Description:
Make a journey stick - similar to how Aboriginal people in Australia use sticks to record their travels and experiences and then retell them to others.
Links to EYFS:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Literacy
Understanding of the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Activity:
We asked the children to find a stick, either a short one (shorter than the length of their arm) or a long one (roughly up to shoulder height) that they can walk with like a staff. We helped them use secateurs to cut their sticks down to size (where necessary) or to remove side branches. We asked them to choose some string or wool and cut it to length using scissors. They wrapped it around the stick and tied it with a knot.
The children then went on a journey of their choice around the Forest School site and added natural items that they found of interest along the way onto their sticks. After they'd completed their journeys, we encouraged the children to show what they had made to everyone else. We asked them talk about what natural items they had chosen and why they had added them to their sticks. They later used their sticks to help recall their journey, memories and experiences.
We talked about how the Aboriginal people also use songs to help them navigate and discussed how we navigate, either using a map or satellite navigation. We also looked at illustrations in various nature books to help the children identify which natural items they had used.
Home Activity:
The next time you go on a significant journey with your child/children, ask them to collect some items from various points along the way. At a later date, encourage them to use their collected items to help to try and recall their journey. Discuss why they chose those particular items and how they helped them to remember certain parts of their journey.