Nature Activities

Each of these activities are part of a series of low cost, hands on activities that can be used by anyone who has a passion for nature and who believes that a child's time spent in nature is not only important, but necessary.  My intention is to post one activity each week throughout 2013.  Each activity was either created by me or gathered from a variety of sources.

It is well known that children have an innate connection to the earth and all of its creatures.  They long to be out in nature, to get their hands dirty, explore and use their imagination.  They know that the earth is ours to take care of, without being told.  They find great joy in watching a lizard run across the steps ahead of them or in seeing a deer munching on the trees.  They love to sow seeds, pull weeds and eat kale.  Children thrive when given the  opportunity to build a Fairy House out of natural materials or hide among the bushes or hang on the branches of a tree.

It is true that nature is dirty, it holds a lot of uncertainties and it is unfamiliar to our urban senses.  It is not, however, something to fear.  One step at a time, we can reestablish our relationship with Nature and in doing so, heal ourselves and our environment. What we should we afraid of is what might happen if we don’t heal our broken relationship with nature.

1. Nature Journals
2. Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes
3. Bird Nests
4. Habitat Building
5. Make Your Own Play Dough
6. Compass Creation
7. Water Filters
8. Quick Sand
9.  Recycled Paper Beads
10.  Erosion - One
11.  Erosion - Two
12.  Environmental Love Notes
13.  Bark Rubbings
14.  Recycled Veggies
15.  Salt Crystals
16.  Seed Bombs
17.  Soil Search
18.  Flower & Leaf Collection
19.  Make Your Own Recycled Paper
20.  Travelling Seeds
21.  Owl Pellets
22.  Butterfly Symmetry
23.  Caterpillars to Butterflies!
24.  Butterfly Lifecycle Mobile
25.  Self Appreciation Caterpillars
26.  Frog Lifecycle Mobile
27.  Bird Feeders
28.  Nature Walk
29.  Weather Chart
30.  Recipe: Apple Turnover
31.  Recipe: Squash & Tomato Bake
32.  Recipe: Birds Nests
33.  Self Watering Containers
34.  The Living Teepee
35.  Make your Own Flip Book!
36.  Growth Chart
37.  Germination Rates Experiment
38.  Veggie Garden in a Bag
39.  Bee Friendly Flower Patch
40.  Seed Saving
41.  Photo Scavenger Hunt
42.  Photo Project
43.  Dam Building
44.  3D Flowers
45.  Living Observation
46.  Long Term Living Observation
47.  Textured Landscapes
48.  Recycled Egg Shells
49.  Climb a Tree!
50.  Visit a Community Garden
51.  Build a Volcano
52.  Snow Flakes

Have fun, get your hands dirty, enjoy the day!

xoxo,

M