Ep 70 - Clay Play!

In this lively episode of The Forest School Podcast, Lewis and Gemma start with an urgent call to action for the Nature Premium Campaign, then plunge—sometimes literally—into the messy magic of clay. From Devon’s red earth to DIY kilns, they unpack how digging, grinding, mixing and face-painting with soil become powerful vehicles for child-led learning, teamwork, and sensory regulation. Along the way they touch on work-play theory, primitive-technology YouTube, seasonal planning (“when is clay too cold?”), and even adult wellbeing—think barefoot shoes, conker soap, and post-session Pringles. The conversation reminds practitioners that the richest learning often emerges from sticky hands, shifting goals, and a hole that keeps getting deeper. ⏱ Chapter Timings 00:00 – Nature Premium Campaign clip & why outdoor funding matters 02:31 – Peppermint-tea banter and setting the clay scene 03:49 – Devon’s red clay: geology, fossils and local history 07:17 – The giant digging hole: work-play, roles and risk-taking 12:30 – Mixing sand, leaves & “concrete”: experimentation in action 18:34 – Viking-ship charcoal, treasure hunts & intermittent rewards 23:32 – From brick walls to pinch pots: scaling children’s ambitions 30:54 – Kiln plans, drying times and winter clay logistics 41:06 – Open-ended clay vs prescriptive art lessons 47:46 – Barefoot shoes, energy crashes and practitioner self-care 🌲 Keywords: Nature Premium, Forest School clay, digging hole play, work-play theory, sensory mud, primitive technology, kiln firing, barefoot learning, practitioner wellbeing, conker soap 🔖 Hashtags: #ForestSchool #NaturePremium #ClayPlay #OutdoorLearning #ChildLedPlay #SensoryPlay #WorkPlay #PrimitiveTechnology #KilnFiring #BarefootShoes #PractitionerWellbeing 🌐 More Episodes & Support: Listen to more and access resources at www.theforestschoolpodcast.com Support the show and join the community at www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast Questions, feedback, or collaboration: [email protected]