A nature sun catcher wand is a translucent frame filled with pressed or dried natural materials, such as leaves, petals, or seeds.
This adorable craft captures the beauty of natural elements. For example, your child can add leaves, flowers, and feathers. It preserves them in a way that allows sunlight to illuminate all the details inside.
They are often hung in windows or like the one we’re making today is a nature wand.
Also, adding a fun educational slant with this craft keeps it fun.
Too, you don’t really need many materials and much of them you have in your yard or you can collect on a nature walk.
And this nature sun catcher makes for a fun way to preserve nature finds through every season.
First, look at adding some nature books to your reading day.
BOOKS ABOUT NATURE FOR KIDS
We use living books because they make topics fun and their vocabulary is beautiful.
And we’ll use reference books too.
6 Nature Study Books and Resources
Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.
See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.
The Handbook of Nature Study is a classic Charlotte Mason text. A big book full of information on pretty much every area of nature study from tools to birds, weather, and rocks.
This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time.
Filled with both recognisable, and tropical flora, Botanicum is the ultimate companion guide to the variety of plants, and how they have evolved and grow.
Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.
The Thinking Tree presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery Through Nature, ideal for all ages (even adults!)
Creativity and discovery at its best, this journal is a bestseller among The Thinking Tree publications! Your nature-loving student will treasure this journal designed to ignite their wonder of the outdoors. With more than 180 lessons and beautiful illustrations, the Nature Study Journal invites the student to read, write, draw, color, explore and appreciate the outdoors while covering a variety of subjects such as science, poetry, observation instructions, and more.
Next, here are some ideas for more nature sun catchers.
MORE NATURE SUN CATCHER IDEAS
- Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun
- Botanical Sun Catchers
- Freezing Nature’s Beauty – Take advantage of the cold and make frozen sun catchers
- Laced Leaf Suncatchers
- Botanical Sun Catchers
- How To Make Tissue Paper Suncatchers
Finally, look at how to make this fun nature sun catcher wand.
HOW TO MAKE A NATURE SUN CATCHER WAND
First, look at this easy list of supplies:
- Cardboard (cereal boxes work well)
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Clear contact paper
- Yellow nature items (petals, leaves, etc.)
- Glue
- Stick or twig
Draw the sun.
On a piece of cardboard, draw a sun shape with a circle in the center.
Cut two sun shapes.
Fold the cardboard and cut out the sun shape so you end up with two matching pieces.
Then, cut out the center.
Cut out the center circle from both sun shapes to create a window.
Pain your sun with a pretty yellow.
Next, attach the contact paper.
Cut a circle slightly bigger than the opening from clear contact paper.
Stick it to the back of one of the sun cutouts, covering the center opening.
Add nature finds.
Press yellow nature items (like small flowers, petals, or leaves) onto the sticky side of the contact paper.
Seal the window.
Place the second sun cutout on top of the first, slightly offset to create a fun 3D layered effect.
Glue and press it down firmly.
Finish the sun. Add another circle of contact paper to the front to seal in the nature items.
Add the wand. Glue a stick to the back of the sun to complete your wand.
