didn't notice.'' His circular scribbles and spirals showed the damage.

Not one to rush into anything, Lucas drew a design for the new base. It needed to be ''stronger and waterproof.''

Unaware of Lucas' design plans, some of the other children got to work on constructing a new tunnel that would keep them dry. Fabric was draped over the willow tunnels and securely pegged in place. An escape route was expertly built. A commando crawl through the willow tunnel and a quick scurry underneath a balance toy would keep any camping survivors safe when the next storm hit.

While all this was going on, some of the children noted a critical design flaw. Although the expertly draped fabric would keep the children sheltered from the sun and dry in a light drizzle it was terribly exposed for the more tropical of thunderstorms. A removal team were elected to safely transfer the structure to underneath the covered area.

 Being under the covered area meant closer proximity to the remaining building materials. This access to the tarpaulins and building blocks was all that was needed for Jack, Kerron and Chloe to put their structural engineering skills to good use and creatively attach a clean and cosy camp to the escape tunnel.

The camp builders remembered what Bear Grylls had told them about keeping a clean and tidy camp to deter any unwanted animals and set to sweeping the whole base camp.

A door for visiting adults was kindly built by the designers and tested by Miss Sullivan.

After a good sweep through, the children got to making it homely and practical. Bookshelves were fashioned out of blocks laid on their sides and an upturned block was turned into a most stylish broom holder.

As with all of our Deconstructed Role Play Areas the children's base camp will continue to evolve and change as new children decide to take their play that way. Having these open ended resources and giving the children the freedom to direct their own play has led to some fascinating role play and quality talk.

Keep an eye on the camp as you come into school...play a game of spot the difference.

We never know what direction the children will take their learning. What we do know is that it is always purposeful and directly linked to the children's own interests.