'In your garden' activities to try
If you have a back garden, try out some of these ideas:
* Paint nature - Paint something you see outside or even use natural paint (crushed berries, pollen, grass rubbing - see what colours you can create! Make sure you wash hands after)
* Natural paintbrush - Find a stick and use string to attach natural materials to the end to make a paintbrush
* Read outside
* Make mud pies
* Go puddle jumping
* Create art out of nature - instead of paint/glue/pencils, why not use sticks/leaves/petals/rocks with the floor as your canvas?
* Tree faces - use mud to create a face for a tree!
* Tree dragons - Find interesting parts of a tree that you could turn into a dragon by painting it!
* Colour match - Using a paint sample card (or make your own!) see what colors you can match with nature
* Go on a nature scavenger hunt
* Be a forest school teacher - Teach whoever is at home something you have already learnt in Forest school!
* Help with the gardening
* Plant seeds
* Meditate outside - Sit quietly, close your eyes and tune in to the sounds around you!
* Picnic in the garden
* Paint with water (if you have a patio or hard area)
* Make tree and leaf rubbings
* Make a stick family
* Make a nature wand/ wizard stick - find a cool stick, attach natural materials to it using string or wool
* Flower press
* Search for animal homes
* Play torch tag at night
* Test your senses - Take away a sense and identify an object. Eg. Close your eyes and use other senses to identify a natural object such as a pine cone
* Look for bugs and research them!
* Make natural glitter - Hole punch leaves and other natural materials
* Make a map of your garden
* Camp in your back garden!
* Build a mini shelter for the creatures in your garden (using sticks)
* Identify plants (parents/carers there is a great app called Candide or iNaturalist)
* Memory game - collect natural materials, try remember them, turn around and see how many you can remember
* Climb a tree
* Nature weaving - using an old photo frame or sticks tied together in a frame, tie string across the frame and weave using nature!
If you don't have access to a garden but can look out of your window or collect some items on a walk, try these:
* Paint nature - Paint something you see outside
* Birdwatch out of your window - The RSPB website has some great resources for this - https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/
* Watch the sunset
* Nature show and tell - Find something you love in nature, research it and tell everyone at home about it! Or even Miss Carrott when you're back at school
* Water your house plants
* Plant seeds for the windowsill. You don't need to buy these; save them out of the fruit or veg you cut up for food and see which will grow!
* Make a nature story
* Look after your pets! Take responsibility - water, feed, walk and play with your pets!
* Stargaze
* How colourful is your garden/house? Write down all the colours you can see!
* Make a nature poster - why do you love nature?
* Nature interview - make a microphone out of natural materials, interview a family member
on what nature means to them, record it if you have a device