Educational goals

The purpose of interacting with nature is to explore natural materials and to show the cycle of materials in nature.

Step-by-step description

🌿 Project idea: “Paper from Nature”
This is a simple outdoor activity for children (4–7 years old).
It works in any country and with any group.
The idea:
Children make their own paper from natural and recycled materials.
Step 1: Collect
We go outside and collect:
leaves
grass
small flowers
We can also use old paper (for recycling).
Step 2: Tear and mix
Children:
tear paper into small pieces
add water
mix everything with hands
This is very sensory and fun.
Step 3: Make paper
We use a simple frame or cloth.
Children:
take the wet mixture
spread it on the surface
add leaves or flowers on top
Step 4: Dry in the sun( If dried in the sun, it takes up to 3 days. A hairdryer or an iron can also be used to speed up the process.)
We leave the paper outside to dry.
Children can observe how it changes.
Step 5: Create something
When the paper is dry, children can make:
small cards
pictures
little books
Final part (optional)
Children can:
show their work
tell a short story about it
Why this is special
it is creative and calm
it works with or without parents
children use hands and nature
they learn where paper comes from

Materials needed

Materials used for the project: Old paper, a blender, natural materials, water, dried leaves and flowers, food or natural dyes, spices, and frames for decoration.

Educator role

The role of educators in the project is to teach, demonstrate, motivate, and support children’s curiosity by encouraging them to explore, ask questions, and create independently.

---