What I love about this deceptively simple activity is that it gets kids outside examining the world around them, then brings them back inside to go over what they have found!
- Gather your materials. You will need some heavy paper ( recycled cardboard is perfect) or a foam sheet , glue and something to gather your nature discoveries in. Oh and some place outdoors where you can gather things to bring inside.
- Go outside and start finding treasures. I have done this with litter, shells from a beach, all leaves or like this where anything my son grabbed we included.
- Pop your treasures in the jar or bowl.
- Note to parents sometimes your child will find something like this snail that can’t be glued ( or shouldn’t be anyway) take a picture and when they move on to something else rescue it from the jar. If they are old enough explain nicely why gluing something living to a piece of paper for our enjoyment is not a good thing.
- Come inside and spread the glue. You will probably need a lot.
- Start placing the nature discoveries on your paper/ foam.
- Let dry, ours had to dry overnight for the pine cone and stick to stay on.
Song!
My Backyard!
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard,
my backyard,
my backyard ,
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard,
my back yard’s full!
Rocks and trees and butterflies
butterflies,
butterflies,
Rocks and trees and butterflies
Dirt and leaves and bugs!’
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard,
my backyard,
my backyard,
Don’t throw your junk in my backyard ,
my backyard’s full!
Book!
” Under Alaska’s Midnight Sun” by Deb Vanasse is one of the few books I have read that really captures the beauty of nature without being preachy about conservation, or filled with facts . Facts aren’t a bad thing, but this book enjoys the nature in it in such a gentle way that along with the beautiful illustrations by Jeremiah Trammell you can simply appreciate it. The story is adorable too. The book is about the longest day of the year and one child’s quest to stay up and enjoy it all without falling asleep. All children can relate to the feeling of missing out on something good after having to go to bed, this book uses that feeling and spins it to celebrate nature!
Jennifer says
This is one of my favorite activities to do with the kids because they are so involved with the whole process from start to finish.
Sarah says
Thanks for the inspiration on this post! I just put the book on hold at the library. I am going to try making a mobile out of the things my toddler finds outside, otherwise I can see her pulling off everything that we glued down!