GIVE A NATURE CARDSPREAD JOY WITH A

NATURE GREETING CARD!

PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS Logo are registered trademarks of Public Broadcasting Service. Used with permission.

The Basics:

Episode: “Happy Halentine’s Day” (11 min.) Every Valentine’s Day, Hal shows his love by handing out cards, flowers, candy, and a super-special delivery of love for his mommy. But this year, Hal forgot to buy the gifts! Never fear -- Nature Cat has an idea! They can reuse items found in nature to make their very own nature valentines.

Episode curriculum goal: You can go “green” to share your love with someone special, and to share your love of nature!

Clips on PBSKids.org: “Nature Valentine’s Day” *To view clips, visit PBSKids.org/video, click on Nature Cat and select Browse.

Goal of Activity:

Printable two-sided card (one per child)

Leaves, strips of bark, flat rocks, and other natural materials that are flat and textured

Crayons

What You’ll Need:

Preparation (before children arrive):

Print out at least one copy of the printable card for each child. Note that the card is two-sided. Either select two-sided printing or print one page, then turn over the paper and print the second page on the back. Be sure to use regular printer paper, not construction paper or card stock.

Collect natural materials that are fairly flat and have interesting textures, like leaves, strips of bark, etc. Optional: You can also take the children on a nature walk and let them collect their own natural materials.

Lay out cards, crayons, and natural materials on the table.

Tally Ho! What to Do:

Explain to children that sometimes scientists make rubbings of things like stones or tree bark to remember what they look like. Today, the kids will use rubbings to make greeting cards for someone special, to make that person happy.

Demonstrate how to make a rubbing: Lay a printable card (with the picture of Nature Cat facing up) on top of one of your natural objects. Rub the card with a crayon until the image of the natural object appears on the paper.

Have children choose natural materials and make rubbings of their own.Have children choose natural materials and make rubbings of their own. Optional: Children can also color Nature Cat or make rubbings on both sides of the paper.

Fold the paper in half (with the picture of Nature Cat on the outside) to make the card.

Give the card to a friend or relative, and make their day!

Onward and Yonward! Take It Further:

Look in a Book:

Martin, Laura. Nature’s Art Box. Storey Books, 2003.

For more nature craft ideas for kids, check out this book for grown-ups:

Things to do: Make other kinds of nature greeting cards by either drawing nature scenes or gluing actual leaves and other natural objects to the printable card.

Nature makes me happy!

I hope this card

makes you happy too!

Love,

___________________________________

and Nature Cat