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Thanksgiving Fun
Turn a Nature Walk Into Art! By Donna Smith
November is the perfect month to take a nature walk with your child. The air is cool and crisp and there are plenty of leaves to play in along the way. Pinecones, acorns and other gifts of nature are all around just waiting to be collected by your excited child. How would you like to turn a walk with your preschooler into a centerpiece or wreath for your Thanksgiving celebration? Grab your jackets and walking shoes and get ready to make a wonderful memory, plus a great project you'll both be proud to display in your home!
The Walk
Take along a brown paper sack or a tote bag to hold the treasures you find. Collect pinecones, leaves, rocks, twigs, acorns, pine needles, tree bark or anything else that looks interesting. To make the walk more fun, make it educational and turn it into a counting activity. Have her count the number of leaves she collects. How many trees does she see? How many squirrels did she see? How many different types of insects did she encounter? Keep an eye open for birds as well. Did she know some of the names of the birds she saw? What color were the birds?
