Nature's Gift Workshop: Crafting Holiday Wonders

Activities	Crafting Storytime - Gather students in a circle to listen to a short story about nature and creativity. Engage them with questions about the story to spark imagination for their nature-themed crafts. (5 min) Nature Scavenger Hunt - Lead students outside to explore the schoolyard, collecting natural items like leaves, twigs, and pinecones. Encourage them to count and measure the length of items they find, connecting to math standards. (10 min) Sharing Circle - Return to the classroom and form a circle. Allow each student to share one or two items they collected and discuss potential uses for these materials in crafting, promoting communication skills. (5 min) Nature Ornament Workshop - Guide students in creating holiday ornaments using their collected materials, with options to personalize with paint or glitter. Facilitate peer feedback and encourage self-reflection on their crafting process. (10 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed group nature collage displayed in the classroom. 2. Individual nature ornaments, bookmarks, greeting cards, and mobiles crafted by each student. 3. Participation in Crafting Circle Celebration with shared explanations of craft creations. 4. Reflection on the crafting process and the use of natural materials.
Preparation	1. Select and prepare a nature-themed story for Crafting Storytime. 2. Identify and prepare a safe area for the Nature Scavenger Hunt. 3. Gather materials like glue, paper, paint, glitter, and laminating sheets for crafting activities. 4. Prepare a space for the Group Nature Collage activity. 5. Organize materials for the Nature Ornament Workshop, including pinecones and acorns. 6. Set up a laminating station for the bookmark creation. 7. Collect materials like sticks, twine, and leaves for mobile crafting.

Activities

Crafting Storytime - Gather students in a circle to listen to a short story about nature and creativity. Engage them with questions about the story to spark imagination for their nature-themed crafts. (5 min)

Nature Scavenger Hunt - Lead students outside to explore the schoolyard, collecting natural items like leaves, twigs, and pinecones. Encourage them to count and measure the length of items they find, connecting to math standards. (10 min)

Sharing Circle - Return to the classroom and form a circle. Allow each student to share one or two items they collected and discuss potential uses for these materials in crafting, promoting communication skills. (5 min)

Nature Ornament Workshop - Guide students in creating holiday ornaments using their collected materials, with options to personalize with paint or glitter. Facilitate peer feedback and encourage self-reflection on their crafting process. (10 min)

Deliverables

1. Completed group nature collage displayed in the classroom.
2. Individual nature ornaments, bookmarks, greeting cards, and mobiles crafted by each student.
3. Participation in Crafting Circle Celebration with shared explanations of craft creations.
4. Reflection on the crafting process and the use of natural materials.

Preparation

1. Select and prepare a nature-themed story for Crafting Storytime.
2. Identify and prepare a safe area for the Nature Scavenger Hunt.
3. Gather materials like glue, paper, paint, glitter, and laminating sheets for crafting activities.
4. Prepare a space for the Group Nature Collage activity.
5. Organize materials for the Nature Ornament Workshop, including pinecones and acorns.
6. Set up a laminating station for the bookmark creation.
7. Collect materials like sticks, twine, and leaves for mobile crafting.