Ice Ornament

ages 1-6

Supplies

Natural objects (pine cones, leaves, sticks, pebbles, stones, bark, pine needles, shells, dried flowers, nuts), shallow pan (or pie pan), heavy string or old shoelace, water, freezer (or weather cold enough to freeze water)

Activity Detail

Create an "ice ornament" or "ice sculpture" by arranging natural objects found on a nature walk (like pine cones, leaves, sticks, rocks) in a shallow pan. Fold a length of string in half and lay it in the pan so the fold is over the edge of the pan and the two ends are in the center of the pan. Fill the pan with water and freeze (either in your freezer or outside if the weather is cold enough). When the water is completely frozen, remove the ice from the pan and hang it outside on a tree branch.