ABSTRACT
‘Crafting’, be it crafting an object from plant, animal or mineral, crafting a fire, or crafting a meal outside to be cooked on a fire, is something very human and can really be done in a playful way. The Oxford English dictionary definition of craft is “to use the hands to make something using skill and dexterity”. This is something that is being lost in today’s technological age. Research is showing that loss of craft does impact on our learning and development, in particular a certain physical dexterity which is also accompanied by ‘dexterity and detail’ in language development. This chapter examines why handcrafts are so important to nature pedagogy, in particular Forest School. We will look further at the importance of working with handtools, fire and ‘the elements’ – in particular water, soil and clay and plants. Topics covered include health and safety considerations; legal considerations; processes and techniques; and ways of introducing craft that is learner centred and can be both safe and playful – importantly the learner-centred dialogue.
