Make a host of pine craft tree ideas using every amazing part of the pine tree from the cone to the bark as well as the needles. Also, look at my page Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study.
Crafts that recreate pine trees with pipe cleaners, watercolors, and the like are great.
But how wonderful to teach your child to gather and use these parts for useful and practical applications like nature crafts that make beautiful decor and all natural cleaners.
Even if you have never foraged before, each part of the pine tree is evidence of its life cycle and growth even.
If you can find a pine tree to collect from in your area you can create one of these fantastic pine craft tree ideas.
Pine trees share these things in common:
They are a conical or pyramidal shape, evergreen, needle-bearing, and produce cones
There are 111 tree and shrub species of pine split between hard pines and soft pine types.
BOOKS ABOUT TREES FOR KIDS
9 Tree Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To
You'll love using one of these books as a science reference or to use for art to inspire life science lessons.
Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes…).
The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.
Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”
This is a fantastic reference book to have on hand for tree studies.
It has great illustrations and covers everything from how a tree “eats and drinks” to types of trees, seeds, how they change in the seasons, why we need them and more
Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.
An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife.
Tree Full of Wonder is a vibrant, rhyming, educational and unique picture book showing the unbreakable bond between people and trees. For children ages 3-8. Kids will fall in love with nature and will become Protectors of the Trees.
From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.
Learn and Play: These figurines provide a fun and educational way to learn about different tree species, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation.
Bringing the world of TREES to your fingertips, FANDEX presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys--die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree--plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees.
In addition, TREES is a cultural history--of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Aillanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today.
A great resource that has amazing illustrations and can be used for many nature studies is of course Nature Anatomy.
We were able to find information on pinecones, bark, trunk anatomy, ponderosa pines, spruce, bark, as well as foraging information.
I also really love using The Tree Book For Kids and Their Grown Ups to identify and learn about all different kinds of trees and their parts from root to seed.
I also have a FREE pine tree life cycle template for the younger kids to color, cut out, and put together to help them learn the most basic steps of the life cycle of pine trees.
Most of these pine craft tree ideas are great for all ages.
Some of the recipes and crafts that require tools will need more help or be geared toward middle and high school students.
But before we begin with all the craft ideas, let’s learn a little bit more about the life cycle of pine trees and what each part contributes.
THE LIFE CYCLE OF PINE TREES
Seed Germination
- Pine seeds are dispersed from the trees and fall to the forest floor.
- When there are favorable conditions, such as warmth and moisture, the seed then germinates and produces a small root and shoots.
Seedling Stage
- The seedling develops a taproot that anchors it in the soil where it absorbs water and nutrients.
- The shoot continues to grow, eventually developing needle-like leaves.
Sapling Stage
- The young tree, which is known as a sapling, grows rapidly during this stage.
- The branches start to form and the tree begins to take on a more conical shape.
Pole Stage
- The tree continues to grow in both height and diameter.
- The branches become more developed, and the tree’s crown becomes denser.
Maturity
- The tree reaches its full height and spreads.
- Cones, which are the reproductive structures of pine trees, start to develop on the branches.
Seed Production
- The cones mature and release seeds, which are then dispersed by the wind.
Decline and Death
- Eventually, the tree dies, and the decaying remains contribute to the forest ecosystem.
- As the tree ages, it can become more susceptible to pests, diseases, and weather events.
Finally, look at these easy pine craft tree ideas.
EASY PINE CRAFT TREE IDEAS
Crab a basket and get together bark, limbs, sap, cones, and needles because you are going to want to make a lot of these fabulous pine craft tree ideas.
Needles
- Create this beautiful Clay Dish With Evergreen Pieces that can be used as a ring bowl, coasters, or even to hang up.
- Learn How to Make a Handmade Hearth Broom With Pine Needles in this tutorial.
- Craft useful and beautiful Pine Needle Baskets to keep or gift.
- Use pine needles of various shapes and sizes to Make Your Own Bookmark With Waxed Paper.
- DIY Pine Bath Salts and Gift Tag is a wonderfully relaxing craft that you can also enjoy while soaking in a hot bath. They make such pretty winter gifts too.
Bark
- Make use of found pieces of bark with my From Forest to Fun: Unique Crafts With Tree Bark, turning them into real or imagined creatures.
- Craft Tree Bark Flower Vases to hold fresh or fake flowers year round.
- This Rustic Tree Bark Lantern is beautiful indoors or out.
- You could make an entire family of owls with How to Make Bark Owls and mount them on a board or canvas for display.
Resin
- Learn How to Make and Use Glue From Pine Resin for a natural adhesive to use on many crafts.
- After you learn how to gather it you can learn How to Make Pine Resin Salve as an alternative to store bought lotions and creams.
- I bet this How to Make Pine Resin Soap is invigorating to use and smell in the shower, and what a practical craft idea.
- Another way to make use out of every part of pine trees is figuring out How to Make Candles out of Pine Resin.
Cones
- Take pine pines and pine needles and find out How to Create a Fun Yosemite National Park Camping Curriculum while you make a DIY Firestarter that is a beautiful addition to a backyard bonfire.
- Craft this Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers and create a pretty unique bouquet to brighten up your home even in the dead of winter.
- Did you know you could make a DIY Pine Cone Bonsai – How To Make A Pine Cone Bonsai ? I didn’t and I am just tickled to give this one a try.
- Gather up a basket full of pinecones and learn How to Create Scented Pinecone Crafts that will give your home a warm natural look and a fresh earthy smell.
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