We hope you had meaningful Passover Seders!

For this week’s activities, we will be exploring the natural areas right outside of our homes. You have probably walked around your yard countless times, however, you will get to discover these same places in a completely new way. As Rabbi Kushner said, “To be a Jew means to wake up and to keep your eyes open to the many beautiful, mysterious, and holy things that happen all around us every day.” Step outside and see the beauty in nature that surrounds us.

Don’t forget to check out what’s happening around our community and join in on our congregations virtual programs.

This week’s activities came from hazon.org/teva.

Activity 1: Daily Journal

I bet you’ve heard of a diary or journal that you are supposed to write in everyday. But, have you ever heard of a nature journal? This activity shows you how to make your own nature journal and use it to explore and discover the nature around you.

How to make your own journal:

• Cut approx. 3 full sheets of paper into 4 quarters. This will give you 12 pages. You can use more paper if you’d like.
• Punch a hole on the top of each page in the same place.
• Tie the pages together with string, yarn or a metal ring.
• Design the top page as the cover. Write your name and draw your something you find beautiful in nature (e.g. a waterfall, a willow tree, a rose, a spider, etc.)

What to include in your journal:

Bring the completed journal outside with you into your backyard or nature surrounding your home. Here are some ideas of what you could write about.

Page 1: Draw a map of your backyard indicating any trees and bushes.

Page 2: Find 2 different leaves, put them on the paper, and draw an outline of them. Describe how they look different and similar.

Page 3: Describe something outside that you’ve never noticed before.

Page 4: Close your eyes for 10 seconds. How many sounds do you hear? Write a few of them down.

Page 5: Write down three words for how you feel outside (i.e. happy, energized, peaceful etc.)

Page 6: Find one interesting object or living thing. Write down as many questions that come to mind about it.

Page 7: Find 3 different smells. Write down what you are smelling.

Page 8-12: You get to decide what you want to include. It could be more observations, drawing, etc.

Materials:

• Sheets paper x4
• Hole puncher
• Yarn, string or metal ring
• Pencil, pen, markers etc.

 

 Activity 2: Leaf Splatter Painting

Turn an object that you find in nature into a beautiful art piece using leaves. Get ready to make a gorgeous masterpiece.

Directions:

• Find different types of leaves outside your house. Bonus points if you can identify the tree they came from.
• Place the leaves in a desired position on a blank sheet of paper.
• With cardboard under the sheet, use safety pins, thumbtacks or sewing needles to hold the leaf in place.
• Dip a paint brush or discarded toothbrush into a cup of paint.
• Use your finger to pull back on the bristles and let go; the paint will spray over the leaf and on the paper. Cover the paper with lots of paint. When the leaf is removed, the silhouette of the leaves remains as a design.

Materials:

• Sheet of paper
• Leaves
• Cardboard
• Pins or thumbtacks
• Paint
• Paint brush or old toothbrush

 

Activity 3: Nature Notes

Use this time at home to create one of a kind stationary to write birthday cards for your loved ones.

Directions:

• Walk around your home and find bits of vines, flowers, leaves, ferns, etc.
• Fold construction or other paper in half or quartered.
• Glue natural found objects on the front of the card.
• Let it dry and then add personal messages, birthday greetings, inside of the card.
• Drawn designs with marker, paint, or crayon can be added.

 

Materials:

• Bits of natural objects
• Paper
• Glue
• Markers, paint or crayon (optional)

 

We hope you enjoyed these nature inspired activities. Check back next week for even more activities. Have a great week!