Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards
Level of Parent Involvement: Medium the first time showing the child then low once the child works independently
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
- Items typically found outdoors for example leaves, twigs, rocks, bark, flowers, gumnuts etc
- A basket or bag for the child to collect the objects
Preparation
- None
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know for this activity we have to go outside (your backyard or go for a walk)
- Let the child know they will need to bring the basket/bag
- Tell the child “we are going to go on a hunt for interesting objects we can find in nature”
(If you are going for a walk with your child to collect the objects, have a discussion with the child about what they can and cant collect for example they can’t pick flowers from someone’s garden. Point out appropriate choices such as leaves, twigs, bark, flowers on the nature strip or at the park etc)
- The child begins collecting objects
- Once the child has a sufficient number of objects (Around 30 object) suggest a space where the child can work outside for example on a towel or picnic rug on the grass or at an outdoor table
- Invite the child to sort their objects into categories putting objects that are the same together for example place all leaves together, all stones together, all twigs together etc
- Once the child has finished sorting the objects let the child know you are going to make a pattern
- Begin making a pattern, for example a leaf followed by a stone, followed by a flower
- Repeat the pattern so the child can see
- Invite the child to continue making the pattern
- Once the child has carried on the pattern and has run out of materials let the child know they may put the objects back into their piles and make their own pattern
- Leave the child to work peacefully and independently with the natural resources
- Come back when the child is finished to admire their pattern
Variations
- The child may paste their pattern onto a piece of paper or cardboard to create a collage using the natural objects they collected
Note
- Depending on your outdoor area at home, you may wish to go for a walk to collect the natural objects
For example families living in an apartment or unit may not have enough natural materials in their outdoor area for the child to collect
