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This week is all about exploring the things you can do with rocks! They are so simple, but with plenty of imagination, they can be anything! Let's jump into what this week has to offer:
Suggested Book List-Try to find these at your local library!
Activities
Painted Stone Snake- Sprouts (ages 2-5) Create a snake out of stones to place in a sandbox or flower garden.
Materials
8 or more smooth, clean stones
Green or Yellow and Black Acrylic paint (or your child's favorite snake colors)
Paintbrushes
Craft glue
Googly Eyes
2-inch piece of red ribbon
Steps
Invite your child to go on a nature walk in your backyard, local park, or nature trail in search of 8 smooth stones. The best stones can usually be found by a gentle stream. Please exercise caution when near a body of moving water.
Clean the stones and have your child paint them in their favorite snake design. See some different colors of snakes here!
Have your child glue 2 googly eyes and a small piece of red ribbon (as the snake's tongue) on one of the stones. Let the glue dry.
Ask your child to arrange the painted stones in a snake pattern in a sandbox or flower bed as a decoration.
(Bonning-Gould et al., 2019)
Set in Stone -Blossoms (ages 5-9): Create a work of art using rocks that you find.
Materials
Basket or container
Rocks or pebbles found outside
Small twigs
Glue (Gorilla Glue or a hot glue gun work well; get an adult's help!)
Card stock or a slice of wood
Steps
Take a nature walk and collect any small, smooth stones you find.
Collect your rocks in a basket or container.
Once you return home, create art using your stones and twigs. You can create a family picture, or an animal like a fish, dog, bird, or butterfly.
With the help of an adult, glue your final design to your paper or wood so you can display it or give it to someone as a gift.
(Andrews et al., 2019)
Outdoor Adventure Bucket List
***PLEASE REMEMBER to modify these for your child's age and always do with adult supervision and permission!***
Go on a wild Mushroom Hunt- Search for wild mushrooms growing in your yard or local park. Use a mushroom guide to identify the mushrooms you find (like this one!). Many mushrooms are poisonous (or even deadly) so NEVER taste them unless you are 100 percent sure what they are.
Make a Sand Angel- Head to a lake with a beach or a park with a sandbox and lie back on the sand. Wave your arms and legs back and forth. Once you get up, look at your creation! If all you have is a dirt pile, that can work, too!
Find a Caterpillar: Go on a nature walk and gently lift up plant leaves to see if any are hanging out on the underside of the leaves. For an added challenge, try to find a Monarch caterpillar! Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Do some research to see what milkweed looks like before you go on your nature walk and try to find one in your backyard, local park, or nature trail. If you find a milkweed plant, look for a caterpillar with yellow and black stripes! Soon, this caterpillar will be a beautiful Monarch butterfly!
(Tornio et al., 2013)
Sources
Andrews, K., & Dockrill, K. (2019). In Exploring nature activity book for kids: 50 creative projects to spark curiosity in the outdoors (pp. 60–61). essay, Rockridge Press.
Bonning-Gould, K., & Rosenberg, N. S. (2019). In The outdoor toddler activity book: 100+ fun early learning activities for outside play (p. 145). essay, Rockridge Press.
Tornio, S., Keffer, K., & Riordan, R. (2013). In The kids' outdoor adventure book: 448 great things to do in nature before you grow up (pp. 59-61). essay, Falcon Guides.
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