Aim of the Activity
To use natural materials to create a picture of an animal
Target Year Level
Kindergarten - Year 3
Curriculum Alignment
Art
Things you will need
A4 card
Natural materials (for example, leaves, twigs, feathers)
PVA glue
Paint brushes (or use your fingers)
Description of the Activity
Collect a variety of leaves and seed cases (for example, sycamore seeds).
Press the leaves lightly between sheets of newspaper and weigh them down with books. The leaves will be easier to use if they’re flat and dry.
Look at the collection of leaves, paying attention to all the different shapes and sizes. Try to imagine some animals they could create from the leaf shapes.
For example, are any round like a small fluffy chick? Are any spiky just like an echidna ? Are there any seeds that look like horns or antlers?
Arrange your leaves on a piece of card to make the animal. Once you’re happy with their design, glue the leaves down.
Add any special features with paint or a pen. Does your animal need eyes to see? What about a place to live or sleep?
Questions to talk about with your child
Before your child starts, ask questions that will get them thinking about leaf texture, shape, colour and possibilities for use in a picture. For instance - How many different shape leaves will we find? How many different colours will we find?
After they have completed their picture ask questions about the process eg ‘Did your picture turn out exactly how they planned?’, ‘Did you have to change what you were creating as you went along? Why?’, ‘Was it obvious which animal the leaves could become, or did you have to play around with them?’
Could people guess what animal it was?
Links for further learning
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/the-great-indoors-bear-grylls