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About This Activity
Gathering leaves, acorns and other natural items is always a hit
with children. The fun of exploring, discovering and collecting
can lead to other quality moments such as sorting, counting and
observing the items. Children can also use these treasures in
other activities found in this book or those of their own invention!
Let's Get Started
What You Will Need
☑A basket or similar container
☑
Soil
☑
Seeds and/or seedlings
☑
Basic gardening tools – trowel, rake, watering can, gloves
Directions
- Collect natural items found on the ground, such as leaves,
cones, small sticks, bark, seeds, feathers, pine needles,
shells, stones, part of an old paper wasp nest, etc.
- As you gather, look for clues to figure out where it came
from (e.g., matching a leaf or cone with its tree).
- At home, examine and arrange by type, shape, colour,
use or any other way the child wishes.
- Keep on a nature table or in the basket for future use
(Fairy Garden, Framing Fun, etc.).
Variations
Challenge yourselves to find
specific items likely to be found.
For instance, 10 leaves, one
feather, three shells and two
cones. Or leaves with different
edges (wavy, pointy like teeth,
smooth), colours (brown, green,
yellow), shapes (long like a
spear, heart-shaped, widest at
the middle) or items with different
textures (soft, hard, fuzzy).
Observations
What do the items feel/smell/look/sound like? What
patterns or neat shapes do you see? Why do you think
they are like that?
*
Tips
»»It’s preferable to collect things already on the ground as,
for example, plants need their leaves to make food and
trees need bark for protection.
»» If you are not on your own property, check for permission
to collect things, as some parks prohibit collection of any
items. In this case, examine your treasures as part of
your outing and have fun with them, perhaps by making
a picture by arranging them on the ground.
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