The children at Emerald Heart Forest School love this nature-based craft. Whether you make this with your child, your students or your own inner nature artist, you will enjoy gathering Mother Nature's treasures and weaving them together. The finished weaving tells a story of place and season.
This is a simple and very low cost craft project.
Children of any age can participate. Youngest children can help gather while older children can make their own.
NEEDED:
a long supple twig
twine or yarn
scissors
5 inches/13 cm of thin wire (optional)
FOUR SIMPLE STEPS:
Start by bending a thin supple twig into a hoop.
I used long thin willow branches. I lucked out. A neighbor had pruned willow branches, which I helped myself to! :)
Secure the joint by wrapping it with twine or wire. . . . My father always said, "Cut more than you think you will need." Good advice here, because you will need to hold the joint with one hand while wrapping with the other.
Now the ends of the twig are connected making a hoop!
Tie a long piece of twine or yarn to the hoop. Wind the twine 2-3 times around the twig before stringing across to the other side of the hoop. This secures the twine so it does not slip around later. (See photos.) Now you have a crisscrossed web!
On a nature walk, gather grasses, leaves, feathers, moss or other treasures that are beautiful and fairly light weight. Weave your treasures into your web. (See photos) The weaving can be done while out walking or brought home in a basket to be woven at home. Whatever seems easiest and enjoyable.
GET INSPIRED:
> Create one web as a family project. When the weaving is complete, take time to admire how beautiful all your treasures look together. Comment on individual treasures. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear each other, to value other's choices, to appreciate differences.
> Have each child create an individual weaving. Great for an outdoor or nature themed birthday party craft or for a homeschool or forest school art + science craft.
> Name your weaving to suit your theme. To practice gratitude make a Gratitude Weaving. Give thanks for each treasure as it is added. "Thank you, Brother Crow, for your shiny black feather." To learn about color make a Oh So Green Weaving using as many kinds of green as possible. The sky is the limit!
> Exchange a small box of treasures with a cousin or grandparent or with another homeschool group or play group. Make your weaving with their treasures. For example, a weaving could be called Grandpa's Backyard Treasures or Redwood Forest Treasures. Send a photo of the finished weaving. Or create weavings together on Zoom!
> Refresh your web every season--noticing seasonal cycles and changes.
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