This activity is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of winter. Ice is beautiful in the way that it catches the sunlight, and it is the perfect frame for beautiful evergreens, citrus, and seeds that might provide some food for birds in winter.
We highly encourage you to really slow down with this activity and do it over a few days or a very nice, long morning. Spend one day foraging four materials, another day exploring the materials in water, and then the final day selecting and hanging your ornaments. Then of course, you can return and check on the status of your ornaments, which turns this into a science activity as well!
Set up Time: 20 minutes
Directions
- Invite children to forage for evergreen leaves outside. Always ask permission before picking plants.
- Gather your forage collection on a table. Slice up some additional pieces of citrus and set out some bowls of birdseed.
- Gather together ice cube trays and recycled plastic containers. Invite children to fill them with water (use droppers, or small pitchers) and invite them to design with the materials.
- Add a little loop of twine to your water, and be sure the loop remains as you read it.
- When frozen, take your creations outdoors and hang them on your favorite trees.
Materials
- Collected natural materials (leaves, sticks, grass, flowers)
- Ice cube tray
- Orange
- Twine
- Recycled Plastic Containers and Lids
Learning Through Play
Physical: Gross Motor – Gross motor activities are important for children to develop a sense of balance and coordination when moving. Gross motor skills are also important for helping children control their bodies and movements. Children need strength in all areas of their bodies to participate in active games with peers, but also to sit at a desk when they are in school.
Cognitive: Problem Solving – Problem Solving allows children to approach problems and challenges from different perspectives. This is important not only for their academic success but also for their social-emotional development, as it allows them to see challenges from different angles.
School Readiness: Spatial Learning – When children understand directional language, it not only helps them to follow directions or to explain things themselves but also helps them to navigate the world. Humans use spatial awareness to read maps, build things, and understand the way the world moves.
See this activity in the Rayz Kidz app, along with the other fun pretend play activities. Rayz Kidz is your trusted source for play-based activities featuring over 100 themes and 500+ hands-on activities and clear descriptions of the beautiful learning that is happening through play.
