Nature Art Lessons

Dry beans can serve as the basis for a natural mosaic picture.

The natural world makes an excellent basis for art lessons. Children can explore the natural world while creating a piece of artwork. Nature art projects also work well as a complement to a science unit on nature, making for an interdisciplinary approach.

Nature Sculptures

A quick nature walk provides the materials needed for this art project. Remind student to take only items that are on the ground in order to avoid damaging any plants or natural features. Look for items such as small rocks, pine cones, acorns, leaves, pine needles, sticks and seeds. Fall is an ideal time for this project since so many natural objects are already on the ground. You might also provide nature items like sea shells and feathers that the students aren't likely to find in their environment. Craft stores often sell these materials. The children can then return to their work areas to create their sculptures. They will glue the items they've gathered together to create a sculpture. An alternative is to glue the objects onto a piece of cardboard to create a flat design.

Nature Rubbing Collage

Colored pencils or crayons allow students to create rubbings of various textures in nature. Each child needs at least one piece of paper along with the coloring utensil of his choice. Walk around outdoors to find textures for the collage. The children hold the paper over the texture and gently scribble back and forth with a crayon or pencil. They make small patches of each texture to create a collage that covers the entire paper.

Flower Pounding

This warm weather activity captures the shape and color of flowers long after they die. Choose flowers with vibrant colors like pansies or irises for the best results. Since you are pounding the flowers, choose a work surface that is sturdy and won't be damaged by the pounding. Spread newspaper on the surface to protect it from the flower color. A piece of watercolor paper is used as the background for the flower print. Place the flower on top of the paper and cover it with a paper towel. The students should gently pound the flower with a hammer to transfer the color. The longer you pound, the more color will transfer. Because of the hammer, this project works best for upper elementary grades or higher. You can also purchase smaller hammers that are easier for children to control. Lift the flower off of the paper when you have finished. You can repeat the process with other flowers to complete the picture.

Mosaic

Small items from nature create the decorations for a homemade mosaic picture. Dried beans in a variety of colors work well for the filler. Seeds in different sizes, shapes and colors also work. Use a piece of sturdy cardboard or foam board as the base of the mosaic so it holds up to the weight. The students should draw a design on the board, such as a grid pattern or random shapes. Working one section at a time, they should spread craft glue onto the board and then sprinkle one type of beans or seeds on the area. Continue gluing and sprinkling to fill out all of the sections.

References

• Disney Family Fun: Pounded Flower Prints
• Martha Stewart: Martha's Crafts for Kids