Beautiful Suncatcher Flower Mandalas: A Nature Craft for Kids

Enjoy spending time outside with the kids, and then bring all their nature treasures inside to make a beautiful mandala nature craft. As kids craft, they…

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Enjoy spending time outside with the kids, and then bring all their nature treasures inside to make a beautiful mandala nature craft. As kids craft, they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template from our Symmetry Circles Math Activity. If you prefer, you could always skip the symmetrical part and let kids create freely–either way the results will be beautiful!

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Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

This has to be one of my favorite crafts that we have done recently because I LOVE spending time outside with my kids as we gathered supplies. As the kids crafted they had so much fun exploring all their nature treasures and reviewing what they have learned about flowers. They also counted and learned about symmetry all while creating art–they didn’t even notice they were learning. While you are at it, try these nature art ideas with your kids too.

Little Tiger loved crafting with flowers and when she was done she used her scissors to dissect the leftover art supplies and review the parts of the flower. Her favorite thing to so is find the pollen and baby seeds inside the flower.

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

Little Dragon’s mandala did not turn out as symmetrical as Little Tiger’s however he did learn to count 4 of each object (because he had 4 sections on his mandala) and add them to each section of his paper plate which is awesome!

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

We went to a local flower store and garden and asked if we could gather flowers we found on the ground for a school art project.  I was then asked what school I taught at and I answered, “We homeschool,” and the lady replied, “One of the most important schools there is” and I totally agree! (Even if you aren’t a teacher or a “homeschooler” by doing activities with your kids you are a teaching them and the best part is you are making memories).  We also went out into the garden and found petals that were on the ground like a treasure hunt. Now let’s get crafting :).

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

 

Suncatcher Flower Mandalas Kids Craft

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

Supplies:

Flowers, petals, leaves, nature treasures

Paper plates (2 per mandala)

Clear contact paper

Symmetrical Circles Template (optional, but helps young children make symmetrical sections.)

Scissors

Tape

Directions:

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

Cut out the center of 1 paper plate and cover it with a piece of contact paper. I secured the contact paper with tape.

Cut out the symmetrical circles template and place it on the second paper plate.

With the sticky side facing up, place the paper plate with the contact paper on top of the paper plate with the symmetrical circles template so that kids can press flowers onto the contact paper on a flat surface. This is one of my favorite art supply trays…so beautiful!

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

Have children decorate their mandalas counting out nature pieces for each of their sections and place them on the contact paper. Once they are done if you plan on moving the mandalas a lot of the flowers are not sticking as well as you would like I recommend placing a second sheet of contact paper over the top to secure their artwork.

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

Hang mandalas in the window for the sun to shine through.

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

 

31 Days of Outdoor Stem for Kids

This post is part of a wonderful series put together by Little Bins for Little Hands.

See more: Outdoor Stem Ideas on Little Bins for Little Hands Blog

See more: Nature Crafts

See more: Math Activities

See more: Paper Plate Crafts

Beautiful Suncatcher Mandalas Nature Craft and Symmetry Activity: As kids create art they can explore nature, count, and decorate symmetrical circles using a paper plate and our free symmetrical circles template (flowers, spring, summer, math)

 Thanks for crafting with us today. If you enjoyed this craft please pin & share it with others so they can enjoy it too! Love, Katie & the Kiddos

8 comments

  1. Do u know if there is a way of keeping the flowers from becoming moldy after time?

    1. Hi 🙂 You could try starting with dry or pressed flowers if mold is an issue. We live in a very dry place and it wasn’t a problem for us.

  2. So pretty! I couldn’t even tell until I really looked at the photos that these were made with paper plates!

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