Crafts

Create a Nature Display

Items needed:

Bag or basket (for collecting items)

Nature Collection

Shoe or cereal box

Paper

Tape and/or glue

Learning time/activity:

Take a walk anywhere – in the back yard, at a local park, or in the forest. Looks around and really take in all that is around you. Select samples that represent your location. You can collect leaves and twigs, a flower, acorns, shells, moss and other items with you bag or basket. Please take only what you need. Never take a whole plant, just a small piece of one. Never take all the flowers off of a plant – just one, remember that flowers are very important in nature! Talk to your child or parent about the items you picked up, why they were of interest and what purpose they have in nature. (For example, a piece of twig will be broken down by bugs and turned into soil.)

When you get home, have a drink and rehydrate (especially in the summer) and take a look at all the item you have collected.

To make your display cut out a “window” in the front of the cereal box leaving an inch on each side. For a shoe box you can just use without the lid. Decorate the box inside and out with old newspaper, brown paper bags and other recyclable items from around your house. You can make bows out of wire bread ties and use old jar lids for a3 dimensional frame around a special item. There are many ideas to try. Decide which way you want your box to be displayed and arrange your items inside the “frame” and glue or tape into place.

This is a fun way to learn about different ecosystems around your home and will leave you with memories of fun times shared together!