NATURE RUBBINGS

Art and the outdoors: what a great combination.
Getting children curious about the natural world and being outdoors, even if they aren't a sporty type of person, is what this activity is all about.

Materials: Thin paper, crayons and pencils.
Children to place paper over objects and rub with crayons and pencils.
Try tree trunks, acorns, rocks, fences, bricks, anything with texture. Discover what works as a textural surface and what does not work, what is nature and what is man made. Talk about what are man made objects.

PHOTO thanks to yell.com
LINKED AT: Outdoor Play Link Up
Garden Journal

Nature Table

at earth sky sea child

NATURE's WONDERS

Creating a nature table in your home or centre is a wonderful way to get children and parents interested in the big wide world outdoors. It is an excellent activity for all ages, from the very young and also those in wheelchairs and other children who do not consider themselves sporty or active.

It gives a focus to the days activity: Today we are collecting things, at the park, to place on our new nature table.

When we had a nature table,at one of the centres I worked with, we found that parents were taking their children for walks or planning more visits to the national parks and creeks and beaches and they were as excited as the children when they brought in an abandoned bird's nest or some ancient coral that had washed up on the shore. When children discover these natural treasures they feel more connected to something larger and wondrous.

Linked up at The Weekly Kids Co-op

Enhancing your outdoor space

10 TOP TIPS FOR ENHANCING YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE

at The BODY SMART Blog

Make a bird feeder

Family Fun

Attract birds to your garden with this bird feeder
made from recycled materials

Create a lizard garden

Create a special habitat for native animals