There is something so magical about looking at the world through a child’s eyes, especially on a crisp autumn day. Today, our homeschooling loop took us deep into the damp, quiet world of the forest floor as we dove into a brand new lesson from The Good and the Beautiful: Fields and Flowers curriculum.
We spent our morning learning all about mushrooms and moss, read a beautifully illustrated story, and wrapped up our day with a hands-on forage-and-craft project from Brooke Davis’s wonderful book, Wild Child Nature Craft Projects for Kids.
Here is a peek into our nature study today!
Part 1: The Story of Two Spores
We started our morning nestled on the porch with our favorite little companion—our plush snail!—to read “The Story of Two Spores” from The Big Book of Science Stories.
The kids loved visualizing how tiny, invisible spores travel on the wind to find the perfect damp log to call home. We used the lesson’s opening prompt to “zoom in” with our imaginary finger-microscopes, examining the vibrant illustrations of mushrooms and mosses. It opened up a wonderful discussion about the hidden, quiet processes happening right under our feet on the forest floor.
Part 2: A Hunt for Forest Treasures
With our minds full of spores and mycelium, we went outside to gather supplies for our afternoon craft. While we made sure to follow the curriculum’s advice not to touch any wild mushrooms we found, the kids had a blast foraging for other natural elements.
We gathered:
- Sturdy fallen twigs and sticks
- Vibrant green fronds of wild fern
- Crisp, dried magnolia leaves
- Seed pods and tiny bits of dried lichen
Bringing our basket of treasures back to the porch felt like bringing a little piece of the wild woods home with us.
Part 3: Crafting a Nature Stick Frame
To display our finds, we turned to our well-loved copy of Wild Child by Brooke Davis and looked up the project for a Stick Frame.
This craft is wonderfully simple but brilliant for practicing fine motor skills. Here is how we did it:
- Building the Structure: We selected four sturdy sticks and arranged them into a rustic rectangular frame.
- Lashing the Corners: Using simple cotton kitchen twine, we lashed the corners together with secure knots to keep the frame steady.
- Weaving the Treasures: Instead of using glass, our frame holds the natural beauty of the earth! We wove our gathered ferns, dried leaves, and seed pods directly into the frame and twine.
The end result is a gorgeous, multi-textured piece of natural art that perfectly captures the essence of our morning lesson. It’s currently sitting proudly on our porch table, a beautiful reminder of a day well-spent.
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.” — Jeremiah 29:5
Have your children ever studied the world of mosses and mushrooms? What are your favorite nature-based crafts to do together on a crisp autumn afternoon? Let me know in the comments below!
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