Nature School Project: Nature Bracelets
In the Martin & Sylvia's Nature School Story "Camouflage," we learn that Brother and Sister’s favorite game — no matter the time of day or time in the year — is a game where you blend into your surroundings and try not to be seen. Martin is usually the master of this game, but when Sylvia learns a trick at Nature School, she becomes “The Invisible Girl.”
We are joined by Dawn of Mud Puddles to Meteors who shares with us her autumn version of a nature bracelet.
Last Friday, we made fall nature bracelets. I was thinking about ways to take this project a step further for nature study when one of the kids in my nature group mentioned that she wanted to identify everything on her bracelet. Of course! Kids are so awesome! While we talk about the things they are putting on their bracelets as they go, they might not remember everything and it would be great to have not only the bracelet, but also a visual guide to their discoveries.
In the past, we had taped the bracelets to paper and displayed them on our cork board. Taking that to the next logical step, my daughter and I labeled the bracelets we later made at home collecting nature specimens from around the yard.
These bracelets are so simple the impact can be deceiving, but they are tons of fun. Mom and Dad, you will not be able to resist making one of your own!
Autumn Nature Bracelets
Materials:
sticky tape (duct or painters tape)
card stock (we used half sheets)
nature
To make the bracelet:
To make your tape into a bracelet, wrap it around the wrist with the sticky side out and secure the ends together.
As you walk along the trail collect things that attract your attention. You can simply put them on the bracelet any which way or you can be a bit more artistic about it and attempt a design. It is totally up to the creator!
When you finish gently cut the bracelet off at a good spot (it is not always where the two ends meet, so ask the kids where they want the cut).
Use some more tape to attach the bracelet to the card stock with room on the top and bottom for labelling.
Label what you already know, then grab the guides and you are off!
If you can’t find the answer, you might ask the kids who they know that might be able to help them learn about the specimens on their bracelet. Is there an elderly neighbor who is a gardener and might know what the flowers are? Do you have a natural history museum nearby that might have someone who can help? Would Grandma know? Maybe a group on the internet could help — like the Mud Puddles to Meteor Facebook group.
About the Author
Dawn Suzette Smith
Dawn Suzette Smith is a self-taught naturalist and trained educator. For the past 15 years she has worked to promote children's connections with nature as well as outdoor pursuits for both physical and mental health. Her writing and photography have been featured in various print and online magazines and books and in exhibits with the National Park Service. Dawn currently homeschools two curious nature lovers and leads nature walks year-round to help families connect with nature through child-led nature study in the wild forests and along the rugged coastline of Nova Scotia, Canada. Along with Annie Riechmann, she is also the author of the upcoming Whatever the Weather: Science Experiments and Art Activities That Explore the Wonders of Weather (Roost, 2016). You can find her work at Mud Puddles to Meteors, a blog dedicated to finding nature in the well traveled corners of everyday life, and a landing place for nature loving families raising kids to explore the world around them with a spirit of discovery and a love of science.
