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Clay sculpture.

Year 2
Art in Nature

Paint using leaves, sticks and other items from nature, explore the colours of the outdoors. Get creative taking pictures, playing music and making your own land art. Hands-On Education understand all children are individual and learn in different ways. We firmly believe learning should be engaging and fun. We have enjoyed putting these hands-on activities together and finding a range of ideas for our children to access learning.

Within this topic you will find:

  • 7 activity plans, all of which clearly explain how to prepare and carry out each activity.
  • 1 activity sheet to support your child in recording their investigations.
  • 2 videos, providing examples of Land Art and Photography in Nature aimed to inspire your child’s own creativity.

This topic meets aspects within the National Curriculum in England in the following subjects: Art, Music and Science.

Gain Full Access with an
Annual Key Stage 1 Membership
    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Art = Music = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Click to Enlarge Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Land Art

Activity 1
Land Art

  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • Ar1/1.4 about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work
Activity Two - Photography In Nature

Activity 2
Photography In Nature

  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Activity Three - Colours In Nature

Activity 3
Colours In Nature

  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Activity Four - Leaf Printing

Activity 4
Leaf Printing

  • A4 / A3 Paper
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Interesting leaves
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Activity Five - Clay Moulds

Activity 5
Clay Moulds

  • Nature items for example:
    • rocks
    shells
    leaves
  • Modelling clay
  • Cutting board
  • Baking paper
  • Rolling pin

    • Optional:
  • Magnifying glass
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Ar1/1.2 to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Activity Six - Drawing And Painting in Nature

Activity 6
Drawing And Painting in Nature

  • Nature journal / paper
  • Crayons / pencils
  • Water colours
  • Paintbrush
  • Ar1/1.2 to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
Activity Seven - Music In Nature

Activity 7
Music In Nature

  • Xylophone

    • Variety of sticks of different sizes

  • Wind Chime

    • Variety of sticks, scissors and string

  • Drum

    • Variety of nature items including sticks, rocks, leaves
  • Mu1/1.2 play tuned and untuned instruments musically
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music

Symbols Key

    Relation to Curriculum in England: = Art = Music = Science
    Download Links: = Activity Plan = Activity Sheet(s) = Play Video = Download Video
Activity One - Land Art
Activity 1
Land Art
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • Ar1/1.4 about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work
Downloads:
Activity Two - Photography In Nature
Activity 2
Photography In Nature
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Downloads:
Activity Three - Colours In Nature
Activity 3
Colours In Nature
Practical Resources:
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Downloads:
Activity Four - Leaf Printing
Activity 4
Leaf Printing
Practical Resources:
  • A4 / A3 Paper
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Interesting leaves
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Downloads:
Activity Five - Clay Moulds
Activity 5
Clay Moulds
Practical Resources:
  • Nature items for example:
    • rocks
    shells
    leaves
  • Modelling clay
  • Cutting board
  • Baking paper
  • Rolling pin

    • Optional:
  • Magnifying glass
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.2 to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
Downloads:
Activity Six - Drawing And Painting in Nature
Activity 6
Drawing And Painting in Nature
Practical Resources:
  • Nature Journal / paper
  • Crayons / pencils
  • Water colours
  • Paintbrush
Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Ar1/1.2 to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination
  • Ar1/1.3 to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • Sc2/2.1c identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats
Downloads:
Activity Six - Music In Nature
Activity 7
Music In Nature
Practical Resources:
  • Xylophone

    • Variety of sticks of different sizes

  • Wind Chime

    • Variety of sticks, scissors and string

  • Drum

    • Variety of nature items including sticks, rocks, leaves

Relation to Curriculum in England:
  • Mu1/1.2 play tuned and untuned instruments musically
  • Mu1/1.4 experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the interrelated dimensions of music
Downloads:

Suggested Resources

Related Books
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Slow Down
by Rachel Williams

Use this book to inspire observations and artwork in nature.

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Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
by Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes

Use this book to help you find patterns in nature.

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Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow
by Beth Krommes

Wonderful nature poems and artwork to inspire observations and discussions.
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Flow, Spin, Grow: Looking for Patterns in Nature
by Patchen Barss

Use this to introduce pattens and shapes you can spot in nature.

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