This activity is designed to encourage children and educators to explore the many ways natural materials and loose parts can be used for creative activities. There is no limit to how natural materials can be used. Give your imagination some nature time!

Students will explore some of the amazing colours that can be found in nature. They are asked to stand or sit in one spot, and to see how many colours they can see in nature from that spot. Students will then create an artwork based on the colours they observe in nature. Students will be able to observe colours in nature and understand that there are many colours in nature. They will be able to identify a range of colours.

During this lesson students explore the patterns of natural objects found in the school yard. Students take photos and collect a range of these objects, and in particular a range of leaves with different patterns. Students discuss the importance of trees to our environment and to ourselves, and create a clay leaf bowl from their collected leaves with the intentions of communicating messages about conserving and protecting trees to a wider audience. This lesson is designed to be taught outside. By spending time outdoors and connecting to nature, students are more likely to care for and conserve nature as adults.

During this lesson students learn the value of giving and receiving constructive feedback in order to develop and improve their artworks. They begin by exploring the range of leaves found in their school yard while discussing the value of trees. Using the Austin’s Butterfly technique for creating and improving artworks, students create a scientific drawing of a leaf as their contribution toward a display or gallery exhibition to educate others. This lesson is designed to be taught outside. By spending time outdoors and connecting to nature, students are more likely to care for and conserve nature as adults.

In this lesson, students explore water consumption. They first investigate the value of reusable drink bottles and the amount of water people should consume each day. They then create a puppet show using their own reusable bottles.

Students explore why trees are important, what the parts of a tree are called and why we need trees. Students begin by observing trees in nature, and then draw upon inspiration from the story The Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert to make their own leaf men with fallen leaves. These will be used to create a display to teach other students about the importance of trees. This lesson is designed to be taught outside. By spending time outdoors and connecting to nature, students are more likely to care for and conserve nature as adults.