Trunk Patterns
Look for interesting shapes in the bark of a tree.
Take a piece of paper and wax crayons (or chalk) to a tree. Place your sheet of paper against the trunk and roll your crayon over the piece of paper.
You will see the pattern of the tree trunk on your paper.
Try using assorted colours on the same rubbing. Fantastic idea for your nature journal projects.
Leaf Rubbings
Making leaf rubbings is a standard activity for young children because it allows them to use crayons and coloured pencils without needing to know how to draw. Children can also help to gather various leaves to experiment with.
Try some leaf rubbings. Tape the leaf stalks to the table or onto paper. Build a design by making interesting arrangements of leaves from different plants. Place the paper over the leaves. Then use the crayons or coloured pencils to colour over and across the area above the leaf. The details of the leaf will show up on the paper.
Gather leaves from special places, such as Grandma’s Garden and create a picture for her, or a family camping holiday to remember in years to come.
If you are a parent who enjoys crafts as well, save these reliefs for art projects of your own. They can be used in card-making, collage work, and altered art projects.
Again, another project to add to your nature journal or sketchbook!
Other related topics in YPRLs Kid’s Corner:
Websites of Interest:
Books of Interest:
Cool green : amazing, remarkable trees by Lulu Delacre
A portrait of some of the world's most incredible trees, seen through the eyes of a landscaper who loves them-and his granddaughter who is beginning to understand why. As he works with his young granddaughter to nurture a potted sapling, a Latino landscaper shares his love and admiration of trees. From the extraordinary rainbow gum tree to the mighty, towering redwood, each of the thirteen specimens he tells of is a miracle of the natural world-and some are strange beyond the wildest imagining.
The gentle genius of trees by Philip Bunting
What could we clever humans ever learn from trees?
Take an unashamedly anthropomorphic wander through the woods to learn a few life lessons from our foliaged friends.
Nature craft by Fiona Hayes
Collect twigs, pine cones, feathers, leaves, shells and pebbles from your garden, park or holiday and create animals and objects with them. Stunning projects included are a bird nest bowl made with feathers and leaves, a nut mask and feather mask, seed pod flowers and pine cone owls, a feathery bird bookmark, fir cone fish mobile, painted snail shells and twigs, and a twinkling night light jar. Learn about the nature around you whilst being creative. Perfect activities for parents and children to do together.
![Toby Alone [electronic resource]](https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781406330533/lc.gif&client=yarraplentyrl&upc=&oclc=)
Toby Alone by Timothée de Fombelle
An awards-laden adventure of heroism, friendship and survival – with a powerful ecological message – set in a captivating miniature world. Toby Lolness is just one and a half millimetres tall, and he's the most wanted person in his world...