Crafts
SciencePreschoolers22 Comments
Henry and I made a real forest with upcycled tin cans, tree branches and a few plants.
Henry loves picking up sticks at Grandma’s house. So that’s just what he did.
While he added the biggest branches he could find to Grandma’s twig pile, I gathered some small sticks for our project.
I snapped the branches to be about 4-8 inches long.
Henry snapped a couple, but quickly got sidetracked when he made an ‘H’ with one of the twigs.
(FYI: Punch a few holes in the bottom of your tin cans to allow for drainage before decorating.)
To decorate the tin cans to make them look like a trunk of a tree, I slid a couple rubberbands around each can. Then added the branches under them.
(I thought contact paper around the tin can would let Henry be able to add the branches himself. It wasn’t nearly sticky enough to hold them in place.)
Henry, once again, got sidetracked, this time with the tin cans.
Yelling into them made funny noises!
Once the tin cans are decorated to look like tree trunks, add a little dirt to the bottom of the tree trunks, and plant a leafy plant!
A tree!
Combine a few trees, and you have a forest!
With lots of leftover sticks and branches, we moved our forest into the sandbox for play!
Adding sticks around the forest’s trees made a very woodland area!
I told Henry these were his plants to take care of and he needed to water them so they grow big. He told me that they’d grow as big as that tree!
George was a part of our forest play as well.
He removed the forest twigs and branches as fast Henry put them in.
Henry finally had enough of that and hauled his branches to the corner behind the sandbox.
Away from George. The trees still stand in the sandbox.
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Aarthi says
Hi,
I am Aarthi running my own Family day care. Activities which you are sharing so muvb fun. My children are very happy when I do these activities. Thank you .
Karen says
Wonderful idea to try with students in special ed–thx! Karen
Amanda says
What a brilliant idea! Looks like so much fun :)
I run Fun Family Crafts, a site similar in nature to Craftgawker and Spotlight, but different in that it's a library of craft tutorials geared only at kids. I would love it if you'd stop by and submit this to be featured! (I link to you, I don't post your tutorial on the site) Feel free to submit as many kid friendly craft tutorials as you like! http://funfamilycrafts.com/
mrs. c says
Cute idea, even cuter photos! Great job.
a happy wanderer says
this is adorable! such a sweet activity :)
lisbonlioness says
I suddenly feel the urge to plant things in tins. What a lovely post, I loved reading it!
Mama Pea Pod says
What great fun, and fabulous pictures! Hope you'll be coming over to link this up to the Outdoor Play linky too! :-)
Deborah J Stewart says
These are wonderful! I entered a little late but I hope you will stop by to see my post too:) Your tin cans turned out amazing!!
Stacy of KSW says
I love this! So glad we were in this hop together so I could find your site, can't wait to take a peek around and see what you & Henry & George have been up to! Nice to meet you :)
jen @ paintcutpaste.com says
i love this! we made a twig vase with an old jar last year — now, seeing yours all together, i'm inspired to make more because they look so great in groups, and look like so much fun for play!
Debbie says
What great fun!!
LOVE seeing how it unfolded.
Messy Kids says
I agree with Putti Amma, a very unique idea! I love how you made it an element for play.
Krafty Max Originals says
Hop'pin by from 'Follow me, Chichadee Blog Hop'. I'm following your blog now, wont you please come and follow me back?? ~KM
Krafty Max Originals
ಪುಟ್ಟಿಯ ಅಮ್ಮ/Putti Amma says
That is a very unique idea of tying twigs around tin cans to make trees!! Love it:)
Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says
I was wondering when the trucks would come in to play! I can't wait to add some tin can trees to our mud pit. . .I just know Big M will end up making it a construction site!
Angelique Felix says
GREAT jamie! such a creative mind you have and a playful heart :)
Julie says
Awesome idea!!!!! So clever. I just love it!
MommyLabs says
What a gorgeous and happy handmade forest you and Henry have got. Loved the idea of tying twigs around the can…
The pictures are so sunny and lovely! Thank you, Jamie for participating in this event. The blog hop will start in an hour or so. :)
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
What a great idea! You are a genius! You always surprise me! I know C would love this!