Our "Nature Tiles" - a project from the KONOS Plant Classification Unit

I shared recently about our Botanical Buffet, and about the neat party favors we gave to each guest.  I finally remembered to take some photos to share of the party favors!  Let me explain what they are.  First of all, we were doing a unit on plant classification and had been collecting flowers and leaves and stems to examine, dissect, etc.  This project allowed the children to take those clippings and do something really cool and beautiful with them! 

First, we needed some   (1) Sculpey Clay;

             (2) a rolling pin;

             (3) small knife;

             (4) a cookie sheet; and

             (5) plant clippings. 

The kids flattened out a piece of clay, large enough to fit whichever clipping they wanted to use.  (I wish I had photos of the process!)  Then they put the plant clipping on the clay and used a rolling pin to roll over the whole thing very gently, pressing the leaf into the clay evenly.  After removing the plant piece from the clay, I helped them cut carefully around the outer edge of the imprint with the knife. 

We placed each piece onto the cookie sheet and baked them according to the directions on the box of clay.  After they had hardened in the oven and then cooled off, we painted them.  I put out 4 different shades of green craft paint (acrylic) and let the children slather paint onto the hardened clay leaves.  Then we took paper towels and wipe the paint back off again, just leaving it on long enough to basically stain the clay. 

After that was all dry, I sprayed each one with a clear acrylic glaze.  And once that was dry, we hot glued small, round magnets to the back of each one.  They were lovely!

At the party, these trinkets were spread out in the middle of each dining table.  We told our guests to pick one to take home with them.  Everyone absolutely raved about them! 

So without further ado, here is a photo of the only two that we had left after our guests picked the ones they wanted.  One of them is an imprint of a Boxwood clipping,

and the other is from a piece of English Ivy. 

10:42 PM - Jul. 18, 2007 - post comment

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Oh, those are beautiful!! I love them. Holly

ApplesofGold - 10:02 AM - Jul. 19, 2007

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I love them!!!

Where do you get the sculpty clay? I would love to do that with my kids.

By the way...I love your blog!!!

prayingforgrace - 9:34 PM - Jul. 23, 2007

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You can find Sculpey Clay at just about any place you can buy crafting supplies. I know that Walmart carries it. I got mine at Hobby Lobby with one of their 40% off coupons they give every other week. :)

Thanks for stopping by, and for the compliments on my blog! :)

~Bev~

HomeForHeavensSake - 10:53 PM - Jul. 23, 2007

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You've been tagged!

Very lovely ivy.

You're it!
(:

Warmly,
Lori

Lori - 2:55 PM - Jul. 25, 2007

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Those are beautiful! Now I wish I'd done the plant unit this summer along with Japan. :-)
Dana (KONOS Vol 2), www.alexml.blogspot.com

Anonymous - 9:36 PM - Aug. 14, 2007

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I know this post was last year but I just wanted to share that we are going to be doing a plant classification unit next week and I love your clay plant magnets. We'll be doing them next week thanks to your post.

Thanks for sharing.

JoAnn @ http://homeschooldistractions.blogspot.com

Anonymous - 12:04 PM - Mar. 7, 2008

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