Framing Nature
Here’s another outdoor activity for you to try with the kiddos! It’s called Framing Nature. We did this at our last Nature For Kids outdoor playgroup.
I started by asking: Have you ever taken a picture with a camera?
If you have a camera let each child take a turn looking through the lens.
Tell the kids: When you look through the lens there is a square around the item you are taking a picture of. This square is called a frame.
Make frames out of popsicle sticks or tongue depressors by gluing the ends of four in a square…like this.
With your frames go for a hike and have the kids pretend to be taking pictures of the things they see with their frames.
Discuss with the kids that when we go hiking outdoors we should, “Take only pictures and leave only footprints”.
For the next part of the activity take a large rope (about 6 ft. long) and tie the ends together. Stretch it out over the trail in which you are hiking on so that it looks like a frame. Have the kids look inside the frame and tell you if they see anything living or moving inside of it. If it’s a well established trail there should just be rocks and dirt.
Next move the rope frame off to the side of the trail where there is lots of vegetation. Again ask the kids to look for anything living or moving inside the frame. YES! …Inside our circle there were ants scrambling about and different kinds of plants growing.
After this activity I pointed out that we should always stay on trails when hiking. If we find ourselves hiking on living things we should return to the trail so we won’t hurt them.
Nature For Kids thinks this Framing Nature activity is a fun, simple and interactive way to teach Leave No Trace principles.
If you’d like some more activities to try out click on our Education or Crafts For Kids categories.
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Filed under Crafts For Kids, Education, Hiking, Uncategorized | Comments (3)Shadow Drawings
Nature For Kids brings you yet another quick and easy outdoor activity…shadow drawings!
Simply get some sidewalk chalk and have one child outline the shadow of another. Go exploring for about 30 minutes and then come back to do it again.
*Be sure to have the person being drawn stand in the exact same spot.
Once the two tracings are done compare the two. Do you see how the shadow moved? Talk about the sun and how when it moves across the sky the shadows change, becoming shorter in mid day and longer in the morning and evening.
For more fun outdoor activity ideas take a look at some of the other posts here at Nature For Kids.
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Filed under Crafts For Kids | Comment (1)I Spy
The local outdoor playgroup started by Nature For Kids has been great this summer! We recently had an enjoyable time making our very own binoculars and playing I Spy.
Here’s how to make them:
1.) Gather these items - big scissors, about 2 feet of yarn, hole puncher, marker, two toilet paper rolls and a glue gun
- Hot glue the two toilet paper rolls together parallel to each other.
- Punch holes in the upper right and left sides of the binoculars.
- Tie each end of the yarn through the holes. Make sure the yarn is long enough to go around the child’s neck.
- Have the child write their name or decorate the binoculars any way they’d like.
This fun craft made our short hike much more exciting. Before we left on our hike with our binoculars we discussed how it’s easier to spot wildlife if you look in one specific area and hold still. Then when an animal moves you can see it much easier than if you scan back and forth.
The kids had a ball! Nature for Kids hopes you enjoy this activity. Let us know what you find!
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Filed under Crafts For Kids | Comment (0)Pet Rocks
The Nature For Kids outdoor playgroup was full of fun again this week as we explored a nearby pond and made pet rocks.
We started off by exploring the area. The kids saw several fish swimming in the pond and of course were especially interested in the belly-up ones close to the bank. We also saw dragonflies and birds.
After exploring we talked about animals in general, their favorites and others that can become pets at home. I had the kids find rocks to make their own animal and then opened a container full of markers, buttons, yarn and countless other items to decorate their rocks with.
Then the kids each took a turn to tell us the name of their pet rock and what their pet ate. There was some creative stuff thrown out there.
Each week I will be sharing the outdoor playgroup activity we participated in. Our hope here at Nature For Kids is that it will encourage you and others to easily take the kids outside this summer. If you have any fun activity ideas to share send them to shawna@natureforkids.net.
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Filed under Crafts For Kids | Comment (1)Exploring Colors In Nature
Nature For Kids held another outdoor playgroup this week. We focused on exploring colors in nature.
We started the fun event off with a magic trick! Check out the video below to see how to do it…
After the magic trick I asked the kids to point out the colors they could see outside. They listed every color in the rainbow including everything in between. Then I pointed out how the colors in nature magically change when it rains. Simply adding water can add depth and vibrancy to already beautiful colors.
ACTIVITY: Take a cup of water and a paintbrush on a hike with you. Let the kids paint rocks, leaves and anything else in nature with water. No paint is required to make the colors change. This is especially fun for younger kids.
The remainder of the time was spent doing unstructured playtime outside. We let the kids rummage over small boulders, plan their own races, climb to the top of hills and simply get up close with nature.
Each week I will be sharing our outdoor playgroup activities. Our hope here at Nature For Kids is that it will encourage you and others to easily start your own outdoor playgroup. Also if you have any playgroup ideas of your own to share I’d be more than happy to hear about them at shawna@natureforkids.net.
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Filed under Crafts For Kids, Education | Comments (4)Footprint Fun
Today Nature For Kids held its first outdoor playgroup gathering. We focused on footprint fun.
Here’s how the activity went:
First we discussed what should and shouldn’t be left in nature after our activities.
Shouldn’t: candy and gum wrappers, water bottles, drawings on rocks, toilet paper etc.
Should: Only little footprints
Second we cut out footprints that were exactly 12 inches long. (Luckily my husbands shoe worked great to stencil around…exactly 12 inches!)
Third we discussed how everything in nature varies in size. We took our footprints and found things that were 1 foot long. Then we went out and explored even more, finding things that were three feet long. The kids spent quite a while mulling up and down the hills scanning the area for different sizes of natural things. They also enjoyed measuring each other.
Fourth We talked about all the different types of shoes and how each leaves a different footprint. (During a discussion you could compare this to how each person is different in their own way) They took their footprints home to color and decorate anyway they wanted (hiking boot, soccer cleat, ballet slipper etc.) so it would be their own unique footprint.
This activity gave the kids a specific purpose in being outside and in the process their eyes came across some fun things, a caterpillar, shells and several lizards (which were too fast for me to get a picture of).
Each week I will be sharing our outdoor playgroup activities. My hope is that it will encourage you and others to easily start your own outdoor playgroup. Also if you have any playgroup ideas of your own to share I’d be more than happy to hear about them at shawna@natureforkids.net.
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Filed under Crafts For Kids | Comments (4)Summer Outdoor Playgroup
As parents we are faced with a lot of decisions on how to raise our children. Most parents, myself included, want to give their kids every opportunity to become successful and find what they truly enjoy in life. But does this mean we should enroll them in every activity that comes along?
There are so many activities available that it’s difficult to decide which would be most beneficial to our kids; language lessons, music lessons, tumbling, baseball, swimming…the list goes on and on.
Fortunately one thing has been studied and proven to be priceless to children and their healthy development. It’s free outdoor playtime! It’s simply a natural thing for a child to experience and disappointingly is becoming a rarity among kids these days.
This summer Nature For Kids encourages you to make free outdoor playtime a priority. Do it on your own or join an outdoor playgroup. If there isn’t an outdoor playgroup in your area think about creating one yourself. Active Kids Club has some great tips on how to go about doing this.
Nature For Kids will be hosting an outdoor playgroup this summer starting June 8th in Helper, Utah. It will be held every Monday from 9 to 11. The first meeting will be held 4 miles up Spring Canyon at the parking lot near the bathrooms and trailhead. Activities will be based on kids’ ages 2- 8 but others are welcome to attend. The first hour will be a structured activity that will be nature based. The second hour is open for free play. Each activity will be talked about here at Nature For Kids to help you get more ideas for the fun summer ahead.
When I say “free outdoor play” I’m sure many of you can remember the trees you climbed the forts your built or the sandcastles you created. Free outdoor play is different than organized outdoor sports such as baseball or soccer. The word “Free” reflects the agency that a child has when playing outside. They can choose what, where and when. They also can create their own games by letting their imagination drive their experience.
Free Outdoor Play has been show to:
- Calm kids down (showing significant results in those with ADHD)
- Foster creativity
- Provide recommended doses of Vitamin D
- Teach kids to love and take care of their world around them
- Strengthen immune systems
- Improve motor skills, balance and coordination
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of outdoor play Nature For Kids recommends two reads,
Here’s hoping for a fun-filled summer at your very own outdoor playgroup. Join Nature For Kids at their Facebook location for quick updates, videos, pictures and ideas.
Photos By Damon Andreasen
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Filed under Crafts For Kids, Education | Comments (3)Pinecone Birdfeeder
This winter let’s give the birds something to chirp about. Nature For Kids wants you to make a pinecone birdfeeder! Here’s how…
What you need:
Pinecone
Peanut butter
Birdseed
String or ribbon
The idea here is to have a fun excuse to get outside and observe nature.
- First things first…get bundled up and head outside. Go for a hike and hunt for pinecones. It will be a fun family outing!
- Fill a bowl with a couple scoops of peanut butter and another with birdseed. Once you have your pinecone roll it in the peanut butter. Your hands will get messy no matter what so just have fun with it.
- Now roll the peanut butter pinecone in birdseed.
- Once that’s completed tie a long piece of string or ribbon around the pinecone, leaving enough string to tie to a tree near your house. Put it in a place where birds can access it and you can observe it easily.
If you’re a visual learner check out this “how to” video we made just for you here at Nature For Kids.
These pinecone birdfeeders would also be an inexpensive and unique holiday gift idea for neighbors during this Christmas season. Just place it in a cute baggy and write a clever poem to go along with it.
If you liked this nature craft for kids you’ll probably like the Nature Box Activity. It’s another great reason to go on a family outing.
Free Shipping over $45.00 at Altrec Outlet
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Filed under Crafts For Kids, Hiking | Comments (2)Leaf Rub
Nature For Kids says…get outside today and go for a hike to collect some fall leaves! Then get ready to do a leaf rub.
What you need to make your leaf rub:
- Paper
- Color Crayons (orange, red, yellow, brown)
- Leaves
#1 Take the leaves and place them under the paper, vein side up.
#2 Removing the crayons paper and laying it on it’s side rub the crayon over the top of the paper where the leaves are.
You can also do this with foil rather than paper and make a leaf indention rather than a colored picture.
There you have it! A beautiful leaf rub to display during the changing season. While doing this activity talk with your kids about why leaves change color in the fall . It’s a great way to encourage Nature For Kids.
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Filed under Crafts For Kids, Education, Hiking | Comments (3)Pumpkins
With Halloween, Thanksgiving and fall upon us pumpkins are a popular item for baking and decorating.
If you didn’t plant a garden this year I’m sure you and your kids are looking for some pumpkins to pick elsewhere. In the Berry Picking story posted this summer at Nature For Kids Rebecca Renfroe shared a great website with everyone, pickyourown.org. At pickyourown.org you can find pumpkin patches near you. It also includes a list of holiday corn mazes!
So take your kids outside to hunt for pumpkins and breathe in that fall air!
Today at Nature For Kids I also wanted to share with you my favorite pumpkin carving and pumpkin recipe. Take a look…
I love Sunset Magazine. It’s full of gardening, cooking and decorating ideas that are just my style. I collect pictures and articles that inspire me. One of the pictures I collected was of this pumpkin owl carving. Have a hoot doing this one!
Now for my favorite pumpkin recipe…
Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Cranberries
(now that’s a mouthful)
Mmmmm Yummo! My kids love helping bake in the kitchen, especially if it involves frosting!
Pumpkin Cupcake Recipe
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
15 oz. prepared pumpkin
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside. In a mixing bowl combine all other ingredients. After it’s mixed well add the dry ingredients slowly. Spoon into muffin cups 3/4 full. I use a mini muffin pan lined with paper cups for easy cleanup. My kids like the smaller cupcakes more and they’re great for parties. Bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes (plus or minus). They’re done when you touch the center of the cupcake and it springs back.
Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
4 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1tsp vanilla
1 lb or 4 cups powdered sugar
Mix ingredients slowly then add evaporated milk until it’s a fluffy consistency. Place inside a decorating bag with a star tip. Start on the outer edge of the cupcake and spiral inward.
Candied Cranberry Recipe
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cranberries
Prick each cranberry twice with a needle. Boil the sugar in water until it spins a thread. Put in the cranberries and cook them gently until syrup jellies. Remove berries one at a time and place on wax paper. Let stand until dry. Dip the berries in granulated sugar. Different from the picture above, I only place one berry on each mini cupcake.
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Filed under Camping Food, Crafts For Kids, Education | Comments (6)
