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Description

Make your own magical tree trolls using natural materials.

Resources

Natural materials (for example, leaves, twigs, feathers)
Non-plastic bags to collect materials in

Instructions

Before you begin

Plan a trip outside as part of this activity. You could turn it into a walk, collecting natural materials as you go, or you could choose one area to explore. You don’t need to go far – you’ll be able to find materials in a local park or even in the space around your meeting place.
Choose an appropriate area or route, away from any roads. Remember when conducting a risk assessment that there’ll be extra safety considerations if you’re going anywhere near water.
Make sure you’ll have enough adults to support the activity.
If you’re meeting at a different place to usual, make sure parents and carers know exactly where you’ll be, when to drop people off, and when to collect them again.
Make sure everyone knows to come dressed for the weather. Don’t forget to check the forecast and be prepared for it to change.
If it’s difficult to get outside, you could do this activity indoors and bring in materials to make the tree trolls.
Make an example magical tree troll to show the group. This could be just a face or a full creature, made from found natural materials. Either take a photograph of the creation or practice so you will be confident to make it during the activity.

Story time

Everyone should sit in a circle.
Someone should read The Potter and the Lonely Troll by Chris Allerton.
Everyone should think about the story – what happened, what it means, and how it made them feel. We’ve included some questions to help you reflect below.

There’s magic in the air

The person leading the activity should explain to everyone that they will be collecting materials to make their own tree troll.
Show everyone your example tree troll and explain that they can create their trolls the same or different, however they would like.
Everyone should be involved in creating a tree troll. This can be on their own, in pairs or in groups.
Everyone should help to collect natural materials.
If the group is going on a walk, make sure everyone sticks together and follows the route. If the group is staying in one specific area, make sure everyone knows the boundaries and that there are plenty of adults to help.
When everyone has collected their materials, they should start to create their tree troll.
Once all the tree trolls are finished, everyone should show or talk about their tree troll. Consider using them in a story or game.

Back into nature

Everyone should talk about why it is important to put the natural materials back where they came from.
Everyone should think about animals and their habitats: how some items used in the tree trolls could be food for the animals, and how it helps the environment to put everything back as you found it.
Everyone should carefully put all the materials back into the environment, making sure they are spread out and not in big piles.
Adults may need to help with this. If you collected the materials on a walk, you can either return them later or find a suitable place to put them.

Reflection
The activity encouraged everyone to value the outdoors by getting out into nature and finding uses for natural materials. It was also about being responsible by putting everything back the way it was found. During the activity everyone had the opportunity to collect the materials for their tree trolls, use their imagination and get creative while making them, and show their creation off to the rest of the group.

The Potter and the Lonely Troll

How did Tristan feel when he was by himself? How do you think he feels now that he has someone to live with?
How did Poe use her imagination to help?
There’s magic in the air

When you collected your materials, what do you remember about the path you took? What sounds could you hear? What could you smell? Did you see any plants or animals?
Creating your tree troll allowed you to be creative. What did you enjoy about making your tree troll?
Back into nature

Why is it important to leave the environment how you found it?
How can you make sure you look after the environment when you are out on another walk?

Tags

• creative badge
• Nature art

Badge Links

• Get Creative - Nature