After a wild storm this term, the Crawley Homeschool Bush Inventors’ Club found themselves washed up on a deserted island. They had nothing but whittling tools, hammocks and tarps. Survival was their top priority.
As we wandered around the foreign land, we discovered a variety of unusual and exotic plants, insects and birds. We spotted a few bodies of water, but were unsure whether we would be able to drink the water.
We gathered sticks of all shapes and sizes to build huts and homes for our people. Tarps were our main source of protection from the rain showers.
A wild breeze rushed through the space, making our next thought about warmth. Tarps became waterproof blankets and an extra layer to keep our toes warm. Thankfully there were bundles of broken branches around us from the storm, that would help us start a toasty fire.
At this point, the children’s imaginations were running free, there was not actually a fire, but they were all pretending to warm up as a community around their pile of sticks. The children were inspiring each other with ideas and encouraging one another to engage in the imaginative play.
‘The island has spitfires!’ These fiery critters had long black bodies with furry white spikes. The troops were warned to keep an eye out for these wriggling creatures.
As hunger crept upon us, we began to forage for berries, mushrooms, and edible flowers. The berries were filling our hungry bellies for now, but they would not suffice for long.
We fashioned sticks into spears to use for spearfishing in the hopes that we might just get lucky.
War breaks out!
As we rationed supplies, our stomachs were growling and the war was on to survive. Whittled sticks turned into sharp weapons and the stick war had officially begun.
The group discussed the rules of the stick war and laid out their boundaries, this helped the children better understand their limits and strengths. The rough-and-tumble play allowed the children to play different roles and develop their social relationships within the group. This type of play has been adopted into this groups culture and has been a big part of the development of community and respect for each other.
One of the benefits of Bush Inventors’ Club is that in a group setting, the possibility of imaginative play unfolding is more likely. The children encourage each other to think creatively. It is also an opportunity for children to develop their social skills and work together as a community.