Nature Animals

Turn your child’s nature finds into parts of their sketches.  Our son wanted an animal theme, but “make it your own” with whatever interests you!

Materials

• Nature finds (rocks, leaves, sticks, pinecones etc.)

• Cardstock or construction paper
• Craft glue
• Pencil/eraser

Directions

• Go on a nature walk with an adult.  We collected only things that were no longer alive and not on someone’s property so as to be respectful.  We live by a river valley with a trail system so this is a perfect way to get your kids outside and active while you enjoy some exercise!  On the way you might discuss ideas that you may have and look for specific things to accent your concepts or you might use the pieces you find as inspiration.

• Take your items home and lay them out onto paper, sketching around them.  (See some examples below that our son thought of.)

• Finish your drawings- whether that means going over them with a thin black pen, colouring or painting portions in or by cutting some parts out of coloured paper an assembling the pieces.  Or you could leave them as sketches too! (Our son traced one of his sketch’s with the help of the light from the window- always a great trick!)

• Glue your items down with craft glue.

• Allow to dry overnight.

• Be sure to sign your sketches and you might want to indicate the year, season and where you found the item.  If you know the type of specimen, include that too!

Purpose

• Getting out into nature.
• Sketching

Safety Notes

• Be sure to go on a nature walk with an adult.
• Respect nature when you remove an item.
• Use a craft tray and smock to protect your clothing and work surfaces.