Page 90 - NT 2022 Almanac

This is the sort of activity you can do on a drizzly day as the branches and leaves will shelter you from a light shower. You can do it on a hot day, too, of course, as the branches and leaves will provide you with shade! Take a few sheets of paper and some crayons out into the woods or garden or out into your local park and have fun creating some beautiful colourful patterns. You could then use the paper as wrapping paper, make greetings cards from it or frame your lovely pattern with some twigs and give it as a gift.
You will need:
Tree – or 2 or 3! Plain paper Wax crayons
1 Choose an interesting tree. The big old knobbly ones are the best because the patterns in their bark are bigger.
2 Press the paper against the bark and hold it in place. You might need to ask a grown-up to help you keep it steady.
3 Press your crayon sideways firmly against the paper and rub until the pattern starts to come through. Try not to press too hard, or you’ll rip the paper.
4 When the pattern has come through, remove the paper.
Avoid this activity on windy days.
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