Parts and Wholes

The Guide

1. Get outdoors: Nature comes with endless objects to deconstruct and complete freedom for mess making—in short, it’s the perfect setting for this.
2. Gather interesting objects: Use baskets, buckets or bags to collect objects that are interesting and could be broken into smaller parts, such as pine cones, flowers, veined leaves, sticks or sections of logs and even dead bugs. If you have infants, be extra mindful that the mouth is a very important instrument of exploration, so avoid objects that would not be safe in your baby's mouth. We love to sprinkle in herbs like basil or safe and edible flowers—sensory rich objects that baby could taste too. Be thoughtful as you gather, focusing on treasures “found on the ground.” And, only take what you need. This activity does alter the items in a natural area, but it is for a great cause.
   1. If your winter is cold, make and add frozen treasures into your play time. Kids of all ages are drawn to them and can discover endless ways to crack, melt, stomp and break them down.
3. Deconstruct! Dump all of your gathered items in a pile. Wonder together, “I wonder what would happen if we took some of these treasures apart into their bits and pieces…” Grab one of the items and start to pull it apart. Share your delight as you play, modeling both the joy and the wonder you feel when you deconstruct. Consider even tossing some of the bits into the air and cheering. Most likely, kids will follow suit. Let this go on, gathering more items to fuel the fire as necessary, as long as kids are engaged. Keep a close eye on what babies are mouthing, allowing them to explore safely
4. Create something new: After a while, you can try to make something using all of the loose parts you’ve created. It’s easy for young children to do this if you offer a binding material. For example, you can offer children mud, forest putty (aka playdough), contact paper or double-sided tape wrapped around a log or put on paper. Kids can use the binding material to connect various loose parts in any way they like to create something entirely new. Or, make nature crowns to add a royal twist to the play.
5. Clean up: If you’ve used binding material that is not from the outdoor environment, be sure to remove it all before you leave. And, if you have gathered treasures, do your best to sprinkle them near wherever you found them as best you can. This work need not be perfect, but it will teach your children to make as little impact on nature as possible, and that lesson will stick with them.