We like to bring nature into our classroom as much as possible. Â There are so many opportunities to learn, create, and explore with natural materials. Â And the best part is, most of these items can be found free right outside your door…
Incorporating natural materials into the painting process is fun and easy! Â We like to take nature walks or go on scavenger hunts to gather our treasures. Â Once we have a wide array of treasures, we can add them to paint, mix it all together and voila! Â You have nature paint…
We can also sort our treasures by color and then neatly arrange them on a canvas. Â If we add paint, we can create these beautiful drip-drop nature paintings…
I don’t know a child who doesn’t love to pick dandelions! Â Once they have bloomed and all that is left is the fluff, it is the perfect opportunity to try dandelion blow painting…
When the leaves are falling off the trees, we enjoy reading Lois Ehlert’s “Leaf Man.” Â Here is a fun way for children to create their own leaf man…
Or how about a leaf man puppet…
No matter the season, these simple mosaics are an interesting and beautiful way to create with seeds…
Rocks are also a great material to use in all types of play and discovery.  But you can also create with them.  The book “You Be You” by Linda Kranz provides excellent inspiration for creating colorful rocks…
Those colorful rocks or just plain ol’ regular rocks can be used to create some Rockin’ drawings…
Discovery bottles are the perfect vessel for natural materials. Â When exploring birds nests, we gather nest building materials and add them to these nature bottles…
Acorns added to a bottle also make for some really fun sensory shakers…
Natural materials make for excellent art inspiration! Â Seeds, sticks, leaves, rocks, flowers, or other items you may find in nature make great easel starters…
Now it’s your turn! Â What are your favorite ways to create with natural materials? Â Scroll on down and join theDiscover and Explore linky fun!
Discover and Explore:Â Creating with Natural Materials
Upcoming Themes:
Currently Open – Creating with Natural Materials
October 30 –Â Science Experiments for Kids
November 6 – Thanksgiving
November 13Â – Cooking with Kids
November 20 –Â Life Skills
Please read the following guidelines for sharing:
- Share family-friendly posts related to the weekly topic — kids activities, crafts, recipes, nature outings, printables, etc.
- By linking up, you are giving me permission to share your post including one photo in our weekly feature post and on social media channels.
- Visit 2-3 other posts that have linked up, find some new ideas & meet new friends!
- If you’d like, grab a button for your post — we love to share and want to find lots of great activities to highlight for you!
The linky will remain open for one week. Then all five co-hosts will feature activities in a separate post the Friday after the linky closes. All featured posts will be shared on the Discover and Explore Pinterest Board.  (Be sure to follow so you don’t miss any features!)
The Discover & Explore Team
KC Edventures  **  Buggy and Buddy **  Fantastic Fun & Learning **  Twodaloo
and me!