4. Nature Sunprints (Contact Paper Art)

Take the crafting outside! This project encourages preschoolers to explore their environment and collect “treasures” like leaves, petals, and flat stones. It uses contact paper, which means no messy liquid glue is required.

  • Materials Needed:
    • Clear contact paper
    • Painter’s tape
    • Nature finds (leaves, flat flowers, grass)
    • Construction paper (for a frame)
  • Steps:
    • Tape a piece of contact paper to a table or window, sticky side facing out.
    • Let the child press their nature finds onto the sticky surface.
    • Once they are finished with their design, place another piece of contact paper on top to seal it.
    • Cut a “frame” out of construction paper and glue it around the edges.
    • Hang it in a window to let the sun shine through the leaves.

Pro Tip: This works best with “flat” items; if a leaf is too crunchy or thick, it might prevent the two layers of contact paper from sealing.