Hands up who likes pizza!
Building a cob oven is a complete outdoor learning journey. This work is at the heart of my practice, and I am a passionate and enthusiastic workshop leader. I have worked with schools throughout the UK: from Glasgow to Torquay, Machynlleth to Gateshead. To date over 12,000 children have dug, mixed, danced, built and baked with me!
The perfect project
The School Cob Oven Project links with the Sustainable Schools National Framework: Food and Drink, Energy and Water, Purchasing and Waste, Building and Grounds, Inclusion and Participation, Local Well Being, and Global Dimension. All of which align with schemes such as Eco Schools, Food for Life, Healthy Schools and Green Schools.
An oven for life
And after the exciting build week, the school cob oven becomes not only a teaching resource but also an asset for fund raising too. At the very first school I worked with, over £500 was raised by selling pizza at a summer fete - AND we won a
National PTA Award for "Changing the life of the School"!
"That was the best school week EVER!"
My
School Cob Oven workshop usually runs over five days. I often work with 400 children in one week.
Everyone, including teaching staff, TAs, cooks and caretakers, are involved in the fun.
Show and tell
The week starts with a full school assembly where we talk about building with the earth under our feet.
What do we use to build our homes? How do we cook food? Where does the energy we need come from?
Connections
There are so many ways my project can be linked to the curriculum: History, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Materials, Energy, Architecture, Numeracy, Science... not least global culture, food, sustainable living... the list is as long as your imagination is wide. Throughout the week children mix and build using their hands and feet!
Pizza Party!
The build week ends with a full school pizza party, where everyone has a chance to taste the fruits of their labours.
I train staff how to light, use and care for the oven, and leave the school with a fully commissioned resource ready for years of use. Below is a child's perspective of the week - a School Cob Oven Project Diary.