Outdoor Learning and STEM  

The delights of Whittling !

Whittling is simply the art of using a sharp knife or something similar to make something out of a piece of wood. This could be something very simple like carving a notch into a stick so that it can be used as a tent peg, or it could be carving a simple spoon to eat with, or a hook to hang something from.

Some good advice on whittling !

In this video, you will learn how to make a whistle using a knife and a piece of willow.
Some Good Advice on Whittling - click the image 
In this video, you will learn about a number of different religious and cultural celebrations that take place around the world.  (Click the image on the left !)
Word of warning
Some woods are not safe to use for cooking utensils (if that is what you are whittling).

Safe to use are - Hazel, ash, willow, sycamore, apple, chestnut and lime.
If none of the above are available, then Birch, pine and oak and alder are fine.
DO NOT USE cherry (cyanide smell) laburnum, yew, holly, elder, douglas fir or cedar.


And some woods are better than other for burning ... 

Hardwoods burn hotter for longer.

Softwoods tend to burn more quickly and can be quite 'sparky' because of the resin in the wood.  The smoke created by the resins can also 'taint' the flavour of the food.


Whatever wood you burn on your campfire, make sure it is dry, untreated with paints or varnishes, and does not have bits of ivy stuck to it.  Poison Ivy, when burnt, can release spores which can, if you are allergic to them, make you very ill !   Not all ivy's are poisonous. but there's no point in taking the risk !

Chemicals used on wood, if the wood is burnt, can release toxic fumes.

Points to ponder ...

Clearly this activity could be dangerous. In the first video, it was suggested that using a potato peeler for whittling is a much more sensible option when we are working with young children.

What specific dangers or risks might you need to take into consideration when developing the session plan for this activity and will therefore need to include in a risk assessment ?
And once you have identified those risks, what steps can be taken to minimise the risks as much as is reasonably practicable ? Are there ways of adapting the activity so that the 'big' risks are reduced ?
Remember ... we don't want to introduce so many safety measures that we prevent the activity from providing the learning opportunities that it does, but we need to make sure we reduce risks so that the activity can take place as safely as possible.

How does this activity relate to S.T.E.M ?
Science.
  • Tree identification
Engineering.
  • The properties of the sticks and logs - wet, damp, dry, living, dead.
  • Balance (when placing stick on the fire)
  • Width, girth, length (of logs/sticks)
Technology
  • working with tools
  • Working with materials
  • Designing something