Nature Smart : Awesome Projects to Make with Mother Nature's Help

by Gwen Diehn, Terry Krautwurst, Alan Anderson, Joe Rhatigan & Heather Smith

• ISBN13: 9781402714351
• ISBN10: 1402714351
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-28
• Publisher: Main Street

Summary

Kids will get in touch with Mother Earth-and see how to save her too-with 150 illustrated, truly terrific nature-friendly projects. There are things to do for every season of the year, crafts that use recycled materials, and activities that encourage youngsters to investigate the natural world. Fantastic color photos capture real children happily working on the projects, and every project mixes fun and learning. A cute cat wind vane will show which way the wind blows and a pretty barometer in a painted jar captures changes in air pressure: fabulous facts on weather provide additional interesting information. Or make candies with fresh mint leaves, a pocket sundial, sweet smelling grass mat, a "desert in a jar," and more.

Table of Contents

Introduction	12	(14)
Seasonal Nature Projects	14	(181)
Sweet Smelling Grass Mat	16	(4)
Earth's Never-Ending Water-Go-Round	19	(1)
Rustic Wren House	20	(2)
Bird Drinking Fountain	22	(2)
Recycled Kite	24	(4)
The Wings' of a Bird; Kissing and Spishing for Birds	26	(2)
Pressed Flower Lamp Shade	28	(1)
Butterfly & Moth Hatchery	29	(4)
Mix a Mess of Midnight Moth Goop; What Makes a Moth . . . a Moth?	31	(2)
Accordion-Fold Nature Journal	33	(2)
Seashell Wind Chime	35	(2)
What Are Seashells and Where Do They Come From?	36	(1)
Fern Picture Frame	37	(1)
Willow Whistles	38	(4)
Hey, Bud!	41	(1)
Garden Edge Bricks	42	(3)
Stepping Stones	45	(3)
Watching Bugs and Other Small Critters	47	(1)
Mint Leaf Candies	48	(1)
Herbal Vinegars	49	(1)
Rose Petal Jam & Decorated Lid	50	(3)
Incredible (But True!) Hummingbird Facts	52	(1)
Garden Trellis	53	(4)
Hooray for Flying Fur!	56	(1)
Garden Markers	57	(1)
Wild Vegetables	58	(1)
Potpourri	59	(2)
Fancy Covers for Potpourri Jar Lids	61	(2)
Why Do Flowers Have Colors and Different Shapes?	62	(1)
Fish Print T-Shirts	63	(3)
Fins, Gills, and . . . Yipe! What's That Stripe?	65	(1)
Twig Wreath	66	(2)
Blackberry & Onion Skin Dyes	68	(2)
Daylily Leaf Hat	70	(3)
Pressed Flower Note Cards	73	(3)
Nature's Papermakers	75	(1)
Lotus Book (Origami-style Journal)	76	(3)
Tree Branch Hideaway	79	(4)
How Big Is Your Favorite Tree?; Some National Champion Big Trees	81-82	(83)
Gathering Basketry Materials	83	(3)
Wild Basket	86	(4)
Nature's Icing	89	(1)
Gourd Dipper	90	(2)
Gourd Drum	92	(2)
Shakeree	94	(4)
Great Gobs O' Gourds!	97	(1)
Seed Necklace	98	(1)
Rutabaga Lantern	99	(3)
Roots and Vegetables; Root Power	100	(2)
Chili Pepper Garland	102	(2)
What's So Hot About Chili Peppers?	103	(1)
Seed Drying Frame	104	(3)
The Mighty Acorn	106	(1)
Seed Packets	107	(2)
Save Those Seeds!	108	(1)
Apple Crisp	109	(1)
Gathering Wood	110	(2)
Rustic Twig Shelf	112	(4)
Evergreen Wrapping Paper	116	(1)
Seashell Candles	117	(3)
Fantastic Floating Water; Make Your Own Icicles!	118	(2)
Potato Paper	120	(5)
Warm, Snuggly Snow	124	(1)
Winter Berry Garland	125	(1)
Terrarium & Terrarium Stand	126	(3)
Winter's Invisible Wildflowers	128	(1)
Prehistoric Paints	129	(3)
Earth's Amazing Caves	131	(1)
Nature Sketching	132	(4)
What Big Eyes and Ears You Have!	135	(1)
Pocket Sketchbook	136	(2)
Bird Feeder	138	(4)
Bir-r-r-rd, It's Cold Outside!	141	(1)
Rain
Cement Birdbath	142	(6)
Rain Facts	145	(2)
Rain and Clouds	147	(1)
Barometer	148	(2)
Wind
Wind Vane	150	(4)
Wind Names Around the World; Wind Power; Wind; What Makes the Wind Blow?	151	(3)
Fish Kites	154	(2)
Birds
Nesting Shelf	156	(2)
Eggs with Pressed Flowers and Leaves	158	(2)
Egg Shapes and Colors; Egg Records	159	(1)
Eggs Dyed with Onion Skins	160	(2)
Flowers
Wildflower Candles	162	(1)
Gift Tags, Bookmarks, Note Cards	163	(2)
Candied Violets	165	(2)
Critters
Wormery	167	(2)
Eat Dirt, You Worm!	167	(2)
Sun
Sun Prints	169	(2)
Sun Clock	171	(2)
Pocket Sundial	173	(2)
Leaves and Stems
Leaf Print	175	(2)
Which Leaf Is Which?	176	(1)
Nature Kaleidoscope	177	(4)
What Do Leaves Do?	180	(1)
Mushroom Spore Prints: Mysterious Mushrooms	181	(2)
Pan Pipes	183	(2)
Herbs
Herb Dolls	185	(1)
Bath Bags	186	(1)
Plant Perfumes	186	(1)
Pet Collars	187	(2)
Critters
Ant House	189	(1)
Pooter	190	(1)
Bug Box	191	(1)
Seashore
Sand Candles	192	(3)
The Amazing Ocean	194	(1)
Fish Print	195	(46)
Banner	196	(1)
Sand Painting; What Is Sand?	197	(2)
Beach Basket	199	(4)
Leaves
Leaf Stained Glass	203	(2)
Why Do Leaves Turn Colors in Autumn?	204	(1)
Leaf Collection Box	205	(2)
Why Do Trees Drop Their Leaves?	206	(1)
Needle Knowledge;Evergreen Garland	207	(2)
Paper with Inlaid Leaves	209	(4)
Nuts and Seeds
Seed Mosaic; Traveling Seeds	213	(2)
Twig-and-Cone Wreath	215	(2)
Nut-Stenciled Bandanna	217	(2)
Harvest
Apple Monsters	219	(2)
Corn Husk Flowers	221	(2)
Turnip Lanterns	223	(2)
Critters
Casts of Animal Tracks	225	(6)
Animal Tracks; The Tracker; Walk Like a Bear; Bigfoot Tracks?	227	(4)
Snow
Snow Candles; Snow	231	(2)
Snow Sculpture	233	(5)
Snow Facts, Snow Folklore; The Snowflake Man	234	(4)
Birds
Birds' Midwinter Tree	238	(1)
Bird Feeder	239	(2)
Who Eats What?	241	(153)
The Night Sky
Nocturne Night Dial	243	(5)
How to Find the North Star and Cassiopeia	244	(4)
Constellation Viewers	248	(1)
Bark and Twigs
Bark Rubbing; Identifying Bark	249	(3)
Twig Weaving	252	(1)
Gee-Haw Whimmy Diddle	253	(2)
Flowers and Herbs
Pomander	255	(1)
Scented Soap	256	(3)
Ecology Crafts	259	(2)
Introduction to Ecology Crafts	261	(2)
Talking Trash	263	(2)
Excellent Eco-Extravaganzas	265	(26)
Clay Pinch Pots and Animals	266	(2)
Find and Clean Your Own Clay	268	(1)
Make Your Own Sawdust Kiln	269	(2)
Twig Frame	271	(1)
Collecting Bag	272	(1)
Birch Bark Basket	273	(2)
You Can Do It	275	(2)
Tree-Saver Chair	277	(3)
We'd Be up a Tree without Trees	279	(1)
Special Prints Gift Wrap	280	(3)
Oh, Christmas Tree!	282	(1)
Bag Bonnets	283	(2)
Fly-Away-Home Gourd Birdhouse	285	(6)
What's a Bald Eagle?; What's a Grizzly Bear?	288	(3)
Awesome Eco-Adventures	291	(26)
Backyard Wetland	292	(3)
The Wet, Wet World of Water	294	(1)
Collections Box	295	(2)
Birch Bark Canoe	297	(4)
Happy Earth Day! April 22	300	(1)
Log Cabin Planter	301	(2)
Bat House	303	(4)
Up with Bats!	306	(1)
Achy Breaky Pots	307	(2)
Potato Print Shirts	309	(2)
Make Your Own Compost	311	(1)
Save the Manatee	312	(1)
Sketch-and-Press Nature Journal	313	(3)
Cool Tool: Keep a Tree Diary	316	(1)
Rockin' Eco-Recycling	317	(26)
Light Bulb Puppets	318	(3)
Make Your Own Papier Mache Mix	321	(1)
Paper Bag Bouquets	322	(2)
Paper Bag Books	324	(2)
Eco-envelopes	326	(1)
Nature's Gardens: Bottles and Jars	327	(3)
Paper or Plastic?	328	(1)
Recycling Kids, Inc.	329	(1)
Totally Recycled Albums	330	(2)
Calendar Boxes	332	(4)
Hurray for the Tree Muskateers!	335	(1)
That Can't Be Paper! Beads	336	(1)
Easy Recycle Bin	337	(2)
Is That a Soda Bottle You're Wearing?	338	(1)
Picture-Perfect Postcards	339	(1)
Cool Cut-and-Paste Bottles and Jars	340	(3)
Terrific Eco-Trash	343	(24)
Fantastic Flower Pots	344	(2)
Dog Biscuit Photo Frame	346	(1)
Eggshell Mosaic	347	(2)
Mosaic-An Earth-Friendly Art	348	(1)
License Plate Bird Feeder	349	(5)
You're Invited!	351	(3)
Corny Sunflowers
Dry Your Own Corn Husks	354	(1)
Cornhusk Angels	355	(12)
Beach Glass Jewelry	367
You Don't Need a Garage for a Garage Sale	358	(1)
Kissy Fish Pinata	359	(4)
Trees, Please	361	(2)
Gourd Witch	363	(3)
Eco-Party	366	(1)
Happenin' Eco-Hits	367	(27)
Rock Houses	368	(1)
Papier Mache Bird	369	(5)
A Wonderful Wild Man: John Muir	371	(2)
The Sierra Club Today	373	(1)
Bottle Gardens: Simple Bottle Garden	374	(2)
Green Bottle Garden	376	(1)
Desert in a Jar	376	(2)
How is a Rainforest Like Your Bathroom?	377	(1)
Paper Quilts	378	(4)
Beautiful Earth: Natural Cosmetics	382	(1)
Ocean Waves Bath Salts	383	(1)
Lavender and Roses Powder	384	(1)
Lemonade Lip Gloss	385	(2)
Make an Earth-Friendly Art Box	386	(1)
Tin Can Marionette	387	(4)
Adopt a Piece of the Planet	390	(1)
Bean and Pasta Mosaic	391	(3)
It is Always Sunrise Somewhere	392	(2)
Metric Conversion Chart	394	(2)
Index	396