Draft storyAt the café and the community garden

The shared picnic

Plan a picnic for the people coming, and bring the kit home to use again.

A draft: the words and pictures are waiting for an educator’s review.

Mairi welcomed Isla, Euan, Zara and Rowan to a table in the café. They were planning a picnic in the community garden.

“First question,” said Mairi. “Who’s coming?”

Euan counted round the table.

“Us five.”

He picked up his pencil. He had a plan.

Euan held up his drawing. Sandwiches rose above fruit, cakes and great long loaves.

“Sandwich Mountain!” he announced. “We’ll need a lorry.”

Isla smiled. “A fine big picture. How much lunch will five of us want?”

Euan looked from the mountain to his friends.

“Less than a mountain,” he said. “Let’s make a smaller plan.”

Mairi brought picture cards to help them choose.

Together, they talked about what everyone liked and needed. Mairi checked what food she already had.

They planned sandwiches and fruit, with enough for anyone wanting more.

Rowan pointed to the plates and cups on the table.

“Those are coming too,” said Mairi. “We already have them.”

Zara held up the picture list.

“Plates. Cups. Food tubs. Water bottles.”

They checked there was enough for everyone. Isla and Mairi would look after preparing the food and keeping chilled food cold.

“How will everything get home?” asked Zara.

Mairi set out bags for carrying their used things back to wash.

Rowan gave a pleased little nod.

At the garden, they washed their hands and laid out lunch.

The sandwiches fitted on the table. Nobody needed a lorry.

Euan finished his first sandwich and asked for another. Mairi passed the sandwiches round.

“A good size for a picnic,” he said.

After lunch, the grown-ups put suitable remaining food safely away, separate from the used dishes.

Rowan drew the plates, cups, cloth and food tub. Then he pointed from each drawing to the things beside him.

“A list for going home,” said Zara.

Everyone helped pack up. The grown-ups checked the ground and table before they left. The picnic things were going home to be washed and used again.

“No lorry?” asked Zara.

“No lorry,” said Euan. “The mountain’s travelling home in my drawing.”

For grown-ups

Plan around the people coming: their appetites, allergies and other dietary needs. Provide enough food and don’t pressure children to finish. Grown-ups prepare the food, supervise the outing and handle safe storage. Chilled food needs proper cooling: a closed tub, a wicker basket or an ordinary shopping bag doesn’t replace a cool bag or box with cold packs. Follow current food-safety guidance when deciding what to keep. Bring the kit home for washing, and keep used dishes separate from food being saved. Children shouldn’t search for or handle unknown litter. Sources: Food Standards Scotland, picnic food safety; Zero Waste Scotland, how to pack a sustainable picnic.