How to Learn about Nature with a Fun Window Catcher Craft

Making waxed paper leaf sun catchers is a fun and interesting way to explore nature in a hands-on way while practicing research skills. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this educational activity.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• waxed paper
• leaves, flowers and grass
• iron
• permanent marker
• field guide

1. 
    

   Gather your materials. You will need an iron, waxed paper, a permanent marker and a bucket, bag, basket or bowl for collecting leaves.

2. 
    

   Go to a park, trail or your own back yard. Anywhere that has plants and leaves will work.

3. 
    

   Collect leaves and flowers of varying shapes, textures, colors and sizes.

4. 
    

   Put down a sheet of waxed paper, arrange your leaves, add another sheet of waxed paper to the top and iron.

5. 
    

   Look up your leaves and flowers in a field guide and label each one with a permanent marker.

6. 
    

   Trim the edges of your waxed paper to make your sun catcher the desired shape.

7. 
    

   Display your sun catcher. You can tape it directly on to a window, put it in a frame or put it in a photo album.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the wax paper to begin to stick together. Keep ironing.
• Some plants with a high water content will turn brown with the heat of the iron.
• Keep kids away from the hot iron.
• Watch for poisonous plants like poison ivy and poison oak.

Resources

• More Fun Educational Activities
• Ongoing Online Column on Activities for Kids

[starrwd]

on 7/20/2009 Thanks! If you like this, you might also like my article on outdoor classrooms:)
Check it out:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-15855-Huntsville-Education-Activities-Examiner~y2009m7d17-Outdoor-classrooms-101-what-are-the-best-ideas-and-activities

[Blackinkheart]

on 7/20/2009 OoOOOoh this sounds super fun! ^_^ I love nature, and crafts so this is a very cool project for me too! 5*s