Craft, Art and Fun Learning Activities.

Instead of Forest School, I’ve put some ideas down that can be done inside the

home, in a garden or on an allocated daily walk. I’ve tried to think about various

home settings and the fact that everything we do now needs to be mindful of

restricted equipment, funds or supplies.

You may already be aware of these but find that this just brings them back to

mind.

I hope that you’ll a few activities to suit your child’s needs.

Before we start a few helpful tips:

Cover any table surfaces to be used with newspaper, scrap paper or cardboard from the

recycling or with clingfilm to protect the surface and to make cleaning up easier.

Save cardboard packets and tubes; bottle and container lids; scrap paper and a couple of plastic

milk bottles.

Have, if you can, glue, sticky tape, paints, crayons and scissors handy ready for use. You may

also find elastic bands, straws and string helpful too.

If out and about on your walk; doing a craft activity or cooking, let the children wear old clothes

so that it doesn’t matter if they get dirty (as they do for forest school).

I have tried to reuse some of the craft ingredients more than once by suggesting that they are

air dried well overnight and stored in between sessions in plastic food bags/pots. Eventually

you will have a selection of reusable “loose parts” which will appear in other craft activities.

Easy to keep in an old ice cream tub or similar airtight tub!

So, that’s it, let’s get creating!

Outside in the Garden or Out for a Walk

Nature Spotter

We can be limited in outdoor space so these can be done out and about in the

recommended hour in which to stretch our legs, take a walk or exercise.

Sometimes an outdoor activity where we are spending time surrounded by nature

is needed to have some mindful time and is just as beneficial as running around or

walking for miles.

Here are some things to do when outdoors:

Before setting off download a spotter sheet, a different one each week maybe

and keep note of which ones you’ve found. Then when you repeat a few weeks

later, see if you can fill in the blanks. You don’t need to print this, just have it

handy ready to help identify them.

For Twigs https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/48347/twig-id-sheet.pdf

For Birds

https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/garden%20bird%

20detective.pdf

For Spring Flowers

https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/spring%20wildflo

wers%20edit.pdf

For Minibeasts

https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/images/Downloads/spotters/minibeasts%20v2

%20small.pdf

For Others

https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/spotting-sheets

Meet Bob!

Bob has been used in Forest School a couple of times. He/ she made from clothes

peg with a face drawn on the flat side. This makes it handy to clip them on to

things to be a part of the finished project.

Bob needs:

A shelter; a house; some furniture; a boat; a playground; a skatepark; a garden...

the list is endless, and the children become really absorbed in creating different

things and adding to their project if at home.

Bob activities could also be made indoors out of the saved recycled materials if no

garden space is available.

Why not have a go yourself...it’s fun!

Helpful hint:

In Forest School we have a rule: No Picky, no Licky

This means that they don’t pick from things that are growing, they can only take

things that are already on the floor to use. They are not allowed to put their

hands or fingers near their faces or in their mouths!

Perhaps take some wipes and anti bac gel with you and always make sure that

everyone washes their hands as soon as you get home or go back inside.

Also, if doing this when out and about, warn the children that it may not be there

on your next visit to avoid disappointment.

Clouds!

Have you ever stopped, looked up and watched the clouds in the sky?

What did you see? A Rabbit; a dragon; a child blowing bubbles?

Go on, sit back, relax and have a look up. Compare ideas, it might surprise you

the world viewed through a child’s eye and imagination.

Why don’t you make up a story together about the things that you see. Take it in

turns to add a bit as something new is created above you.

To advance this, take a pencil and paper with you per person and have a go at

sketching the shape. Are they all the same? Do they have flat bottoms or are they

wispy or fluffy and rounded?

Do you know what they are called? Check out this app and download before you

set of:

https://cloudspotterapp.com/

Want to find out more? Follow this link to: The water cycle on BBC Bitesize.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkgg87h/articles/z3wpp39

Bug Houses.

Have you got a corner in your garden to house a bug hotel?

It can be as simple as a pile of sticks and leaves covered with dried grass.

Here are a couple of examples:

The paper rolls are made by rolling strips of paper up and sticking with a mixture

of flour and water. If recycling a tin, ask an adult to remove both ends and to

ensure that there are no sharp edges. Finally cover the cut sides with sticky tape.

Why? Mason bees and other insects are responsible for the pollination of the food crops

that we and other animals eat. Without them we would have very little to eat

indeed! So, we help their survival by providing them with a safe space to rest.

Why not make a bug book and record what moves in?

You could add lots of interesting information about your favorites.

Images from Google.

For other bug related ideas, visit: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/how-to-utilise-

twinkl-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown-a-guide-for-schools

Art, Crafts and Other Activities in and Around the Home.

Coffee Clouds and other Artworks.

Sit in the garden and look at the clouds.

Take a piece of white or light coloured paper and a few instant coffee granules on

a plate or in small tub.

Dip your finger in to lukewarm water and then into the coffee.

Now Paint!

The coffee paint will be lighter the wetter your finger is and darker the drier it is.

Can you paint what you see?

Look at the shape around the edges, is it swirly, clear, blurred?

Is the middle darker and does it change?

What other coffee art works can you create? A portrait, a garden scene?

Adults can have a go too; coffee won’t be the same again!

Treasure Island!

This is a two-part activity for the budding artist...

Day 1

In a washing up bowl place a heaped tablespoon of instant coffee into the

bottom.

Add a little warm water and stir in to create a thick coffee liquid.

Take a piece of white paper and gently rip around the edges to make it appear old

and frayed.

Next soak it in the coffee mixture; checking after around half an hour. Remove

once an “old document” colour is achieved.

Remove and place to dry on a large plate, baking tray or similar overnight.

Day 2

Take the dried map and start to draw an area of your home or garden. It may be a

good idea to do a rough sketch on some scrap paper first then copy.

To finish, first roll the map up and then fasten with a piece of string, ribbon or an

elastic band.

To extend this activity, hide a favorite toy or treat somewhere that features on

the map. Next, write clues relating to the map for each other to follow in order to

find the treasure?

To extend further add coordinates.

First draw a grid over the top of your plan using a ruler and mark your X and Y axis

(see below). Then write down the coordinate of the “treasure”.

If confident, expand by putting the first coordinate to find then hide other

coordinates around the area in sequence to follow the trail and seek the

“treasure”.

Remember: Move along the X axis before going up the Y axis

(walk along the corridor before going up the stairs!).

Images from Google. This coordinate would be written as (7, 4).

A Hideout!

Why not create an indoor den or tent.

You may need: cushions; a duvet; a sheet or duvet cover; string; pegs...

There’s nothing like making a den! On cloudy days, through hours of staying in or

just used as a mood breaker, a den is a fabulous distraction!

Let them be as creative as possible or why not have a competition?

Turn it into a day’s event and have a picnic lunch there and pretend that your

camping!

Why not combine it with the treasure map and become explorers in a deep dark

jungle... the possibilities are endless!

A nice day open the windows or, if you have a garden, take it outside!

Have Fun!

Image taken from pillow-fort-architects.

A Puppet Theatre.

Using an empty cereal box, make a puppet theatre.

Remove the flaps which make the top of the box with sticky tape.

Cut a slit along one long side of the box.

Measure a boarder of equal widths around the edge of the front of the box and

cut out.

Paint the outside of the box.

A scenery “backdrop” can be stuck on the back wall of the inside of your theatre.

Draw and colour on a piece of paper then stick in place with two small pieces of

sticky tape.

In the picture above, they have chosen to add some grass to mask the bottom of

the puppets. To do this cut out and colour some grass shapes or other shapes

depending on the story (for example sea waves for a pirate theme).

You can create different backdrops to change during your play at the interval on a

piece of paper. Slot inside the box on the back wall and attach with two small

pieces of sticky tape.

Puppets...

On saved cardboard design your puppets and cut out. Colour in bright colours so

that they show up well.

Next, stick a strip of card to the bottom of the puppet on the back to form a

handle to move the puppet around lolly stick can be used if you have any).

Ideas for puppets taken from Google.

Another Theatre to Try.

Why not try this shadow puppet theatre?

Image taken from Google.

For the screen use some baking paper or thin white paper.

The light can be provided by a torch.

When making your shadow puppets, make them as simple

as possible. Use cocktail sticks or thin card reinforced by sticky tape.

Paper Boats.

A little bit of technical folding.

This is good challenge which works on improving fine motor skills through the

manipulation of the paper.

Please encourage your children to do it themselves...

Why not make one alongside to demonstrate to them?

Try it out in a washing up bowl.

Perhaps couple this with a Bob challenge (a few pages above).

Can Bob ride in it? Where does he have to sit and why?

What else cold we make a boat from and why choose that?

Musical Instruments.

Ever wanted to be in a band? Be the lead drummer or guitarist?

Make your own instruments and sing and play along with your favorite band...

See what you can create...

Stretched elastic bands make the strings on the guitar, the bongos are made from

pringle tubes which have been covered with paper and coloured.

Loose Parts Play.

Collecting a small selection of small items together and keeping them in bags

inside a box. This can include a handful of pasta shapes, small pebbles, twigs,

buttons, feathers, dried leaves, pine cones...

Provide the child with a tray, plate or even a cereal box with the front cut out and

the top sealed with sticky tape.

Let them create pictures or scenes incorporating other toys (see above).

They can be as creative as they like and will enjoy telling you all about it.

How about a bit of cooking?

Here are 2 recipes that Garden Gang use from time to time.

Hopefully they are easy to follow and something that will just help treats to last a

little longer or to have for a family tea.

Have a go and make them your own!

Refrigerator Biscuits.

Ingredients.

180 g (6 oz) unsalted butter, softened

185 g (6½ oz) soft brown sugar

1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract

1 egg

280 g (10 oz) plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Method.

1. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Beat in the vanilla and egg.

3. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl, then mix the flour into the

butter mixture using a flat-bladed knife until a soft dough is formed.

4. Gather the dough together, then turn out onto a lightly floured board.

5. Roll into a cylinder shape (long sausage with flat ends) and place on a

rectangle of greaseproof paper or clingfilm which is longer and twice as wide

as your mixture (you may have to cut in half and make two).

6. Roll the dough in the film or paper then take each end and twist them (like a

sweet wrapper).

7. Chill in the refrigerator for 30minutes.

To Cook...

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F/Gas 4). Line two baking trays with baking paper.

1. Using a large, sharp knife, cut the logs into slices 1 cm (½ inch) thick. Set on

the baking trays, leaving 3 cm (1¼ inches) between them. Bake for 10–15

minutes, or until lightly golden.

2. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the trays for 3 minutes, then

transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Refrigerator biscuits will keep for up to 1 week, stored in a cool place in an

airtight container, or can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Fancy a change?

Try adding some chocolate chip; chopped dried apricots; chopped glacé

cherries; lemon juice and chopped rind …the list is endless!

Have a go at making your own pizzas. You can choose your own toppings to suit

your family’s taste.

Here is an easy recipe for an instant pizza base which doesn’t need proving!

Pizza!

Ingredients

350g plain flour

2 ¾ tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp oil

Additional toppings of your choice

Method.

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.

1.Mix the flour, baking powder and the salt in a bowl.

2.Add the oil and water then stir until it forms a ball (if stiff, add more water, it

should be soft but not sticky).

3.Knead on a floured surface for 3-4 mins. Roll into 2 balls, then flatten out.

4.Add toppings and bake each on a baking sheet for 15 mins.

Enjoy!

Vegan Coconut Pudding.

Ingredients

1 tin of full fat coconut milk

1 tablespoon of cornflour.

A few drops of vanilla extract to taste.

Method

1. Heat together the coconut milk and cornflour whisking all the time.

2. After about 4 minutes it will go slightly watery then suddenly begin to

thicken.

3. At this point whisk in the vanilla extract then remove from the heat.

4. Divide into ramekins or small pots.

5. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

The cream will set to be a coconut cream set base for a topping.

I like mango pieces from the frozen section, defrosted and placed on top or frozen

raspberries warmed through.

What would you like to add?

We hope that you have found an idea which you would like to have a go at.

They are just that, ideas. Make them your own, tweak them and enjoy!

Take time to relax, laugh and just be!