Activity Ideas |
Den Building
Den building is a great activity for any time of the year. Altering the materials available can provide the children a wider range of experiences.
Autumn: why not try making a warm den with a see through roof and watch the leaves falling.
Winter: try making an igloo.
Spring: try making different types of dens; tent, shelter, tepee, natural den.
Summer: use lighter materials and watch the colours it makes on the ground as the light passes through.
Autumn: why not try making a warm den with a see through roof and watch the leaves falling.
Winter: try making an igloo.
Spring: try making different types of dens; tent, shelter, tepee, natural den.
Summer: use lighter materials and watch the colours it makes on the ground as the light passes through.
Natural Sculptures
Twigs, snow, ice, mud, clay, stones, sand and any other found materials are all free and can be used to make 3D art work. Take the children on a walk to collect their resources for their sculpture and let their imagination soar.
Natural clay can even be used on living trees to make faces/images on the exposed roots, trunk and branches. Clay is a natural material so instead of buying expensive clay why not just dig some out of the ground (easiest to find near water).
What could you make? Creatures Monsters Castles ...
Tracking
Children love the challenge and mystery of tracking; whether they are tracking each other, animals or treasure.
Wild Tracking: Hide and seek with a twist; children leave clues for one and other using found materials.
Scavenger Hunts: An excellent way to develop children's observation skills. It can be kept simple (how many different leaves can you find) or abstract (can you find a Fairy's cup?) and used as a tool for starting discussions or testing memory.
Treasure Hunting: Can be played in any location. You can; hide treasure for the children to find, children hide objects for other children, map making/reading or to encourage those gadget obsessed children try electronic treasure hunting (geocaching).
Animal Tracking: Play at being nature detectives; can you identify the animal from its; footprint, voice, home etc. Why not make up a footprint for the children to discover (children can then make the creature to go with the footprint.
Wild Tracking: Hide and seek with a twist; children leave clues for one and other using found materials.
Scavenger Hunts: An excellent way to develop children's observation skills. It can be kept simple (how many different leaves can you find) or abstract (can you find a Fairy's cup?) and used as a tool for starting discussions or testing memory.
Treasure Hunting: Can be played in any location. You can; hide treasure for the children to find, children hide objects for other children, map making/reading or to encourage those gadget obsessed children try electronic treasure hunting (geocaching).
Animal Tracking: Play at being nature detectives; can you identify the animal from its; footprint, voice, home etc. Why not make up a footprint for the children to discover (children can then make the creature to go with the footprint.
Natural Art
Drawing in the sand/mud/snow: Use fingers, sticks and stones, and other materials to make marks on the ground.
Painting with Water: Great activity for dry days and leaves no mess!
Natural Painting: Make your own paint by crushing berries and various brightly colour plant materials. Natural paints can be used on live trees. Similarly why not try bark rubbings and leaf printings.
Weaving: Bend a supple twig into a loop and tie the ends together with string/wool. Wind the string in and out a few times to make a web and then weave material through the web.
Painting with Water: Great activity for dry days and leaves no mess!
Natural Painting: Make your own paint by crushing berries and various brightly colour plant materials. Natural paints can be used on live trees. Similarly why not try bark rubbings and leaf printings.
Weaving: Bend a supple twig into a loop and tie the ends together with string/wool. Wind the string in and out a few times to make a web and then weave material through the web.
What can you make from found materials...
Collage: Sticking found material onto paper, card, in boxes can make fantastic collages, costumes and dioramas. Combine the natural piant with a feather for an old fashioned quill.
Decorations: decorating trees doesn't need to be restricted to Christmas. Children can make decorations using natural materials combined with string/wire/glue/jars to make beautiful decorations for inside and out.
Sculptures: see above
Whittling: Have a go at carving found sticks and turn them into bows, arrows, wands, walking sticks etc. Free play is an excellent tool to help develop children's ability to risk assess. Swedish children are taught from an early age how to handle dangerous things and how to treat them with respect. Swedish children use a knife to carve, however to help your confidence why not use a potato peeler to start with (see photo for a camping knife, shark and bow made from a potato peeler)
Decorations: decorating trees doesn't need to be restricted to Christmas. Children can make decorations using natural materials combined with string/wire/glue/jars to make beautiful decorations for inside and out.
Sculptures: see above
Whittling: Have a go at carving found sticks and turn them into bows, arrows, wands, walking sticks etc. Free play is an excellent tool to help develop children's ability to risk assess. Swedish children are taught from an early age how to handle dangerous things and how to treat them with respect. Swedish children use a knife to carve, however to help your confidence why not use a potato peeler to start with (see photo for a camping knife, shark and bow made from a potato peeler)
