Storytelling & Magic in the Garden
“Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live.”
There is something really special about gardens, you might even call it magic. A garden is a healing place, an inspriring place, and a place to connect to nature.
Each garden (and the magic within) tells a story- how it came to be, who tends to it, and who lives there. A garden’s magic might be the work of magical creatures, or maybe the magic comes from the story itself. Either way, explore these hidden magical properties of gardens through story-telling with this week’s activities and crafts!
Read
DIVERSE MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY BOOKS – Looking for some new magical summer reads? Check out this list of fantasy books for middle-grade readers (~8 and up) by the blog What Do We Do All Day.
Games & Activities
STORY MAPS – tell a stroy about yout favorite garden, park, or green space by mapping out your tale as it takes place!
BUILD A FAIRY HOUSE – Build a small house for local fairies, gnomes, and sprites using found materials from your garden, local park, or other neighbrohood greenspace brought to you by Kids Gardening.
Then enter your fariy house design in Lakewold Garden’s FAIRYFEST PHOTO CONTEST.
GARDEN FAIRY YOGA – Go on a magical journey with this fairy yoga sequence by Kids Yoga Stories.
MAGIC COLOUR CHANGING POTIONS SCIENCE ACTIVITY – UK-based blog, The Imagination Tree, shows you how to create coloring changing potions out of a common garden vegetable, red cabbage!
Take your potion-making skills to the next level by EXPLORING PLANTS DYES from Kids Gardening.
Arts & Crafts
STORY STONES – Inspire creative storytelling in the garden using home-made story stones. Brought to you by Scholastic.
FOREST FLOOR MANDALAS – Let nature tell the story! Create magical forest floor mandalas using found materials like leaves, sticks, and flowers with this DIY activity by Daisy and the Gumboots Kids and CBC. Need some inspirtion? Check out the MAGICAL LAND ART BY DAVID GOLDSWORTHY, brough to you by Bored Panda.
MAGIC NATURE WANDS – Work your magic to create these fun and easy magic wands by Mini Mad Things.
SIMPLE FLOWER CROWNS – Everyone knows the world feels a little more magical with a crown! Brought to you by The Artful Parent.