Natural Treasure Pouches

Does your child love collecting found objects on their walks or hikes? Do you need something to get even the most reluctant child into nature? Try these fun little pouches. Kids can use them to collect all those special treasures they find on their walks. The best part is, they are no-sew, so kids can do them!

Begin with a small rectangle piece of cloth.

You can start with any size cloth. I have used here a piece measuring approximately 4 x 6 inches.

Fold cloth in half and glue sides together.

I placed a sheet of wax paper underneath. Be sure to fold "dull-side out" (your patterned side will be facing each other on the inside). The stick pins are optional here and you may not want to use these with kids, it just gives the fabric some extra steadiness while you work.

Rub fabric glue on the two sides using a q-tip or paintbrush. Be sure to get some glue in between the patterned sides, otherwise it won't stick. You don't need to glue the bottom, since you just folded it in half. The top will be the opening of your sack, so be sure to leave that glue free.

Place another sheet of wax paper and press firmly on the glued edges.

Place a heavy book on top and leave for 15-30 minutes.

Remove and flip pouch inside out. Fill with treasures as desired.

I included some acorns here that painted and rolled in glitter, for added fun.

The "treasures" found here can be used for a treasure hunt game in which you hide these items inside a basket of autumn leaves. The painted/glittered acorns are particularly fun to include in this game!

Finished natural treasure pouch!

Celebrate the Harvest Season with crafts using seeds and corn husks!

I gathered these wonderful fall-themed activities from programs at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Seed Quilts

All you need is cardboard, tacky glue, and seeds from your pantry for this one!

Begin with squares of cardboard.

I cut my cardboard squares approximately 5 x 5 inches. Cut as many squares as you would like to make in your "quilt." If you are doing this for a class project, you should cut one for every student.

Squeeze the glue, then place the seeds in a desired design.

Finished "Seed Quilt."

The last step would be to glue your finished seed quilt squares on a larger piece of cardboard, so your "quilt" can stand together.

Corn Husk Crowns

Begin by tearing corn husks into tiny strips. All ages love doing this. For a picture of corn husks and the strips, see my corn husk dolls pictures below.

Tie an elastic cord around an empty picture frame. You can use a piece of  cardboard instead. The frame/cardboard should at least be a foot wide.

Children can tie the corn husks using a simple knot all the way around the cord.

All ages love wearing the crowns!

Corn Husk Dolls

This is a good craft for the older child. It does take some patience. The pictures have been flipped upside down due to a formatting error in the computer, my apologies.

Begin with 4 corn husks.

Tear one corn husk into strips.

Take two corn husks and bunch together.
Secure with a corn husk strip (double knot).

Flip the corn husk over the end and secure
below the "tail," forming a head.

Separate the "flaps" and insert the final corn husk.

Tie off the "waist." You should cut the arms down to a
desired size and cut off any extra ends of the strands.

Tie off the "wrists."

Tie off the "ankles," if pants are desired. This step
can be skipped if a "skirt" is desired instead.

Autumn Harvest Magnets

This is a great activity to not only celebrate the fall harvest, but to recycle! I gathered this activity from the Garfield Park Conservatory and modified it a bit.

Your supplies.

What you will need to make this project: an old seed catalog or magazine with plentiful fall-themed pictures, clear packing tape, glue stick, strong glue, magnets, old postcards.

You may wish to use laminating paper instead. It works just as well. But I do suggest the hand laminating film (also used for book covers), the heated lamination film would be a bit too heavy I think.

Select photos from the catalog and glue to the postcard.

Cut out the pictures and lay them face down on clear packing tape.

Place a second sheet of tape on the backside to "seal" the pictures.

Glue on magnets. Make sure you use a strong glue.

Regular Elmer's won't work here. Use a strong glue such as Aileen's Tacky glue.

Finished product! Now hang on your fridge to dress up your kitchen for fall.

Save some seed...a great fall activity!

In autumn, you can find a flower with seed inside just about anywhere. Sunflowers and marigolds are especially easy ones. You will need to look for a dead or dying flower. Then, you can pull the seeds out from the center. Then, make your own seed packet to store them in. I discovered this useful activity at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

If your marigolds look like this, they are ready for seed saving!

What you will need: 8.5 x 11 computer paper, stapler, writing utensil.

Fold one third into the center of the paper.

Fold remaining third inside over the first flap.

Fold in half.

Remove mature seeds from seed pod (this is a dead marigold flower here).

Staple one side, making an envelope with a solid bottom.
Place seeds inside.

Fold over top edge and staple shut.

Label. Finished!

Spread some seed with SEED BOMBS!

If you haven't heard of seed bombs, you are missing out on a wonderful wonderful thing! Apparently, seed bombs have been around since the beginning of human civilization, but I first learned of these magical creations from South Side Seed Bombs. Check out this site, the woman that runs this business is just as wonderful as these little bombs! http://southsideseedbomb.com/

What is a seed bomb exactly you may ask? They are an ingenious invention created to help plant seeds in a very easy way and keep predators (aka squirrels, birds, mice and other creatures) from eating your seeds before they could sprout into the plants you need. They are also an easy way to disperse seed, just throw and grow!

Seed bombs provide the solution in that they provide the protection the seeds need from predators.

What will you need?

compost (or soil)
seeds of choice (go native!)
natural clay (from craft store pottery section)
paper plate

This activity works great for all ages-you can't go wrong with mud!

What you need to get started.

1. Start with a spoonful of compost (or soil if you don't have compost) and a ball of red clay. Pick out your seeds. This is a great way to disperse native seeds in a prairie.

Smoosh. Mix it all together.

2. Mix the clay, seeds, and compost together. This part is especially fun for kids.

Roll into a ball.

3. Roll back into a ball, let dry.

Last step.

4. Throw in desired location (in ground or a pot). Great way to lay down seeds for the fall to sprout in the following spring.

Hibernation & Winter Animal Dens

Where do animals go in the winter? I posted a link earlier to my blog with information about animal hibernation and overwintering (See May 5 post). Not all animals hibernate, but ALL animals do make some preparations for winter. A fun activity that helps get kids thinking about this concept is to have kids make "mini-winter dens" for an animal of their choice.

A winter shelter for a beaver. Notice the "food."

Beavers do not hibernate, but they do prepare for the winter by collecting food and, of course, they will need a place to store that food and shelter from the elements when they are not out gathering food. In this structure, I included "samaras and twigs" as the food for the beaver. In reality, beavers actually eat branches from trees, preferring aspen, cottonwood, willow, and dogwood. They will also eat plant tubers, roots, shoots, and a variety of herbaceous plants (source: www.landscouncil.org/beaversolution/fact_on_beavers.asp).

The beaver is hidden from predators inside its den.

How the supply set up looks for this activity.

Playing with Wind

With the change of seasons comes windy days. Whether it be fall or spring, wind is a great natural part of our world to focus a lesson or activity with your kids.

 

Wind Wands 

These little ones are having a blast here with some homemade wind wands. Using slurpee straws, we taped ribbons (at least three different strands) to the top of the straw with some decorative duct tape. Just another use for that funky duct tape you find at the craft store now a days! So, now you have an excuse to go buy it. Regular tape won't be strong enough to hold it.

Just add wind & run!

Or, stand still and see what happens.

 

Scarf Clothesline

Another great way to play with wind, hang a clothesline and let your kids hang up play scarves or pieces of fabric.

What you need: clothespins, scarves and/or fabric, rope

Just hang the line, put up a few scarves and see what happens.

We used only smaller play scarves here, but you can use large fabric pieces or old bedsheets.

I did this activity with a group of 8-10 year old girls one week. I just sat back and relaxed while I watched the little girls pretend they were hanging up their clothes, then took them down to get dressed to go to church. Then they returned and took down the "tablecloth" and set up lunch. This continued through several versions of social outings, it was really incredible play at work!

It's funny how much they love to play "house" with this. Now if only we could get them to help with the real laundry....

Walking Sticks

This is a fun project to do to get kids excited about going on a hike. I acquired this idea from programs at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Start with a stick that comes up to your child's shoulder. Use a variety of items, such as ribbon, fabric, pipecleaners, beads, leather cording, and even a compass or magnifying glass.

Decorated by an 8 year old for a toddler to use. The cloth bag is a pouch
to hold natural treasures that may be found on a hike.

The walking stick I have pictured here is pretty simple, as it was created by a child. But, you can get very elaborate with this project!

She's ready for a hike!