Outdoor Science Crafts for Kids in Grades K-5

Some of the most spectacular crafts are made from natural resources from our environment. Consider Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota where sculptures of four American presidents are carved from a granite cliff, creating the largest statue figures in the world. While marvelous, it doesn't take professional craftsmanship to create a brilliant work of art from nature. Amazing crafts can be created as outdoor science activities by kids in grades K-5.

Decorated Rock Aquarium Fish Tank

Kids will enjoy creating a decorated rock aquarium fish tank. This science craft involves collecting a variety of stones and seashells that are placed at the bottom of a fish tank. The fish tank may further be decorated by gluing dried flowers and leaves to the outside of the glass. This craft supports a lesson on the various kinds of rocks (Sedentary, Igneous, Metamorphic, and Ore).

Seashell Framed Mirror

Crafting a seashell framed mirror is a simple nature craft for kids. The materials include seashells gathered from the beach shore or purchased from a craft store, a wooden framed mirror, rubber cement glue, varnish, a paintbrush, and newspaper. The paintbrush is used to spread glue over the seashells that are attached to the wooden mirror frame. Varnish is then painted over the shells.

Dried Flower-and-Leaf Decorated Stationery

The art of pressing flowers and leaves for preservation is a well-known science craft. It works by placing freshly picked flowers and leaves between newspaper and applying pressure with the weight of a phone book for two weeks to completely dry them out. Adults can wax these flowers and leaves by placing them between wax paper and pressing with a warm iron. The flowers and leaves can then be taped or glued to cardstock paper. This craft supports a lesson on various types of leaves and flowers.

Dried Botanical Potpourri

A wonderful nature craft is to collect scented flowers such as roses, herbs such as sage and rosemary, spices such as cinnamon obtained from dried scented bark, pinecones, and walnuts. After combining dried scented flower petals, dried scented bark/cinnamon strips, pinecones, and walnuts, you can sprinkle them with cinnamon, sage, and rosemary powder to create a natural aromatic potpourri.

Sun-dried Mud Tunnel for Hamsters

Considering that hamsters are domesticated rodents whose natural environment is underground, an ideal science craft is to create sun-dried mud tunnels for them. The first step is to place mud into several rectangular shallow containers or pans and let the mud dry completely under direct sunlight. Next, use the opening of a hamster tubing to make a tunnel in the center of each rectangular mud cake. Then, turn the container upside down on a flat surface and pat it until the mud cake is released. Finally, arrange the rectangular mud pies like dominoes in a glass hamster cage, leaving a four to six inch space between them to create walls. Secure the bottoms of these walls with strong glue to the surface of the cage. Hamsters will enjoy entering and exiting through the round openings of each sun-dried mud wall, which creates the illusion of an underground tunnel. Kids will enjoy making mud pies like I enjoyed as a kid.

Overall, these science craft ideas illustrate how planet Earth is a source for an abundance of creativity. They are ideal crafts for young students learning about science in that they stimulate the mind and instill a deep appreciation for nature.