Nature Crafts for Kids: Yarn-Wrapped Tree Slice Craft to Spark Curiosity
- jenniferlaceybaker
- Apr 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 29
A Meaningful Nature Craft for Kids and Families
Blending curiosity, confidence, and conservation—the three values that guide everything I do at Wild Child Literacy—this nature craft for kids and families knits together memories, creativity, and the outdoors into a colourful and treasured family keepsake. It's the perfect craft to celebrate Earth Day—or any day that you want to connect with nature in a hands-on way.
A couple of weeks ago, over spring break, I packed the Jeep, loaded up the kids, and hit the road. Our destination? Nearly 1,200 km north to my dad’s farm. It’s not the same farm I ran wild on as a kid—where my sisters and I rigged up baler twine “laser beams” in the trees, climbed hay bale mountains, and played Annie Annie Over past bedtime—but it’s the next best thing. Despite the long drive, I always look forward to these visits, and our expected return home always gets pushed back by a day or two.
This year, our trip was extra special—it was lambing and calving season. Everywhere we turned, fluffy lambs bleated for bottles while wobbly calves tried their first steps. The kids and I were especially excited by the arrival of a set of twins during our visit.
Overall, our days revolved around chore time. As a kid, I dreaded chores. Now, as an adult, I love spending time with the animals and giving my kids this experience. Especially this year as we navigate homeschooling my oldest—these real-world, hands-on moments are the kind of homeschool nature activities that stick.
As our trip was coming to a close, I had an idea to bring a little piece of this place home with me. So, I found a downed poplar tree on the edge of the property, and sawed it into five sections—from big to tiny. Each branch would represent someone in our family, including one for Lilou, our fuzzball Labradoodle.
A Nature Craft with Heart: DIY Yarn-Wrapped Tree Slices
These yarn-wrapped tree branches are ridiculously simple. It’s honestly the perfect eco-friendly family activity for all ages. Rich in sensory learning and creativity, this project connects children to nature through colour and texture. And, when the wood comes from somewhere meaningful—like Grandpa and Grandma’s farm—it becomes more than just a decoration. It becomes a memory.
Whether you’re crafting with toddlers, tweens, or teens, it’s an ideal homeschool nature craft idea that blends storytelling, art, and outdoor learning.
How to Make Yarn-Wrapped Tree Slices (Step-by-Step)
A perfect project for Earth Day, forest school, or nature-based homeschool projects.
Materials Needed:
Hand saw
Poplar or another small-diameter tree, cut into sections
Colourful yarn or embroidery floss
Scissors
(Optional) A drill to create holes for hanging
🌿 A Note on Conservation: At Wild Child Literacy, we believe in the importance of caring for the wild spaces around us. If you try this craft at home, consider using a branch from a wind-fallen tree, or a pruned limb. These are both thoughtful ways to craft with conservation in mind.
Instructions:
Lay out your sections. Decide who gets which one.
Cut a length of yarn. Knot one end around the wood and start wrapping—but don’t overthink it. Messy is part of the charm.
When you want a new colour, tie on a fresh strand and keep spinning.
Once you’ve covered the section, tie off or glue the tail to the back.
Decide how you want to display them, and voilà—nature-inspired art.
These look fun and vibrant hung on a wall, displayed on a shelf, or nested in a decorative basket. It’s a DIY nature craft that makes a great keepsake or handmade gift full of heart (Mother’s Day is just around the corner).
✨ Free Printable Instructions!
Want to try this hands-on nature craft with your own kids? Download the printable guide below and keep it in your homeschool craft binder.
A Moment of Colourful Connection: The Heart Behind the Craft
To make our family tree really pop, each of us chose two colours of yarn. The act of wrapping our branches actually became a surprisingly cathartic experience for
me—blending our colours and reflecting on our relationships with one another. It also offered a chance to really express our individuality, and my kids were excited by the creative control given to them. It’s a great feeling to be able to say, “This is me. I made this!”
As for colours, my son, Jones, loves green and paired it with a cheerful yellow. He is my sunshine, wrapping us all in smiles and warmth. Ruby made a colour chart for our dog Lilou and held it up, asking her to choose by pointing with her nose. Lilou played along and picked her favorites. Ruby herself chose pink and teal—she is my sea: deep, reflective, beautiful—a powerful force of nature.
Watching the two of them focus and make their own colour choices reminded me how creativity builds confidence. There was no concern with whether they were doing it "right"—they were simply present in the moment. I love these kinds of open-ended nature crafts: they spark conversation, build confidence, and nurture a connection to nature.
And by working with a branch from a place we love, we weren’t just making art—we were solidifying the memory it carried and deepening our roots in the moment we shared.
As I wrapped my own purple yarn and watched it blend into my family’s, I felt love, but was also reminded that I am an individual beyond them. As all moms do, I often pour myself into others before filling my own cup. What started as a creative endeavor turned into a moment of clarity. To support the ones I love the most, I must water my own roots.
The pieces now hang on our wall, each one wrapped in the colours of our family’s wild hearts. Looking at them—a simple DIY family craft—brings me a lot of joy.
Wild Child Literacy Prompt: What’s Your Tree’s Story?
How does your yarn-wrapped tree tell a story?
Invite your kids to write or draw their answers. Was the tree home to animals? Did it struggle to hold firm through a thunderstorm? Maybe it even knows the answer to the age-old question: Does a falling tree make a sound if no one is around to hear it? Let imaginations go wild and see where the story takes them!
Encouraging storytelling builds literacy skills. This prompt blends creativity with nature-based learning—a powerful combo for families and homeschoolers alike.
For more nature-inspired fun, explore our A Walk in Nature Journal: Recordings of a Wild Child. It's a great way to nurture your child’s connection with the outdoors through art and exploration.
Why This Craft Matters for Homeschoolers and
Nature-Loving Families
At Wild Child Literacy, we trade screen time for green time—and sometimes that means bringing the outdoors inside. This nature craft for kids and families is fun, frugal, and full of feeling.
It’s also a gentle confidence builder. Kids take the lead, make creative choices, and see their ideas come to life—something that sticks with them beyond the craft table.
Plus, it’s a reminder that the simplest projects can root us in memory, spark conversations, and fill our hearts. Every glance at those colourful branches hanging on our wall takes me straight back to lambs, laughter, and love.
So grab some yarn, a beautiful branch, and help your wild child wrap their heart and soul around it!
📬 Calling All Homeschooling Families and Educators!
Did your kids or students try this nature craft? We’d love to see your colourful creations and hear your stories! Tag @WildChildLiteracy or send us a photo—we may feature your work in a future post or newsletter. Let’s grow this wild child community, one yarn-wrapped tree at a time.
And if you're a homeschooling family or educator looking for more nature-inspired ways to bring learning to life? Pair this hands-on craft with our Wild Child Explorer Bundle featuring The Case of the Campground Ghost and a 100-page companion novel study. Designed with homeschoolers in mind, it’s packed with reading comprehension, outdoor exploration, and wild fun.
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