The Grand Traverse Conservation District (GTCD) is asking you to shoot nature this year…with your camera. We are holding a digital photography contest to determine the future banners that will be displayed behind the Boardman River Nature Center’s welcome desk. The banners are switched out seasonally and we still need winter, spring and [...]
Category Archives: Education Program Games
December 19, 2008 – 1:11 pm
Peepers is an education program for preschool aged children hosted at the Boardman River Nature Center.
Bottle Bird Feeder
February 26, 2008 – 12:21 pm
Materials:
Emptied and cleaned bottled water or juice bottle
String
Two short twigs
Scissors or Exacto knife (at the least, with parent supervision).
Directions:
1. Peel off wrapper if desired.
2. Cut four seed holes around bottom of bottle. For this feeder, the birds will hang upside down from their perches to reach the seeds-amazing to watch! Make sure to cut the holes [...]
Tuna Can Turtle
February 26, 2008 – 12:03 pm
Materials:
Empty tuna can
Construction paper
Paint (optional)
Glue
Buttons/felt
Scissors
Jiggly eyes (optional)
Markers/colored pencils (optional)
Directions:
1. Place can upside down on paper and trace around it, drawing on hands, legs, head, and tail (you can make yours a common turtle, sea turtle, or tortoise by drawing the feet differently). Remove the can and cut along your outline. This will be the turtle's [...]
Pine Cone Snake
February 26, 2008 – 12:01 pm
This craft can be a little difficult and usually involves a moderate amount of parental help, if only to tie the knots or hold things in place.
Materials:
Eight or more small (red pine) pine cones work best
String (green or brown is best)
Jiggle eyes
Red felt or construction paper
Glue
Directions:
1. Tie last cone securely with string.
2. Wrap each successive cone with [...]
Toilet Paper Roll Bee Craft
February 26, 2008 – 11:54 am
Materials:
Toilet paper roll
Markers/crayons
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Pipe cleaners
Directions:
1. Color the paper roll like a bee (be creative with the colors).
2. Cut out construction paper wings and glue them in place (it works best if they remain one pieceóan hourglass shape so that the middle can be glued to the beeís back).
3. Cut one pipe cleaner into three equal sections, [...]
Balancing Butterfly Craft
February 26, 2008 – 11:53 am
Materials (makes one butterfly):
One sheet stiff paper
Scissors
Markers/crayons/colored pencils
Glue
Two pennies
Directions:
1. Holding the paper vertically, fold it into fourths - first top to bottom, then left to right. Draw half of a butterfly on the quarter section, so that when the section is cut out, two symmetrical butterflies are made (symmetry is important if the butterfly is [...]
Mixed Up Animals
February 26, 2008 – 11:51 am
Use the link below to print out the mixed up animals! Circle the mistakes and see if you can find them all!
Click here to view and print the picture! [link will open in new window!]
Rock Paperweights
February 26, 2008 – 11:50 am
1. Find a nice smooth rock.
2. Paint the rock with paint or a felt tip marker.
3. If you don't want to make an animal, paint flowers or a design or your name.
4. You can glue a piece of felt to the bottom, so it won't scratch your desk.
Thumbprint Animals
February 26, 2008 – 11:49 am
With a marker or crayon, draw or trace an outline of a fish or bird on a piece of paper. Then fill in the feathers for the bird or scales for the fish with thumbprints made with paints or an inkpad.
Egg Carton Spider Craft Project
February 26, 2008 – 11:49 am
What You Need:
Egg Carton
Scissors
Paper punch
Black marker or black paint
Paintbrush (If you use paint)
4 Pipe cleaners (Chenille stems)
2 Wiggle eyes
Glue
What You Do:
Cut the egg carton into individual cups.
Punch 4 holes on each side of the bottom edge of the cup for the legs.
Paint or use a black marker to color the [...]
Jake's Coloring Book
February 26, 2008 – 11:47 am
Click here for a link to color in an online coloring book.
[link will open in a new window]
Nature Word Search Puzzle
February 26, 2008 – 11:46 am
Click here for a printable version of the puzzle. The puzzle file is in Adobe PDF Format.
Useful Educational Links
February 26, 2008 – 11:45 am
Links below will open in a new window.
Animal Sounds
Children & Nature Network
Great Lakes Kids
Green Hour
Homework Help
Inland Seas Education Association
Kids Planet
Kidz Korner
Pathways to Nature For Kids
Try Science
Wildfinder
Our Snowman is for the Birds!
February 22, 2005 – 4:00 pm
1. Eyes: Apple slices
2. Nose: Carrot
3. Mouth: Raisins
4. Buttons: Pine Cones
5. Belt: Popcorn
6. Arms: Branches
At home, make your snowman in front of a window so you can watch the birds come to eat!