Craft: Nature Collection
- mharding221
- Sep 21, 2015
- 3 min read
We love wandering trails and checking out all the neat things in the forest. My Munchkin especially loves to collect feathers and interesting rocks....which end up all over our house...which gave me the idea to start a Nature Collection.
Now, you can do this two ways: the first way I'll describe, I'd recommend for kids under 6 (or any kids who can't really write yet). The other one, which I'll describe later, is great for kids ages 6-11.
Little Kids Nature Collection
Materials Needed:
-A sturdy cardboard or wooden box
-Double-sided tape
-Stickers
-Patterned scrapbook paper
We visited our local craft store and the Munchkin fell in love with this faux-book styled box, which we got super cheap because it was half-off (I think we paid $2.50). I recommend finding a slightly larger box - like the size of a hardcover novel, instead of a paperback like we got. But the Munchkin was obsessed with this particular one, and was not to be deterred (you gotta pick your battles, right?)
We already had bunches of scrapbook paper at home, so we headed to the sticker aisle to find some letter stickers and also some nature-themed ones - the Munchkin picked out some cute turtle ones.
Remember when you were in 7th grade and you had to use brown paper grocery bags to cover your math books? Well, this is the same idea:
1. Measure and cut a generous piece of mid-weight craft paper - enough to fold over one side of the cover. We used paper that looked like wooden planks.
2. Place double-sided tape along all the edges of your "book" and stick your craft paper over it, doing the folded over flap last, to ensure a tight, smooth fit.
3. Decorate with stickers!
4. Hit the trail or the beach and let your little ones fill their collections with nature's finest treasures.
This can also be a nice memory box, by filling it with momentos like a seashell from your child's first trip to the beach, or, as I like to do, grabbing a unique rock from each extra-special place we visit.
Nature Collection Notebook:
Materials Needed:
-A sketchpad with thick pages
-A camera (optional, but very useful)
-Double-sided tape or glue
This is a great project for the older kids. Instead of just collecting anything soft or shiny, and hording it away, like your little ones will do, encourage older kids to select something they really find unique or interesting; something they want to know more about. Then later, have them research and record their findings in their Nature Collection Notebook:
1. Go to any store that sells art supplies and let your child pick out a sketch pad. I recommend choosing a spiral-bound pad (for greater flexibility), with thick pages, about 8x10 in size.
2. Take your child on an easy hike, emphasizing attention to their surroundings. What kinds of plants or trees grow there? Are there any signs of wildlife, like holes/burrows, tracks, scat, or feathers? Note: I do not condone disturbing wildlife or nature, for example, by ripping a plant out of the ground to stick in your notebook. I do recommend having your children take a picture of anything that interests them.
3. Print out their pictures (or have them draw their nature objects) and add them (along with any feathers, etc. that they may have collected) to their Nature Collection books, with glue, or my favorite, double-sided tape.
4. Research: Go online or to your local library or Audubon Center and try to identify everything they've found. Have your child label each item, and add some interesting facts. For example, that white papery stuff they found curled up on the ground? It's White Birch bark, which makes a great firestarter, and was used by Native Americans to make canoes because it's naturally waterproof. Neat, huh?
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