How to Get your Kids Excited About Nature at a Young Age

How do you Get Kids to Enjoy Nature?

There’s no refuting that encouraging our kids to get out in nature and engage in outdoor play will result in your family reaping a myriad of benefits, spanning from improved physical and emotional health to providing your children with a ton of fun opportunities for both learning and family bonding. But we also know how difficult it can be to get your kids genuinely excited about outdoor time in this age of screens, screens, and more screens. So, how can you get kids to enjoy nature? Here are a few quick tips!

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links.

NATURE APPRECIATION TIPS

1. Plan regular outings

Hands down, the best way to get your kids excited about being out in nature is to make sure that you take regular family trips to beautiful places. Make full use of your local hiking trails on weekends, and set some time aside every week to go on a nice, long (and maybe even educational) bushwalk! If you’ve got younger kids with you, be sure to come equipped with a sturdy Joolz stroller, or another kind of stroller that you’re certain can handle off-road terrain if you plan to stray from the beaten path. 

2. Watch nature documentaries

It’s safe to say that young children have very few opportunities to engage with the wonders of the wider world, especially if your family has no upcoming travel plans. But you don’t need to go to Africa to see the lions of the Serengeti or to the Arctic Circle to see polar bears! If you have an allocated family movie night, be sure to flick on some David Attenborough and other nature documentaries every now and then to keep your kids in absolute awe of the natural world. Not only this, but documentaries can also be a great tool when it comes to teaching your kids about the effects of climate change and the importance of decreasing your household’s carbon footprint. Putting these complex issues into real-world contexts can really help your kids develop and maintain healthy living habits.

3. Grow your own garden

Speaking of healthy living habits, did you know that even the pickiest kids are more likely to eat veggies that they’ve grown themselves? And that not only is gardening a natural stress reliever, but it’s also been proven to boost our immune systems and strengthen our fine motor skills? Both suburban and city-dwelling families alike, are jumping on the gardening bandwagon and using any free outdoor space to cultivate their own little veggie patches. And you don’t need to go all-out here to reap the benefits either! Even families living in apartment buildings can utilise balcony space to nurture their own herbs and potted produce like tomato plants. If you’re uncertain of where to start, here are five low-maintenance plants that will be sure to get your kids excited about flexing their green thumbs for years to come.

4. Play some outdoor games

Some of our strongest memories from childhood are made during outdoor play, whether we’re bouncing on a trampoline in the backyard or swinging from the monkey bars of our nearest playground. For this reason alone, it’s highly recommended that you take any and all opportunities to play some outdoor games with your kids and to encourage your kids to play sports and other outdoor activities with their peers. Even younger kids can join in on the fun with some inclusive activities like a sandcastle-building competition, and older kids will have a whale of a time with age-old classics like ‘Tag’ and ‘Capture the Flag.’

Finally, it’s a good rule of thumb to always have a small debrief with your little ones after any outdoor activity, just so you can gauge what interests them and what you can do to nurture those interests. If you listen well, you’ll be sure to have some very avid little hikers, bikers, and gardeners on your hands who will only find more ways to keep themselves learning and developing new skills as they grow up!

Recommended:

Outdoor Games with a Twist from Adventures Kids Creative Chaos

Nature Games

Nature Based Circle Time Activity

Go Green with 6 Eco Friendly Kid Activities: Fall

6 Going Green Activities for Kids

Whether you call it Fall or Autumn, the cooler weather is a great time to go green and focus on eco friendly kid activities. Going green isn't just about sustainability or recycling, it is also a great way to be eco friendly. When you use items from nature in games and craft projects, you're going green! Take the kids on a nature hike, collect twigs, leaves, and rocks and then start creating win the found materials. We've curated five beautiful and fun eco friendly activities to do with the kids that will make beautiful gifts or home decorations for fall. As always, don't forget to make it an educational experience with a companion lesson. We've included a few for you.

Whenever we do a craft, we like to pair it with a lesson. The eco friendly kid activities listed here are perfect companion craft activities for a lesson on the environment. After your nature hike, teach the kids about sustainability, going green, and even climate change. Adrian Rubin  has great articles that are perfect for high schoolers or college students to read on their own. For middle school or older elementary students, the articles, like this one on climate change and red tide, make good read alouds. Check out NASA for more in depth articles and lesson plans on global climate change.

6 Eco Friendly Kid Activities

• One of our fellow bloggers and favorite crafters, is Maggie, from Red Ted Art. She created a beautiful leaf lantern that is the perfect fall eco friendly kid activity. 

Eco Friendly Leaf Lanterns from Red Ted Art.

After you hike and create your leaf lantern activity, watch this Global Warming Climate Change video from Brainpop. If you're a teacher or homeschool parent, you'll love that you can create your own quiz or find lesson ideas here.

• Colleen from Raising Lifelong Learners, offers up an ideal going green eco friendly kid activity with these evergreen wreath craft. Click over to see how she incorporates STEM/STEAM lessons with activity. You might also like our Autumn Leaf Wreath How to Activity.

Evergreen Wreath Activity from Raising Lifelong Learners.

• Over on the Melissa & Doug blog, we found an eco friendly alphabet kid activity that is perfect for preschoolers. On your nature hike, collect smooth, flat rocks and bring them inside to create alphabet rocks. The next time you go out, place them along the path in alphabetical order to help your little one learn their ABCs. 

Alphabet Rock Walk from Melissa & Doug.

• We have a fun eco friendly mystery bag activity for a nature hike.

Collect items on a nature hike for a mystery bag activity.

• Now that you've collected all those nature items for your mystery bag activity, use some twigs and walnut or hickory nut shells to make your own eco friendly nature tic tac toe game.

Make an eco friendly tic tac toe game from found objects.

• All kids like to pick up twigs. They make great swords, don't they? They also make cool eco friendly crafts, like the Christmas Tree ornaments pictured below. Collect the twigs in the fall and gift the eco friendly ornaments during the holidays.

Eco friendly kid made holiday decorations.from Kids Creative Chaos.

For more eco friendly kid activities and sustainable ideas check out our Pinterest board on Art and Craft Activities for Kids.

Recommended Reading:

Eco Friendly Nature Based Kid Activities

Eco Friendly Kids Products on Amazon (affiliate link)

Fall Play Ideas

Have a Natural Nature Based Circle Time Activity Game: Sensory Saturday Play Based Learning

Perfect for a play based learning Natural Circle Time Activity for kids: Nature's Treasures

Circle Time is a time for children to learn to pay attention, to make connections with each other, and to have fun. This nature based circle time activity is fun for kids of all ages for summer camp, but is ideal for preschool circle time.

Didi from Duck Duck Octopus (She's no longer blogging) shared this awesome nature sensory game for circle time.

We learn about the world through our senses. The tart burst of flavor from a fresh-picked blackberry is a tell-tale sign of summer; watching leaves swirl around the sky shows us it's windy; and pitter-patter sounds of rain tells us to put on our wellies for jumping in freshly made puddles. Our bodies absorb a constant stream of information that we assimilate into experience, but we seldom intentionally acknowledge the senses that deliver the information; the information is "just there".

Get your group together, form a circle, 

and play Nature's Treasure in circle time.

The Nature's Treasures mystery game is an activity that facilitates a hands-on exploration of the senses and nature. Kids get to experience how their perception of the world is altered when their senses are limited. The use of natural objects connects kids to their environment, and allows them to experience things they encounter every day in a new way.
 
Instructions

1. Gather an assortment of familiar natural objects (e.g. a dandelion, rock, shell, lobster claw, stick, cattail fluff, maple leaf, an animal bone, feather, dirt, etc.). Collect enough items, so each child participating has an item. Make sure your collection is gathered and stored out of sight of your kids. You don't want to spoil the mystery!
2. Place one mystery object in an opaque bag; brown lunch bags are great. Seal the bag with ribbon or a piece of tape.
3. Place the bags in a "treasure chest" (a decorated cardboard box), and bring the treasure chest out for the kids.
4. Introduce the activity by talking about the incredible diversity that may be found in nature. Have your kids offer examples of colors, textures and shapes they may find in nature (e.g. tiny snails; red, orange, and yellow autumn leaves; prickly porcupines; furry raccoons; bumpy shells, etc.).
5. Using the examples provided by the kids, make connections to how people use their senses to experience the world.
6. Explain that each mystery bag contains one object found in nature. They must try to guess what is in their bag without using their sense of sight, sound, or taste.
7. Encourage each child to choose a mystery bag, and tell them to keep the bag closed tight. No peeking! :-)
8. Each child gets a turn to fully explore their object with their sense of touch and smell. If they go to smell the bag, they have to keep their eyes shut, or use a blindfold to help keep the mystery object hidden.
9. The child exploring the item may tell the group about the object based on their sensory observations.
• For example, if the object is a dandelion, a child may describe it as follows: There is a fluffy, soft part on one end. It is round. The round, soft part is stuck to something that is long and skinny. It smells like grass.
10. Ask the child doing the direct sensory exploration to identify their mystery object.
11. Then open the inquiry to the group. Does anyone think the object is something else?
12. Reveal the mystery object. Hopefully, when the object is revealed most of the kids will know what it is right away. If they didn't guess correctly, this is a great opportunity to ask the kids how their sense of sight, sound or taste would have helped them solve the mystery.

This activity works well with a large group of kids in a circle time setting, and is also fun to do at home as a family. Sometimes, I'll deliberately put a gag item in the bag I explore, just to add a big laugh at the end (think rubber chicken). 
 
What is the most interesting object you found to include in your Nature's Treasures mystery game?

Didi is a fun mom who likes to make mud pies, stomp in puddles, and fingerpaint. She is also the founder of duckduckoctopus.com, a blog about play-based learning, outdoor adventures, and mindful-parenting.

Be sure to follow Didi on Pinterest. Learn some fun facts about the mind behind Duck, Duck, Octopus at Play Dr. Hutch.


Recommended Reading:

14 Circle Time Activities

Four Corners Circle Time Activity for Preschoolers*

Circle Time and Group Activities for age 3 to 6 yrs.*






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Explore Indiana_ Home of the Endangered Myotis Bat: Sodalis Nature Park in Plainfield, Indiana

Things to do in Indiana: Take a trip to Sodalis Nature Park to Spot a Myotis Bat

We love to explore new things, especially FREE things to do in Indiana. One day, while exploring in the countryside (of what I thought was Morgan County), we stumbled upon a large area of preserved lands and followed the signs to Sodalis Nature Park. This Hendrick's County park sits near Morgan and Marion Counties down Camby Road, just off 975 East. Since then, we've discovered the many family activities held on Saturdays in the new shelter, travelled many of the hiking trails, and even participated in the catch and release fishing. Yes... we made the bat houses and you should too!

Hike the animal trails at Sodalis Park.

Sodalis Nature Park: Home of the Endangered Myotis Bat in Plainfield, Indiana. 

Nestled at the edge of three Indiana counties, the Sodalis Nature Park is Plainfield's best kept secret and one they'd love to share. The 5 1/2 acre catch and release pond has an ADA accessible fishing pier and picnic areas with charcoal grills. Relax at one of the pleasantly placed picnic tables and you might spot a Great Blue Herron fishing. Walk along the bank and marvel at the little tadpoles and frogs.

In cooperation with the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Hendrick's County created the 210 acre park to protect the endangered Myotis Sodalis Bat which resides in the area. The park now preserves native wildlife, woods, open spaces, and grassy areas for all to enjoy through the well-marked nature trails named after various animals you might catch along the trails including, Bobcats, Beavers, and White-tail Deer.

The park is open from dusk to dawn and offers Saturday programming. Admission is free but some programs require registration. Park naturalists do outreach at area libraries, "Animal Tales".  Schedule of Events

Make a day of it and visit these Mooresville area attractions:

Mum Farm, Gravity Hill (This didn't work for us. It isn't a smart choice either), Treasure's Flea Market (This is awesome! You will find great deals here.), Anderson's Orchard (Try an Apple Slushy), Pioneer Park (Great playground for preschoolers and early elementary age kids), Zydeco's Cajun Restaurant (Known for their alligator), Academy of Hoosier Heritage Museum, Gray Brother's Cafeteria (Try the giant, pork tenderloin), and Fairfield Friends Quaker Church.

Recommended Reading:

National Geographic Readers: Bats

Bats by Gail Gibbons

Free Things to do in Indiana ~ Sodalis Nature Park in Plainfield/Camby

Home of the Endangered Myotis Sodalis Bat

Here is my article at Examiner.com, Sodalis Nature Park. A nature preserve is a great way to get outdoors, explore nature, and teach kid's science.

Endangered Indiana Bat
 

The park is perfect to take the kids on a nature scavenger hunt or a Saturday hike.

Homeschool Nature Study Ornithology

Homeschool Nature Study: The Science of Ornithology

My kids have been taking a Homeschool Ornithology Class. They love it! The instructors have great ideas for a Nature Study on Birds. So, in today's Free Online Homeschool Lesson, I wanted to share some of the fabulous things they've done to learn about birds! Make sure you click on all the links for fun, educational videos, games, and free printables.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

If you are in Indiana, discover the world of birds at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center. Meet a Raptor every Wednesday and Friday at 4:00 pm and enjoy special bird programs Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.

These lessons are meant to be done over the course of week. If you choose to do a science block, you can complete the projects in one day.

Homeschool Nature Study: Ornithology

Define Ornithology: The study of birds, including their behavior, natural history, physiology, ecology, and identification. Can you answer these bird vocabulary questions.

Grab your Journal. Run to a window or go outside on a hike. List 10 birds in your yard or neighborhood. Describe the birds. This free printable is perfect for your bird journal.

For example: 

Small, Red bird with orange beak. Tufted head. 

Seen year round = Cardinal.

If you don't know what type of bird it is, make sure you have a detailed description for your search. If you have access to a camera, snap a photo. If not, draw a simple sketch. It doesn't have to be a work of art. Just good enough to help you remember details about the birds camouflage, beak, size, habit, etc.

Do you know what makes a bird a bird? Is a Platypus a bird? Is a bee a bird? Is an airplane a bird? Is a penguin a bird? Think about why or why not? Then, watch this video.

The Cat in the Hat also knows a lot about that.
Learn to draw: Trace a Bird Printable
(Recommended for ages 2-5 yrs. or everyone who is young at heart.)

Learn about different types of birds. When you click the link, you will see a series of bird videos that include:

Puffins, Eagles, Falcons, Snowy Owls, Snowy Egrets, Condors, Emperor Penguins, and more.

After watching the videos on all of the birds, list the raptors in your journal. What is a raptor? Visit Wordsmyth to find out.

Classify your birds with these Printable Flashcards.

Language Arts Component

Compare and Contrast. Write a paper with 5 paragraphs.
Remember to include a introductory paragraph (tell me what you are going to tell me), 3 detailed paragraphs in the middle (tell me), and a summary paragraph (tell me again).

Topic: Why isn't a Platypus a bird? Why is a Penguin a bird?

In the three middle paragraphs, give supporting details on each animal. You can write more than 3 supporting paragraphs if you need to, but don't forget your summary. Write this in a Google Doc. My kids send these docs to me. 


Arts and Crafts Component

Build a Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder. This is a fun construction project. Use wood glue. School glue may break down when used outdoors.

Popsicle stick bird feeder.

How to Make a Bird Feeder from Popsicle Sticks

First, lay the ten sticks flat, placing glue on the connecting sides.
Then, stack the sticks in a perfect square in layers with glue on the connecting ends. Eight makes the perfect height. Next, cut four pieces of yarn about 2' long. String a piece of yarn under the second stick at each corner as shown. Pull all pieces of yarn evenly and tie a knot in the top. Let dry for 24 hours. After your feeder is dry, paste in some peanut butter and sprinkle in bird seed.

You might also like:

How to Make Origami Birds


Science Lab Component

Try this Fun Science Experiment: How does a bird eat? How does the beak's shape factor in to the equation? Try this fun science experiment.

Graphic Organizer for Science Experiment

You will need the following utensils and supplies:
Eye dropper
Salad Thongs
Nutcracker
Large Serving Spoon
Tweezers

Bag Popcorn (Bugs)
Glass of Water (Nectar)
Raisins and Small Log with holes (Bugs in a Log) You can substitute a cardboard tube for this if necessary.

Click on the link above for the printable companion worksheet.

Start with a Bag of popcorn. Experiment with each utensil. Your goal is to get the popcorn into your mouth or the mouth of your partner using each utensil. Which works best. What type of bird might eat something like popcorn? What does each utensil represent? In other words, imagine a bird with a similar beak. Next, have your science partner toss you some popcorn and try to catch it with each utensil.

Place the raisins in the cardboard tube or log. Use the utensils to remove the raisins. Which works best? Remember, you are a bird. You cannot use your hands. Make a note of your findings on the graphic organizer.

Finally, try to "drink" water from the glass with each of the utensils. Which one allows you easiest access to the drink? Which one takes the longest? Would you get frustrated if you were really thirsty and had to drink water with a nutcracker?

Label the parts of a bird.


Just for Fun

Flight School Game

Birds of a feather flock together? What does this mean? Where does the phrase originate? _____________________________


Recommended Reading:


United States Capitals Lesson

Leonardo da Vinci Design Wooden Ornithopter Model Kit

3 Fun Turkey Crafts from Organic items in Nature

Cute, Fun Turkey Crafts for Kids to Make at Home

These 3 adorable turkey crafts are made from things you can find around your house. Each one uses something found in nature. Grab a piece of paper and have your kids make a list (sneaking in some handwriting time) of things they will look for while on a nature hike. Then, grab your craft scraps and sit down to make these little gobblers at home. Gobble. Gobble. Gobble. Enjoy!

Pinecone Turkeys from I Love India blog.

This cute little guy deceived us, we thought it was paper and fall leaves, turns out it is made from craft leaves and felt. Want to use real leaves? Find out how to preserve fall leaves.

Paper Turkey with Leaves as Tail Feathers
from BabyCenter blog.

The little turkey pictured below is made from an orange. He stole our hearts. He is... so cute! What a great way to welcome guests to their place setting.

Orange, Leaves, and Pinecone Turkey from Parenting blog.

Waddle around the blog, and you'll find all sorts of turkey projects, crafts, and games for Thanksgiving. We hope we've helped you to have a Happy Turkey Thursday!


Recommended Reading:

Recycled Paper Turkey Craft

Footprint Native American Feather Hat

Kids Creative Chaos Cooks: Holiday Recipes

Cognitive Craft Benefits for Children: Twig Log Cabin Ornament

Twig Ornament Highlights Benefits of Crafting with Children

Crafts aid in child development; it is proven to be true! There are cognitive benefits to crafting with your kids. So, get out your crayons, glue, pom poms, felt, and glitter, and get crafting. Scroll down for details on our fun craft activity for school-age children. Enjoy!

Make a twig log cabin ornament.

If you are a busy working mama don't worry- enroll your child in a local class, take them to a library program, or sign them up at a childcare program like ChildTime.

Many child care programs, often considered as only day care for preschoolers, offer before and after school care, homework help, and summer camp in addition to their preschool classes and care.

At ChildTime, fun and educational mornings and afternoons await your child. The My Best Self! program for school-age students focuses on goal-setting and reflection, and is complemented by homework support, team-building opportunities, and physical activity. The programs give children structure with a mix of independent and organized activities (including crafts), education, and recreational opportunities.

So, what are the cognitive benefits of Crafts?

Crafting can improve coordination between the right and left side of the brain, as well as, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

In small children, using crayons, scissors, and glue helps develop muscles in fingers and hands. Think small motor skills.

Adults can build bonds while interacting with children during craft time. The social interaction promotes language skills through face to face engagement. Older children need these bonds to feel a sense of security during all the changes they face in puberty. Learn more about emotional bonding.

As children age and want to spend more time with screens and less and less time creating with their hands, before and after school programs are a great way to encourage human interaction and continue to build skill for following directions and completing projects.

Want to bond and practice the cognitive benefits of crafts at home? You might like this fun craft activity!

Make a twig star and wrap it with your favorite color yarn for a fun, holiday ornament.

How to Make Twig Ornaments

You've probably seen the stars made out of Twigs on Pinterest. We thought we'd try that with the kids. This is not as easy as it looks! I would not try it with preschoolers. After playing around with the twigs, some wire, and wood glue, we came up with little log cabin twig ornaments!

Make fun twig ornaments after a nature hike with children.

This a great activity to bond with your kids of all ages. Preschoolers will especially enjoy the prep required to make them. We headed out for a nature hike. Find a small twig and challenge your children to find straight twigs the same diameter. Collect several in varying lengths. 

After your hike, lay out the twigs in the shape of a house.

Older kids can attach the twigs at each overlapping corner with some small wire, floral tape, or kite string.

Be sure to attach a loop at the top to hang as an ornament.

Next, lay more small twigs across the house so they look like the logs of a log cabin. Attach with wood glue or strong school glue.

Let dry for 10-15 minutes.

To Make a Twig Star:

If you are a skilled twig designer, you can make a star and wire it together at the overlapping corners as seen above. Once complete, cut yarn, and have children wrap the star in their favorite colors. We cut several 6" pieces of yarn and then glued then ends down so that it doesn't unravel.

Imagine all the crafts your kids can make at ChildTime!

Recommended:

Nature Circle Time Activities

Another Twig Craft for Children

Twig Pencils*

Stick Man*


This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Learning Care Group. The opinions and text are all mine.

Homeschooling: What to do When Summer Break Drains the Brain? Sneak in Fun Learning Opportunities

Does Summer Break Drain the Brain? Try Sneaking in Educational Experiences Kids Enjoy

School is coming to a close, but learning shouldn't come to an end. We are just finishing up our first year of homeschooling.  After all the hard work, I'd hate to see it slip away this summer.  We've got plans to supplement with summer learning field trips, outdoor nature journaling, riding and music lessons, and 4H club. I'll also offer Friday day camps for friends of The Play Connection, Inc.

Outdoor Games for Summer Camp

The beginning of every school year is filled with review from the previous year.  Summer heat shouldn't melt our kids brains.  Summer Camp programs are great for socialization, pe activities, and becoming one with nature.  Opportunities to improve reading are everywhere. Playing the Alphabet Game on a long trip encourages billboard and street sign reading. Library trips offer a sneaky way to cool off, relax, and enjoy a new book. Do you read bedtime stories? Here's a fun summer reading list. 

Busy summers lend themselves to lazy days near the poolside or under a favorite tree curled up with a good book. Funny, kids never seem to curl up with a good math problem.  

Don't forget to practice math this summer.  
Leap ahead of the pack with daily lessons.

Do you practice math in the summer?  Keeping track of allowances, shopping for items at the Dollar Tree, or having your child watch the clock for break time, chore time, and lunchtime are easy ways to implement mathematics into your lazy summer days.  If you are worried about summer brain drain and the summer learning slide, you might like a more structured math program. 

Summer Brain Drain? Try this.

LeapAhead! is an easy, affordable, and flexible summer online math program. Keep your child engaged with math worksheets aligned with the common core standards. The program offers a fun math worksheet creator for members. I love the Challenge Math for gifted and talented students. The online summer math program is great for kids who need a little extra help too. This program works for both homeschoolers and brick and mortar students. 

PE GAMES

Let your computer act as a summer tutor while you enhance the online learning with fun math games and activities. You can make math a fun, summer activity too!



Sign up for our free newsletter!

Turkey Craft for Preschool Cardboard Tubes

Recycle Cardboard Tubes into a Turkey for this Preschool Craft

This cute turkey craft is made from a cardboard tube. We used found recycled objects from a nature hike. These turkeys use Christmas bulb ornaments, cardboard toilet tubes, twigs, and fall leaves. Each one is unique, and your kids will enjoy the family time spent making them at home. Togetherness :)  Enjoy!

Preschool Turkey Craft: Amanda, age 2.
She added the feet all by herself!

Supplies needed to make turkey craft for preschool.

You will need:

Collect leaves from your yard.

Save cardboard toilet paper tubes.

Tacky Glue or Hot Glue.

Modge Podge.

Sunflower Seeds

Walnuts w/ Green Outercoating, Apples, or anything from nature that is rounded

IPO of walnuts we used plastic Christmas ornaments that I purchased at the dollar tree!

15 for $1 - the perfect fit into the cardboard tube.

How to make a 'Green' Turkey Craft:

Cover cardboard tube with glue.

Glue fall leaves on tube to cover entirely.

Turkey craft for preschool from recycled items.

I love this leaf! Isn't it a thing of true beauty? Squeeze a line of glue inside the top of the tube, and insert the turkey's head. Glue a leaf on the back to serve as his tail-feathers.

Draw on preserved fall leaves with a Permanent Marker.

Draw on leaves with permanent marker to make a gobbler, then cut it out and glue it onto your turkey. Also, use the marker to write your name.



Mommy's turkey place setting name card, age unknown.

Cute turkey craft from leaves and twigs.

These still look cute after 4 days in a heated house. You might want to coat your leaves with Modge Podge to make them last longer or click here how to preserve fall leaves.

Happy Turkey Crafts! I'll be adding a turkey-themed craft each week until Thanksgiving so check back often. Please share your favorite ideas or ways to improve mine.

Recommended Reading:

Cardboard Tube Christmas Tree

175 Easy-to-Do Thanksgiving Crafts (Creative Uses for Recyclables)

Crafts for Kids: A Month by Month Idea Book