Sick of mosquitoes? Begging for rain? Dreaming of butterflies in the backyard? Wishing for snow? Want to see a rainbow?
Good news, sweet friends!
ALL OF YOUR OUTDOOR WISHES can come true with these magical nature wands! Get ready to have some creative fun and put bug spray companies outta business (I’m so totally kidding. Please protect yourself from things like West Nile Virus!!!)
WHAT YOU NEED:
stick
pinecones
string
contact paper
leaves
star punch
star stencil
glue gun (hot or cool melt)
pen/pencil
tape
glitter (always optional!)
acorn tops and bells (also optional!)
HOW TO MAKE:
Trace a star shape onto a piece of contact paper. Tape the contact paper (sticky side up!) onto your working surface.
Use a star punch to create star-shaped leaf pieces.
Place stars within the star shape on your contact paper. They will stay in place! Feel free to add glitter, as desired.
Using another piece of contact paper, seal your work and cut out the star shape!
Glue the star to the top of a stick. We used a cool melt glue gun.
Tie pinecones onto the ends of a piece of string and wrap it onto the stick, securing it with a knot or a bow. Feel free to add a little dab of glue where you’re worried things will come loose while spells are cast
We added a little sound to our wands (brave, right?!) and glued acorn tops onto bells to make it happen. Then, we tied these onto the stick with a fancier, gold string!
Time to make your outdoor dreams a reality!
ACTIVITY EXTENSION:
A nature wand spell book would be AMAZING! Especially for little writers!!!
CONNECTION STARTERS:
How did you decide where to place things on the contact paper?
What spells will you cast with your magic wand?
Which of your books or favourite movies have magic?
Can you think of a friend that would love making a nature wand?
THINGS TO CELEBRATE & ENCOURAGE:
Helping to collect nature items
Safe use of scissors
Strengthening fine motor skills by cutting, tying, and picking up small pieces (e.g. leaf stars)
Taking control of creative decisions
Wishing you the most magical August ever!!!!
Happy connecting!
XOXO,
Lindsay