Natural materials come from nature, with minimal interference from humans. Recent research and trends promote natural materials and environments. They can make people happier and they are also sustainable.
Because children are surrounded by so many processed materials, nature is incredibly important. Many children don't know where wood or clay comes from and early childhood educators can use materials to teach children about the world.
Natural materials, substances and phenomena include:
Air, animal scales, animal skin, bark, beeswax, bones, clay, clouds, coral, flowers, fur, natural fibres (e.g. silk, wool, plant fibres), ice, leaves, milk, mud, rainbows, rocks, sand, sea sponges, seeds, shells, soil, sticks, venom, water, and wood.
NQS and EYLF
The National Quality Standard requires childcare services to care for the environment and support children in becoming environmentally responsible (3.2.3).
The Early Years Learning Framework supports children connecting with natural materials (4.4) that teach respect for the environment (2.4) and provoke curiosity, imagination, creativity (4.1), problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating (4.2).
Learning experiences
Explore through free play
Encourage children to explore natural materials through hands-on activities that involve observation, touch, sensory stimulation and manipulation. Set up a table with a collection of natural materials, or add them to a trough or basket.
Let children play freely with natural loose parts. Talk to them about their different properties and characteristics.
Create art
Use natural materials to create works of art. Artworks can be flat or three-dimensional sculptures. They can be displayed on a table, a wall, or hung from a ceiling. View the Sticks, Stones & Feathers Exhibition at Boorai, a children's art gallery in Melbourne.
- Natural materials like clay, ochre and charcoal can be used to create art.
- Encourage children to observe nature's patterns in objects like leaves or shells, and then attempt to draw them using black pen or lead pencil.
- Balance stones and pebbles in a tower formation, or build sand castles as land art.
- Use grasses in weaving and textile projects.
- Arrange tiny objects into a mosaic or mandala.
- Use textured, natural objects in printmaking.
Go on a treasure hunt
Take children on a walk outside, either in the playground or your neighborhood. Provide children with baskets to collect small natural objects like feathers and stones.
Examine and discuss each item. Will you use them to make something or return them to nature?
Learning environments
Early childhood professionals can enhance learning environments by featuring elements from nature. Try these ideas in your classroom:
- Reduce man-made decor and decorations. Replace them with things made from natural materials.
- Unfortunately, many childcare centres have unnatural outdoor spaces. Change this by designating a small outdoor area where children can engage directly with nature. Plant a small fairy garden or add water, tree stumps, branches and stones to your sand pit.
- Encourage children to start gardening. Herbs, vegetables and native plants can be grown indoors and outdoors.
- Play nature sounds instead of background music.
Family and community connections
Connect with culture
Natural materials are often connected with different cultures and traditions. Invite family and community members, including Aboriginal elders, to share their cultural knowledge and experience in relation to natural objects. Use these stories as inspiration for new hands-on learning experiences.