or any new topic breaking the subject into manage able sections invites easier understanding and lasting comprehension Just as Organic Crafts is laid out into six different components of the natural world lessons can be designed as six phases so that neither the child nor the teacher is overwhelmed Instead a slower and more entertaining approach will provide ample opportunity for further exploration research and creativity Organic Crafts is designed for the par ent teacher or caregiver to use as a resource for cre ative playtime or classroom learning It is also a resource for older readers to independently explore the natural world learning how things work and how nature creates amazing beauty For example when growing a Wildlife Seedling Tray in chapter 5 children of all ages will learn about the feeding cycles of wildlife and what types of plants promote the well being of wildlife and enhance nature's life cycle This knowledge may not only inspire budding botanists and horticulturists but also may encourage viewing a plant as more than a mere thing of beauty rather one of purpose A handy Teacher's Guide in the back of the book will help with lesson planning too Sometimes we begin a craft project without thinking about the materials we need or natural alternatives that are available Organic Crafts provides a number of alternative earth friendly materials see pages XIV XV for alternative recipes for homemade glue and paste that can be substituted whenever store bought craft glue or paste is listed in the mate
rials list to complete craft activities and teaches chil dren important lessons such as the importance of recycling Some crafts call for store bought ingredi ents such as wiggle eyes or florist s foam balls These materials don't always have to be used Invite kids to use their creativity in substituting readily available materials small buttons instead of wiggle eyes and crumpled up newspaper balls for the florist's foam balls for store bought ones In addi tion some crafts call for the use of glitter This is always optional Consider using tiny pieces of alu minum foil or confetti sized pieces of colorful con struction paper to make a picture sparkle Organic Crafts invites young children to explore fun ways to learn about enjoy and respect nature and guides them in new ways to experience their sur roundings While doing the activities in this book it is important to stress that each craft is a work of art and therefore there is no right way to do each activi ty and no two should be the same After all elemen tary exploration of the importance of our earth comes through artistic imagination Most important Organic Crafts teaches respect for our natural resources to encourage children to work or play to preserve our natural environment Nature Notes added throughout the book offer more fun filled facts about the environment people places and things such as the mysterious rock for mation known as Stonehenge as well as ideas for further environmental exploration Each chapter con
cludes with an Earth Action that presents great ideas and resources to address current challenges to our environment such as the erosion of beaches and how children can help preserve these important nat ural resources For Kids Organic Crafts is your guide to having fun in the great outdoors and you'll learn new ways to look at nature by turning things that come from the earth into a work of art The art you create will give you and your friends a chance to discover nature and learn ways to help care for our environment too The environment is all the things in nature living and nonliving that surround us everything including us so it's really important Although art is fun to look at and make art can also be functional Functional means that it's some thing that you can use such as a vase birdhouse or a game Don't worry if you don't have all the craft and natural materials needed for an activity You can use your imagination to find other materials or sup plies and make your artwork that much more unique In chapter 6 Reduce Reuse and Recycle you'll learn many ways to reuse leftover materials to create new and beautiful works of art Have you ever been asked to bring your sneakers to art class Probably not But with Organic Crafts sneakers are a must Walking around and seeing the
sights of nature is a big part of what we do as earth explorers and how we grow into nature artists Most of the stuff you'll use in your art will come from nature You'll need to take walks to collect the raw materials you'll need for these activities such as leaves twigs stones and seashells Let's begin with three important recipes A recipe is a set of directions that tells you how to make one big thing out of a lot of smaller things One of our recipes is for homemade Natural Glue one is for homemade Natural Paste and one is for natural paint made from cornstarch These can be used in place of store bought glue paste and paint and will make your nature crafts that much more organic So when ever you see a recipe that calls for craft glue paste or paint you can try these natural alternatives too Before you begin any activity gather all the smaller things called ingredients together in one place and find a place where it's OK to work ask an adult before you start to follow the directions Natural Glue Measuring cup 1 2 cup skim milk Measuring spoons 2 tablespoons white vinegar Spoon Short drinking glass 3 paper towels
