Nature Art Activity

We are all aware that our children likely don’t spend enough time in nature and need more nature-based learning activities. The times have changed from when we were children. It is estimated that 83% of people in the United States live in urban areas these days. That’s a large percentage. And while some cities offer plenty of havens for being with nature, many do not. So what do we do to help children build a love for nature that will last into their adult lives? Of course there are the big things, like trips into nature for hiking or camping. You can also go to zoos and have pets. Yet there is also the simple day to day of finding nature in whatever form it might be, no matter where you live.

It’s important to find art projects for kids at home. Art builds creativity and helps children explore in their own way. This simple nature-based learning activity is perfect for children all the way up to 8 to not only have open ended art time, but also to continue to grow their love for nature. I originally did this as a summer nature activity, but it works in fall, spring, or winter as well. There is nature in every season and it should be celebrated frequently. The below activity combines nature and art together for a day of fun.

Supplies

When coming up with this nature-based art activity I wanted to focus more on sourcing supplies directly from nature. As a result, I tried to keep the supply list short. Not only does it make this activity more affordable and easier to do, if you have a desire to tie in sustainability into this project, it’s easy to do.

Paper

Use whatever paper will work well for your family. I honestly load up on printing paper and use that.

Glue

I personally prefer liquid glue for this type of project because I think it sticks better. An alternative that we’ve done was to use contact paper. It’s a little harder for the young ones to manage on their own, but helps everything stay on so much better than glue. If you go with sticky paper you won’t need glue.

Basket

You don’t absolutely need a basket. But you can use it for collecting items during your nature walk.

Process

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Gather all your supplies together.

Paper
Glue or contact paper
Basket

Step 2: Take a walk

Take a nice long walk in nature or the closest you can get to nature. Bring your basket with you. This activity is meant to be led by your child, so let them lead the way as much as possible. While on your walk, collect interesting looking nature pieces. This can be as vibrant as flowers, as simple as grass, or as unique as seeds. There is no wrong way for your child to gather supplies.

Step 3: Explore your bounty

When you return home, take time to dump out your basket and explore what you found. Talk about the items, feel them, and use as many senses as possible to explore them.

Step 4: Make art

Using whatever supplies you desire from the nature walk, create a beautiful work of art. There is no right or wrong way to do this, and your child doesn’t have to use all of the items they found.

Results

This activity is a fun way to put artwork on your wall that reminds you of nature. My favorite aspect is that it can easily be done over a few days.

This activity can be done numerous times. One year we did one Nature Art for every season, which opened the conversation for what’s different in each season. Do this as many times as you and your child are interested.