To make a fallen leaf mobile with early years children, you can follow these steps:
Collect fallen leaves of various shapes and sizes, making sure they are dry and free of dirt and debris.
Provide each child with a length of fishing line or thin string.
Have the children tie a knot in one end of the string, leaving a small loop.
Demonstrate how to thread the leaves onto the string, tying a knot in between each leaf to keep them in place.
Encourage the children to experiment with different arrangements of leaves, such as grouping similar-sized leaves together or alternating between large and small leaves.
Once the children have arranged their leaves to their satisfaction, they can tie the other end of the string to a stick or branch, creating the base of their mobile.
If desired, you can add additional decorations, such as small flowers, acorns, or bird feathers, to the mobile.
Finally, hang the mobile in a sunny window or outside in a sheltered area, where the leaves can move and twirl in the breeze.
This activity can help children develop their fine motor skills, creativity, and appreciation for nature. They each tried their hand at knot tying today and identified the oak leaves fallen from the tree in the school playground.
A lovely windy day at Forest School today.