Nature at Home Series: Mother's Day Ideas
Celebrate mother's day and Mother Nature with our complete lesson plan. We have fun nature inspired activities with step-by-step instructions, recommended online songs and a story convenient for busy parents and a reading list of some of our favourite books.
Resourcefulness is a fundamental objective of Forest School so we're bringing you activities which make the most of what is around you, or can be found in your local supermarket.
Homemade Natural Stamps
Head to the supermarket with your child and discuss the vegetables and their names. Can you find the vegetables we name below?
FLOWER STAMPS (3yrs+)
What you will need:
Bok Choi/Pak Choi, Chinese White Cabbage, Celery
Knife
How to make:
If your child is using a knife and isn't familiar with this tool, please find a glove for them to wear on their 'helping' hand (not the dominant hand holding the knife). Choose a blunt knife to start with.
Cut off the bottoms of the chosen greens. Ask your child what shape they can see.
Make sure the piece is big enough for the child to hold securely when dipping it in to the paint.
POTATO STAMPS (6yrs+)
What you will need::
Potatoes
Cocktail Stick
Knife
Marker Pen (Optional)
How to make:
Ask your child to design their samp - what shapes can they design in the potato? Keep it simple.
If your child is using a knife and isn't familiar with this tool, please find a glove for them to wear on their 'helping' hand (not the dominant hand holding the knife). Choose a blunt knife to start with.
Using a knife cut the potato in half.
Draw the desired shape onto the flat surface of the potato using a marker pen or gently score the design using the cocktail stick.
Using the cocktail stick repeatedly retrace the design outline, digging further into the potato, at least 1cm.
Using a knife make a cut all the way around the potato, around 0.5cm down from the flat top surface. Be careful to not cut all the way through, we just want to cut off the excess space around the design, leaving the main design raised.
Alternatively, you can use cookie cutters to make a design in the potato. Simply push down hard until the shape is embedded into the potato surface, then cut off the excess as above. Ideal for more complicated designs that are tricky to carve free hand!
BEETROOT CRAYONS (3yrs+)
What you will need:
Beetroot
Knife
How to make:
If your child is using a knife and isn't familiar with this tool, please find a glove for them to wear on their 'helping' hand (not the dominant hand holding the knife). Choose a blunt knife to start with.
Use the knife to chop the beetroot into stick shapes
Peel the end of the beetroot and wrap some foil around the crayon shaft to avoid dying your fingers
Did you know that the red colour in beetroot is from a pigment called betalain? It's also found in other pink and red flowers and plants, like boungainvillea (which is the reason they are a good choice for Hapa Zome). It has antioxidant properties which is one of the reasons beetroot is good for you.
Homemade Natural Watercolour Paints
YELLOW
Turmeric Powder
Water
Spoon or paintbrush to stir
Add one table spoon of turmeric powder to a bowl and gradually add water a little at a time (use a pipette if you have one) and stir until you reach the desired paint consistency, similar to melted ice cream.
BROWN
Cinnamon, Garam Masala or Five Spice Powder
Water
Spoon or paintbrush to stir
Add one tablespoon of the spice to a bowl and gradually add water a little at a time and stir until you reach the desired paint consistency as above.
PINK
Beetroot
Saucepan
Water
Knife
Peel and rough chop the beetroot, add to a saucepan with water. Asl your child to predict what will happen when the water heats up. Boil until the water turns a vibrant pink colour. Transfer the liquid to a container, cool then use. Suggest adding flour (corn flour/ all purpose Flour) to the cooled bright liquid and ask your child what might happen. The flour will thicken the paint and create a lighter pink colour.
GREEN
Leafy Green Vegetable (Spinach, Bok Choi/Pak Choi or Kale work well)
Saucepan
Water
Knife
Chop up the leafy greens, add to a blender with water to create a green juice. Drain the juice through a sieve for smooth paint or leave the liquid as it is for a textured paint. Add Flour (Corn Flour/All Purpose Flour) to the bright liquid to thicken the paint and create a lighter green colour.
Now your materials are ready, it's time to get creative! We recommend water colour card for the best finish but we've used good old printer paper for these pictures.
Mother Nature songs for children;
Mother Nature We Care
Over in the Meadow- Mother’s and their Babies
Mother’s Day book recommendations for children
I Love Mom With The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Are You My Mother? by P.D.EastmanÂ
Where’s My Mum? by Julia Donaldson
I Love You Mom (Daniel Tiger Neighbourhood) by Maggie Tester
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Someday by Alison Mcghee
My Monster Mumma Loves Me So by Laura Leuck
Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle
No Matter What by Debi Gliori
Is Your Mumma A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M.Joosse
Read Aloud Youtube Link:
I Love Mom With The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
If you have a go at this, or any of our other activities in our Nature at Home Series please send us a photo so we can share the inspiration with our community. Have fun and Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Mums out there doing their best to keep their kids strong and healthy and happy.
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About Kelly
New to Singapore Kelly is an experienced Forest School practitioner from the UK. Kelly loves the outdoors, hiking and flapjacks (they're a kind of energy bar....). With experience in nature therapy, Kelly most loves the special moment of surprise and the wonder of discovery in a child when encountering something new for the very first time.
