Nature Nativity

This is another lovely project that I learned from Birgit, the Waldorf educator at our kindergarten: a nativity scene made with nature materials.

To begin you need the following materials: assorted treasures from your nearest park or forest (moss, sticks, chestnuts, rocks, tree bark, acorns, pine cones, fir tree branch, etc.); walnut shell halves, air-drying clay or plasticine, glue, terra cotta  saucer for a flowerpot, a small piece of material, a small piece of cotton, gold paper, and a candle.

Next, place the moss in the flowerpot saucer.

To make baby Jesus, wrap a tiny piece of cotton inside a small square of material. Then, tuck it inside a walnut shell half.  (Mine stayed in place without any glue.) Then, make a small head out of clay for baby Jesus.

To make a small stable, I used clay and glue to attach sticks to a piece of tree bark. Then, add other elements using the nature materials you have on hand, such as a pine cone or fir tree branch as  a tree. You can also cut a golden star out of paper to hang either on the tree or attach it to another stick.  To top it off, add a small candle.

Three and four year-olds generally need a lot of help from an adult to do this project, but older preschoolers and elementary age children can do it most of it by themselves. Such a simple, yet enchanting project!

I can't wait to see what the kids in the Advent Club do with this project!








Linked to Monday Madness at Let Kids Create and Art 4 Little Hands

The Magic Onions

Crafty Moms Share

Frontier Dreams


Raising Memories