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Description

Copied from www.scouts.org.uk/activities/burning-marshmallows/

Safely use fire to toast fluffy marshmallows and enjoy them with your friends.

Resources

Coloured pens or pencils
Firewood
Matches
Tea lights
Wooden skewers
Marshmallows

Instructions

Before you begin
- Squirrel groups should consider using small marshmallows to reduce any risk of choking. For more information, take a look at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance on food preparation for children under 5 years old: https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/safeguarding-and-welfare/food-safety
- Contact everyone’s parents or carers to check whether everyone can eat marshmallows. Do some people need ones without gelatine, for example? If some people can’t eat marshmallows, decide what alternative food they could toast (for example, chunks of fruit or sweets).
- Decide whether you’ll use tea lights or whether you’ll find a location where you can set up a campfire.
- Soak the wooden skewers in water.
- Print enough copies of the ‘Word fire’ sheet for everyone.

Story time

Everyone should sit in a circle.
Someone should read Sitting by a Campfire by Will Dover. This poem is about making and enjoying safe campfires which everyone can have fun around.
After reading the story, everyone should take some time to reflect on it as a group.

Sitting by a campfire, keeps us warm and makes our tea.
And sitting by the fire, this is where we like to be.
But in the hot, hot summer, when the ground is cracked and dry.
When building up our fires, there are things that we must try.

First to get permission, from whoever owns the land.
So we don’t make a fire where lighting fires is banned.
Next, we choose the place to lay our fire a bed.
Clear soil, no turf and leaves, to stop it should it spread.

Look above to check for any overhanging branch.
And spots where wildlife might stop to have their lunch.
It’s fine to change your mind, but remember be prepared.
Keep sand or water near, so there’s no need to be scared.

Now turn to our fuel, taking what we need only.
Keep it neat together, so it won’t get lonely.
Best wood is dead and dry, and all sorted out by size.
Take no wood that’s living, but find on the floor our prize.

Don’t load it up too high – that’ll spoil all of the fun.
Let it burn steady and stop when you are done.
When the evening’s ended, rake the ash into a pile.
To let the embers cool, you might have to wait a while.

If you’re due to leave, then let the fire burn no more.
Cover it with soil, and on it water pour.
Replace the turf you took, and leave no trace behind,
Only thanks and memories, for passers-by to find.

By Will Dover


Word fire
Everyone should sit in small groups on the floor.
Each group should chat about what they think of when they hear the phrase ‘fire safety’.
Everyone should use coloured pencils to colour in the flames on the ‘Word fire’ sheet.
Everyone should share their pictures with the whole group (if they want to).

Hot mallows
The person leading the activity should set up some tea lights or create a campfire outside.
If you’re using tea lights, place them on a ceramic plate or metal tray on the ground.
The person leading the activity should give everyone a wooden skewer that’s been soaked in water and a marshmallow.
Everyone should carefully put their skewer through the middle of their marshmallow.
Show everyone how to hold their marshmallows by the sides so they don’t poke their fingers with the skewer.
Everyone should hold the end of their stick so the marshmallow at the top is near the flame of the fire. They should wait for a few seconds and then take their marshmallow away from the fire.
Once their marshmallow has cooled down, everyone should eat and enjoy their marshmallows.
Remember that the marshmallow will be hot. Remind everyone to wait for a bit to let the marshmallow cool down before they eat it.



Reflection
This activity introduces everyone to staying safe around fire. The activities show people how they can use fire for certain activities while helping them understand what the risks are and what they need to do to stay safe.

You can chat about these optional reflection points throughout the session or at the end.

Sitting by a Campfire
Why can fire be dangerous?
What should someone do if they’ve burned themselves?
What should someone do if there’s a fire in their house?

Word fire
Has anyone ever been around fire before?
How did everyone stay safe?

Hot mallows
What did people notice when they heated their marshmallows?
Why was it important to let the marshmallow cool before eating it?
When everyone’s finished using fire, what should they do to stay safe?
What sounds can people hear from the fire?

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Badge Links

• All About Adventure - Campfire