Make a Flower Chain

A child wearing a headband or necklace of interlocked daisies just seems to symbolize carefree summer. Although it takes a bit to get used to interlocking the flowers, children with good fine motor skills (they can tie their own shoes with ease) can learn the process. Younger children can pick the flowers. Just be warned – you probably won’t be able to work fast enough if you have more than one child waiting!

You want a flower with a stem that you can easily slit with your thumbnail. The stem should also be flexible enough to bend without it crooking into a sharp angle. The shorter the stem, the more flowers you’ll need, setting the blossoms close together.

With your thumbnail, cut a slit through the stem. Next, slide the stem of another flower through the slit. The blossom of the second flower should stop at the slit of the first flower. Continue until the piece is as long as desired. To finish off the chain and bring it into a loop, make a larger slit in the last stem and fit it over the first flower. That’s it!

Nature Art for Kids – Word Art

Use rocks, twigs, and seashells to write messages to others who'll visit your location after you've left. You can do this art in nature project almost anywhere. This is a fun activity for children just learning their letters; but, it is even more enjoyable for children who can spell. For this kids’ craft, children use natural materials to write messages to others who will later discover their simple endeavors.

Children will need to gather a supply of twigs, pine cones, seashells, pebbles, acorns, etc. with which to write a letter or word. The location will determine the materials the children use. Kids might decide to write out each letter with a different object or use a mix of natural materials to create each letter. Encourage children to experiment and then judge the results.

When you select a location, you want it to be somewhere others will see the message without destroying it should a walker who isn’t paying attention accidentally scattering the letters with her feet. You should also be careful to avoid doing this on lawns – when a lawnmower comes on the scene, it could be dangerous for the operator and anyone in the area if pebbles or twigs start flying as the cutting blade runs over your project.

Children will also find it easier to work if they select a location where others don’t have to sidestep around a child to get to where they are going – so, no doorways, pathways, etc. It can be a challenge to find a spot where kids can work but where others will see their artistic messages.

With a work area and a supply of natural materials, children can write out words or messages to those who’ll come along at a later time and discover these expressions. This can be as simple as “Hello,” or can encourage an action, “Shhh,” or “Look up.” Letters six-to-twelve inches high work up quickly. You may want children to start with words containing approximately five letters.

Young children who are just learning their letters can use their gathered materials to form letters. Have a bit of fun by making a “T” next to a tree or an “S” from seashells. This is a casual way to reinforce what a child is learning in school. If your child is enjoying the process, you could help him write out simple words. When possible, scratch the letters in the sand or dirt and allow the children to form the letters with found objects.

This is a fun and easy kids’ activity to do while you are resting alongside a natural trail or while you are picnicking or having a snack. Children may become inspired to write a series of words, which develop into a short phrase when read together as someone moves along a quarter-mile or even a mile section of trail.

Find more nature-inspired art and craft projects in Art in Nature/Nature in Art: Art Experiences for Kids Ages 8 – to – 14 and their Creative Adults.

Creating Earth Art with Kids

Originally published 3/18/2011 at explorealongtheway.com

Earth art, eco-art, land art … This type of nature art involves using natural materials to produce instillations, art that cannot be removed from its setting. The artist, child or adult, is able to use whatever he or she can find and manipulate without the addition of glue, string, tape, or any other fastener or manmade materials.

Land art is an interesting challenge for children who may be used to more traditional craft projects. Because natural materials lack the uniformity of manufactured supplies kids need to use some creative problem solving in order to balance items, get them

Select a location alongside a path or trail – While you want people to see your creations, you don’t want them stepping on them. You also want to give enough space to the children so they can work without them standing in the middle of a trail where other people are walking.

Encourage children to explore the area and gather a supply of materials before they start creating – Give kids clear boundaries for where they can go to collect supplies (within your sight). Examining the area before they start makes them aware of what is available to use. Also, they’ll find it easier to work on their project if they have stuff to work with, or at least get started.

Will kids be able to use any materials they find or do you want to give them the challenge of just using pinecones, rocks, branches, grass, etc. Although you may think this limits children’s creativity, it encourages them to find unique ways to use what they can. When I did a six-week eco-art series with kids, I encouraged individual days featuring pinecones, branches, grass, and leaves – kids then did two “multi-media” days in which they could use whatever materials they wanted. By selecting different locations for each session kids always had the challenge of working with a variety of materials.

Define individual work areas – Before kids start, they may need to clear leaf litter or create a boundary of branches so other children working at the same time can see other’s work areas. Considering this type of project blends in with the surroundings there is the risk of children stepping on another child’s artwork or taking items from an easily accessible “pile of stuff” without noticing that the items belong to another’s projects.

Will kids work together or individually? – If you want kids to work together, decide whether you will assign pairs or if kids can select their partners. If kids are working by themselves, watch for kids who become frustrated working on their project and then casually start “helping” another child. Oftentimes, the child who was working by himself becomes frustrated by the second child who is now adding their own take to the first child’s project.

Doing earth art with your child or with a camp group or classroom-full of children is a possibility as long as you define clear boundaries – where will kids do the work, will they work together or individually, and what materials will they work with. Part of the fun of land art is that kids make the art, leave it where it is, and then others can discover the creations while on their walk.