NATURE SAFARI
MATERIALS:
- Container for collecting natural objects
PROCEDURE:
Before Activity:
Discuss with your child what makes a mammal a mammal (hair/fur; ability to bear live young and produce milk to nurse these young). We humans are mammals. What mammals live in your neighborhood (grey squirrel, dog, cat, fox, etc.)?
Plan a family outing to a park or conservation area.
Bring along a paper bag or small cardboard box for collecting.
During Activity:
Walk carefully and quietly in order to observe any animals. What are they doing?
Now look for evidence of mammals and their food sources (acorns, pine cones, nuts, seeds, chewed leaves, chewed bark, critters under logs, pieces of fur, litter).
Carefully collect one or two samples of these mammal-related items. Do not harm or collect any living animal or plant. Only collect items on the ground. Remind your child that you are only visitors to this place (habitat) where animals live.
Keep the bag or box of items. You will be using these for the next three activities.
CAUTION: Care should be taken to avoid collecting poison ivy leaves. Individual leaflets fall from the stem during autumn.
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NATURE COLLAGE
MATERIALS:
- Glue
- Piece of wood, styrofoam meat tray, or paper plate
- Objects collected from Nature Safari
PROCEDURE:
Look at the natural objects collected together and create categories to sort the items into. Examples of categories are; Things that are Brown and Things that are Green or Plant Parts and Animal Parts, etc.
Arrange the items you found onto your base. When you and your child are satisfied with the arrangement glue objects onto your base to create a natural collage.
Use any leftover objects to create an imaginary mammal in its habitat.
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NATURE SORTING ACTIVITY
MATERIALS:
- Cupcake Tins
- Objects collected from Nature Safari Walk
- Household Items Suitable for Sorting (Beans, Buttons, Coins, etc.)
PROCEDURE:
A. Sort items according to size, shape, living/non-living, color, foods that mammals eat, etc.
B. Ask child to place a certain number of objects into each bin. Expand math concepts adding objects, taking away, etc.
NOTE: Great to occupy your child while you prepare dinner!
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CAMOUFLAGE CRITTERS
MATERIALS:
- Modeling Clay
- Pipe cleaners
- Feathers and Fake Fur Pieces
- Nut Shells, Acorn Cups, Pinecone Scales, Dried Seeds and Leaves
PROCEDURE:
Discuss the concept of camouflage with your child. Camouflage is the ability to disguise oneself from being observed.
Some animals are camouflaged by the color of their fur or feathers, skin or scales. Some clothing is camouflaged.
Pick a certain location where an animal could hide. (Section of your yard, living room rug, potted plant, etc.)
Work with your child to create an imaginary animal who could be camouflaged in that particular place. discuss and plan what colors, shapes etc. would best for your animal to hide in that spot.
Place the new critter in that spot and have another family member try to find it. Were you successful? Why?
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TIE-DYE ART
MATERIALS:
- White Paper Towels
- Food Coloring (Paint)
- Bowls
PROCEDURE:
Place different colors of food coloring into their own containers.
Fold a dry paper towel into a small square.
Ask your child to predict what will happen when you dip each corner of the folded square into a color.
Now dip each corner and allow time for color to be absorbed.
When you have dropped each of the four corners gently unfold the paper towel and observe what happened.
Did you discover new colors? How were they created?
You can expand this activity to tie-dye tee-shirts. Follow directions of fabric dye packet.
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EGG SHELL MOSAIC
MATERIALS:
- Shells from chicken eggs (Rinsed out well and dried)
- Food color
- Glue
- Paper, cardboard, meat trays, etc.
- Containers for food color
PROCEDURE:
Crush egg shell between waxed paper by pounding or rolling with heavy object.
Divide shells and place into different colors. allow to dry.
Draw outline onto surface to be covered. (Butterflies and flowers work well)
Spread a thin layer of glue over area to be covered with egg shells.
Spread egg shells over glued area. Continue until design is complete.
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EGG SHELL PLANTERS
MATERIALS:
- 1/2 shells from chicken eggs (Rinsed out well and dried)
- Empty egg carton
- Potting soil
- Grass seed or other small flower or vegetable seeds
PROCEDURE:
Fill each 1/2 shell with potting soil.
Place shell into the egg carton.
Sprinkle small seeds over top and pat lightly into soil.
Water lightly using spritzer bottle.
Place in well lighted and warm location.
Observe daily. Keep a journal of the growth using words, measurements or pictures. |
