Nature fun with art, walks and bugs
Our nature themed week has been great. We have spent most of the week outside in the sunshine looking at what is actually around us in our everyday lives.
We went on our nature photography walk last week which really opened up my girls eyes to what is all around us and had a great time.
Nature art walk
We went on two other walks this week too. The first was just around our local area again with the children’s bug hunting kits. They love to stop and look closely at everything they see. They get their magnifying glasses out and inspect every tiny creature that moves. They were looking at flowers, the colours, the shapes, how pretty they were and their sizes. They looked at all the different leaves. They looked at snails, beetles and other creatures, that I’m afraid I am not very good with the names of.
On our rounds, we collected things we thought would be pretty or have interesting shapes, hence lots of daisies and buttercups got collected, with leaves and an acorn, just to name a few items. My children always love collecting things on a nature walk, they run and stop every few paces, squealing “Ooh, look at this!” I love seeing them so enthusiastic.
On our walk Pinky and Boo wanted to get their notepads and pens out. They wanted to try to draw what they were looking at. First they drew a snail, then they moved onto the flowers. They were absolutely loving this, I couldn’t get them to move on! In the end, they sat down on the middle of the footpath/alleyway drawing. It was so lovely, yet quite amusing, there we were sat on this footpath drawing very random things with people walking past giving us very strange looks!
However, the pictures they drew were not that amazing, but it really didn’t matter what their drawings looked like, they had a lot of fun, they really looked at and connected with nature and learnt about their world.
When we got home, we put everything we collected on the little table outside and they had a good exploration of them. They then tried to make a collage picture with the things. There was a tree, grass and flowers. It was very creative. The only problem was the wind. No sooner had they got their picture looking just right, the wind blew the leaves and flowers everywhere. I think we will have to try this again on a less windy day!
Nature walk
Next we went on an ordinary nature walk at our local lake. Once again Pinky and Boo wanted to take their bug hunting kits, so off we went with our backpacks on.
The lake is beautiful and quiet, we love it there. There are lots of birds to see and other creatures to discover. First we crossed the little bridge, where Pinky and Boo say there is a troll living underneath and we have to trip trap over it. They also looked at the water, they were fascinated that one side of the bridge the water was making pretty patterns and shapes, whilst the other side was completely calm with no ripples at all!
We saw lots of ducks and geese and other birds. They got their bird spotting notes out of their bag to see if they could identify them. I must admit I found it quite interesting too, as I have never really paid attention to what the birds are actually called. I learnt a few things.
We walked around the lake stopping for a bit at the beach area so they could get close to the geese. However, they spent most of the time writing in the mud! Oh well, I suppose that’s nature too.
They paused on a bench to do some more drawing, though they did find it a bit tricky trying to draw the ducks, but enjoyed it anyway.
Then of course, by the end, it was time for a snack and play in the playground. What a lovely, sunny, fun, beautiful morning it was together.
I can’t wait until LP is slightly bigger and we can do all these things with her! Your children have so much fun but learn too x
it’s a great age to help them explore x
awww this is fantastic i so want to be the ones on the floor drawing nature as soon as i can keep Joshua’s attention
xx
Thanks, it is good fun (if a bit strange)! x
What a lovely day – looks like you all had so much fun
We did all have a lot of fun
Wow – you really did make the mos of the weather! I love them with their pads and pens writing – very officious
Thank you, yes, we did get out quite a bit!
Looks like they had a great time on the nature walk. I think I know the lake you visited, assuming it’s where I think it is the small shop area had some great nature spotting ID cards last time I visited.
There is a small shop and cafe there. It’s very local to us.
Looks like a grand bug walk adventure and the weather was great for it too. Hurray. I can’t wait until Missy Moo is a bit older and we can do things like this with both my kids. So much fun. Thank you again and again for linking up to Share With Me. Love reading your posts each week. #sharewithme
It is nice when the children are old enough to do activities with all of them
These are just the kind of walks I am looking forward to when Poppet is older. Your girls sound to really enjoy them too.
They do love them
They look so cute doing their proper exploring!
My son always loves exploring too. Recently obsessed with snails we would stay in this wall full of them and count them and he wont stop until he counted everyone. He doesnt want to leave any snail unaccounted for =P
It is amazing how our environment is really full of interesting creatures that get the attention of our children.
Yours is always a lovely post about letting kids experience the environment. Hats off =)
#ShareWithMe
Snails are great or having fun with and getting close to nature. Thank you x
Ah what beautiful photos, you certainly had the weather for it
x x
We did, thank you x
Aww sounds like you have had lots of fun outside enjoying nature! I love the picture of them sat drawing in the alley, just so so cute and I love that they are so excited by everything they see. Just a really lovely post Karen! x #savouringtheseason
They are always so excited by everything, even the littlest things, thank you x
Great fun inspired by nature, sunshine walks exploring and nature spotting – a great way to learn while having fun. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Yes, we did all have a great time and my girls learnt a lot too
What a lovely thing to do and some lovely photos too. I’m always surprised by how much my kids (who are big) notice and learn even on a familiar walk in our local area. It’s great that mummy learned some new things about birds too!
Yes, it is always good to realise we are all still learning
Popping back again, a lovely day indeed
What a great day! Sounds like so much fun doing this, can’t wait to do it with POD. Great photos. Thanks for sharing with #whatsthestory
Thanks, it was definitely good fun
Looks like so much fun! Boo loves having her ‘bug hunting backpack’ no, and takes her kit very seriously! She also enjoyed wild art when we did that, but we’ve not done it for a while, so thanks very much for the reminder! x
Bug hunting kits are fab!
This is the kind of thing my two love to do too, looks you had lots of fun and learnt a thing or two as well #minicreations
we all did thank you x
This looks like a wonderful day out, so many activities packed in and looks likes lots of fun #countrykids
We did do a lot of great things
Looks like lots of fun, great to see you having such fun with a nature walk. Lovely post.
Thank you
This looks like SO much fun and I love how they would stop and look at everything and also doodle little things they saw along their way. My daughter does that too and has a little nature journal. Be a great thing to keep for when she is older. Fab post and great pics! x
Thank you, yes, I must keep their notepads x
I can’t wait till our vacation for us to do this kind of activity. It’s getting too hot here in Dubai for outdoor activities that we have to start as early as 5am and be home by 8am to not get toasted.
Oh my goodness, I don’t think I would cope with children cooped up in the heat!
Grace says – What an AWESOME post and it looks like you had super fun.
Thanks for linking to #minicreations
Thank you
Before moving to France part of my work was doing these sorts of activities with school children. It was such fun and the children did not even realise they were learning at the same time! I do quite miss doing this actually!
It is wonderful how children have fun and learn without even noticing
Big man loves doing things like this x
Great
Karen, I am always in awe of your creativity! I just love this post! So many wonderful ideas and looks like your girls had a marvellous time! Please keep all these lovely ideas coming! Thanks so much for linking up with #SavouringtheSeason
Thank you