CICO Kidz - Learn about Nature Activity Book

Learn about NatureActivity BookLearn about Nature
Activity Book 35 forest-school projects and adventures
for children aged 7 years + This edition published in 2022 by CICO Books An imprint of Ryland Peters & Small Ltd

2021 Jockeys Fields	341 E 116th St
London WC1R 4BW	New York, NY 10029

First published in 2013 as My First Nature Activity Book www.rylandpeters.com 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Text CICO Books, plus the project makers listed on Design, illustration, and photography CICO Books 2013 The authors moral rights have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress and the British Library. ISBN: 978 1 80065 094 7 E-ISBN: 978 1 80065 138 8 Printed in China Series consultant: Susan Akass
Editors: Susan Akass, Katie Hardwicke
Designer: No Days Off, Barbara Suiga
Step artworks: Rachel Boulton
Animal artworks: Hannah George
For photography credits, see . Art director: Sally Powell
Head of production: Patricia Harrington
Publishing manager: Penny Craig
Publisher: Cindy Richards Nature is wonderful! We all enjoy watching things grow or getting outside into the yard, the park, or into wild places.

Theres so much to see and do, so much to explore, and so many interesting things to collect. This book is full of great ideas that will make you even more fascinated by nature and which will get you outside even more often, by showing you exciting projects for making, doing, and growing. In this book there are four chapters: In the Gardenwhich is full of fun projects to start you gardening and to make your garden more wildlife-friendly; Growing Funwith great ideas for growing things inside your home or just outside on a doorstep or windowsill; The Outdoors Indoorswhich is packed with craft projects using bits and pieces you can pick up on woodland walks or at the seaside; and finally, Outdoor Crafts and Gameswhich gives you ideas for all kinds of different games and activities to do while you are out and about in the great outdoors. Most of these projects are very simple and use very few special materials but, to help you know where to start, we have graded them with one, two, or three smiley faces. The grade one projects are simple, quick, and use materials that you are likely to have in your craft cupboard. Grade two projects are a little more difficult, take a little longer, and may need materials that you will have to buy specially.

Projects with three smiley faces are more challenging and require special equipment or materials. Take a look at the Collecting Materials section (see ) will also give you some useful tips and instructions for skills such as tying knots, planting seeds, and keeping safe. So get outside, get making, and have fun! Project levels

Level 1 These are quick, easy projects that can be made with materials in your craft cupboard.

Level 2 These projects take a little longer and may need some special materials.

Level 3 These projects require special materials and may need help from an adult.

Whenever you are out and about, keep your eyes peeled for suitable crafting materials.

You will be amazed at the variety of natural treasures you can collect right outside your back door throughout the year. When you are out and about Think Green! Always respect nature. Only take things from the ground, try not to damage living plants. Never take living creatures out of their environment. If you turn over rocks or logs put them back how you found them and watch out for bugs or wildlife that may be hiding underneath. Be careful when you pick berries, nuts, or fruit as these can be poisonousalways check with an adult before you collect them.

Watch out for bugswasps feed on fallen fruit and take care not to disturb wasp, bee, or ant nests. Never touch mushrooms and fungi as these are often deadly poisonous, and make sure that you are aware of any plants that should not be touched, like poison ivyalways ask an adult if youre not sure. Take all your litter home with you. Close all gates so farm animals dont escape from fields. Always take care near waternever enter water to fetch a boat or twig that has blown out of reach.

Remember always to wash your hands well after you have been outside collecting, making, or playing.

Winter When the trees and hedgerows are bare, look out for pieces of bark, interesting shaped twigs and dried out seed heads. Spring and Summer Enjoy the wild flowers and fresh green leaves. Most wild flowers should be left to grow where they are, but you could pick a few common ones like buttercups and daisies and some pretty grasses or beautiful fronds of ferns and other leaves. (You could also ask permission to pick some garden flowers.) Use them fresh for some projects or take them inside and dry them to use later. Dry them by hanging them in a warm, dry place, or press them between pieces of paper, under a pile of books, or in a flower press. Fall (Autumn) This is the best season to go foragingwhether for blackberries for a blackberry and apple pie or for colored leaves and all the many different types of seeds you can use in your craft projects.