Make a Nature Collage

Children are natural collectors, so why not use their finds to make a fun piece of nature art?

Best age range: 2-7

Location: An area where natural materials are abundant and you’re allowed to collect items from nature, for example a wooded backyard, park etc.

Materials:

  • Cardboard, cut to appropriate size
  • Liquid glue
  • Containers for collection of items
  • Natural materials such as leaves, pine needles, leaves, sticks etc
  • A piece of wire or string

Go for a nature walk and let your child collect the items for his or her painting. Apply a generous amount of glue to the cardboard and let the child arrange the finds however he or she wants. Let it dry for a day, then make holes in the top two corners and attach a wire or string. Your child’s painting is ready for display! No painting will look like alike, and there is no right or wrong. Fall is a great time of the year for this craft, since there are so many colorful materials on hand.

Note: I tried this craft with my girls, who are 2 and 5, and they both loved it. As an added bonus the paintings can be composted, so this activity can also be an opportunity to talk to your child about the life cycle of plant materials and the concept of “biodegradable.”

"Painting" with nature's own materials.
“Painting” with nature’s own materials.

 

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