Crafts to teach kids about sustainability

Here are five simple, nature-inspired craft activities that parents can do with their children to encourage a love for nature and care for the planet:

1. Leaf and Flower Pressing Art

Materials: Leaves, flowers, heavy books, paper, glue, picture frame (optional)

How to Make It:

• Go on a nature walk and collect different leaves and flowers.

• Press them in heavy books for about a week to flatten and dry them.

• Once pressed, arrange the leaves and flowers on a piece of paper to create beautiful patterns or scenes, then glue them down.

• For a lasting keepsake, place the finished artwork in a frame.

Nature Connection: Discuss the importance of plants and how they help produce oxygen, provide food for animals, and make the world beautiful.

2. DIY Bird Feeder

Materials: Pine cones, peanut butter (or honey), birdseed, string

How to Make It:

• Collect a large pine cone from outside.

• Spread peanut butter or honey over the pine cone.

• Roll the sticky pine cone in birdseed until it’s covered.

• Tie a string to the top and hang it on a tree branch outside.

Nature Connection: Talk about the local birds in your area and how feeding them helps wildlife thrive, especially during colder months when food is scarce.

3. Recycled Paper Plant Pots

Materials: Old newspapers or magazines, small cans or cups, soil, seeds

How to Make It:

• Roll a sheet of newspaper into a cylinder around a small can or cup.

• Fold the bottom of the paper to create a base and remove the can.

• Fill the paper pot with soil and plant seeds (herbs or flowers work well).

• Place the pots in a sunny spot and water them regularly.

Nature Connection: Explain how recycling helps reduce waste and the importance of plants in maintaining a healthy environment. Watching seeds grow into plants is also a great way for children to connect with nature.

4. Nature Collage from Recycled Materials

Materials: Recycled cardboard (cereal boxes, old packaging), natural items (twigs, leaves, stones), glue, paint or markers

How to Make It:

• Use old cardboard as the base of the collage.

• Go on a nature walk to collect natural items like twigs, leaves, stones, and feathers.

• Arrange and glue the natural materials onto the cardboard to create nature scenes, animals, or abstract patterns.

• Let kids paint or color around the natural elements to make the collage pop.

Nature Connection: Encourage conversations about the types of materials found in nature, how animals use these items for building homes, and why it’s important to reuse and recycle.

5. Upcycled Tin Can Planters

Materials: Empty tin cans, paint, brushes, soil, small plants or seeds

How to Make It:

• Clean and remove the labels from empty tin cans.

• Let children paint and decorate the cans with fun designs.

• Once dry, fill the cans with soil and plant small flowers, herbs, or seeds.

• Place them on a windowsill or porch to grow.

Nature Connection: Talk about how reusing items like cans reduces waste and how plants are vital for a healthy planet by providing food and shelter for animals.

These crafts not only provide a fun way to spend time together but also promote eco-conscious habits and foster a love of nature!