You will need a few bits and bobs for this activity:
a measuring tape (or lengths of string to measure later)
2 sticks/twigs/garden canes per child (2 rulers would work)
string/twine
thread/Sellotape
Tree Mobile
It’s time to get outside and find an area with some trees, your playground or a local park will do the trick.
Split the class in groups of 2 or 3 and ask the children to choose a tree or large bush in your playground/outside space.
Measure the girth of the tree/bush trunk at a height of around 140cm from the ground and record this measurement. You will need this later on!
From the same tree/bush ask the children to collect 4-8 items (leaves, pieces of bark, twigs, flowers, nuts – more than one of each item is fine). From these each child will make their tree mobile.
To make the mobile, tie together two sticks into a cross shape using twine/string. Using thread, these objects are to be hung from the stick mobile. Tying the thread around the objects can be tricky so children may need to pierce a tiny hole in their objects to pass a piece of thread through. Pencils, cocktail sticks or skewers do this well. If struggling, attach the thread to the items using Sellotape.
Once everyone is done, share your Tree Mobile with the whole class.
