Green Grubs Garden Club

Fresh air, bare feet ad grubby hands = active learning! Fun, down-to-earth nature based ideas & educational resources for Grubby kids!

Fun, simple Harakeke/Flax activities for kids

[poc

Are you struggling to find some age appropriate ways to incorporate the versatile harakeke/flax into your programme?  It’s so tricky to find simple engaging activities that work for a large number of younger children… read on to find some fun road tested projects!

*Not quite sure about how to cut or harvest your harakeke?  Please read the notes at the end of this post to ensure your flax bush is treated with the respect it deserves.

  • This adaptation of a more complicated woven fantail is perfect for our younger children – quick to make and only requires 2 strips of flax, one staple and some scissors!
  • Work with one on one with younger children to gently curve the flax and secure with a peg
  • Vary the width of the harakeke strips used to create a variety of bird sizes
  • Add some self adhesive bobbly eyes or extra feathers for an added decorative touch

  • The humble Harakeke fibre is often overlooked in pursuit of a more glamorous or complete end product, but it has so many uses!!  Use thin strips to make necklaces or fishing lines, use to lash things together (stick frames, kites) or for hanging mobiles or artworks…
  • Making the beads has to be THE MOST SIMPLE flax activity EVER.  Cut up a piece of flax and then leave it to dry and curl in the sun!
  • The longer it’s left to dry, the tighter the beads will be – I suggest cutting the leaves in the morning & threading them in the afternoon.  The beads can be left to tighten on their cord once threaded

  • This balancing toy is always a favourite – it won’t be long until the kids are challenging each other to races and seeing who can keep the mosquito balanced on their fingers while hopping, skipping and jumping!
  • Finding it tricky to keep your mosquito balanced?  Try longer tails!  The longer they are, the more stable and easier it will be to keep balanced

  • I don’t know of any other activities that make use of the under utilised and heavy ‘butt’ end of the flax blade
  • Make a whole heap, then let the kids loose for a noisy run outside!

  • Great for testing out those motor skills and practicing simple under, over and through
  • The perfect hands on and independent activity – make it as simple or complicated as you like!
  • Add in plaited pieces or foraged, seasonal natural items from your garden
  • Use whole flax blades plus smaller strips for interest
  • Vary the size of the frames (they could be used for individual activities or small groups)
  • Use small flax strips to lash your frame together

You can find a printable version of the images in this post included in our NZ Flax Mini booklet resource!  

*Found in our store here*

Looking for more in depth resources to support your learning around this amazing natural resource?  Click the ‘NZ Native Plants’ section in our website store above!

  

FUN WITH DANDELIONS

[poc

Time to celebrate your garden weeds!  After spending far to much time trying to dig out those annoying dandelions with their super strong tap root, it’s time to give in and let them flourish…..

Just before we get on to discussing fun activities to try with your kids, did you know that the leaves are amazing nutritious and contain more beta-carotene than carrots?  The reason that dandelions are so well spread out around the world is that European settlers introduced them to many countries as a salad green!  If you’re planning to add a few to your salad this evening, make sure the leaves you pick are young and sweet (the older leaves get a little bitter) and are pesticide free.  

DANDELION CLOCK PICTURES
Take the age old dandelion-clock-blowing to the next level with the addition of double sided tape, glue and paper!

  • Locate some ‘ready to blow’ dandelion clocks in your garden
  • Carefully create a letter or design on your piece of paper using double sided tape or glue (using dark coloured paper gives the best result)
  • Hold your dandelion clock close to the paper and blow!  The little dandelion seeds should attach them to the sticky part!  Have fun racing around the garden finding more dandelion clocks to add to your design.



DANDELION INVISIBLE INK
Use the sap inside the dandelion stems to write or draw little messages!  Choose a strong stem with lots of sap to ‘write’ straight on to a white piece of paper.  The sap will dry brown which will allow the picture or words to slowly become more visible.  You might need to keep trimming your stem to keep the sap-ink flowing! 


DANDELION CURLS
After you’ve finished with your dandelion flowers and writing secret messages, the kids will love making some dandelion curls to add to their mud-pie potions….. simply remove the flower heads off the stems, and use your nails to split the stems into long strips.  Drop the strips into some water and after a few minutes you should have some curls!  You can find a really simple explanation of the science going on behind the curling fun here. 


Rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens all enjoy nibbling dandelions, so after you’ve finished with stems and flowers, make sure you throw them the leaves!  Have fun,

Grubbily yours,