Fallen-leaf hedgehog
Gather leaves on a walk, then glue them on as the spines of a drawn hedgehog. A walk and a craft in one.
Age : age 3+
Materials
- Fallen leaves of different sizes and colours : Picked up dry, or dried 2 days between two books.
- A sheet of thick paper or cardboard
- Liquid glue or glue stick
- Crayons or markers : For the head, eye and nose.
Steps
Walk and glue
- On a walk, pick up leaves of several colours: yellow, red, brown.
- Draw the hedgehog's body: a big half circle, with a pointed head on one side.
- Draw the eye, the round nose at the tip of the snout and the little feet.
- Glue the leaves on the back starting from the rear, tips pointing outwards, overlapping them.
- Carry on up to the head: the leaves are the spines.
- Draw an apple or a mushroom next to the hedgehog.
Did you know? A hedgehog has about 6,000 spines. In winter it hibernates in a pile of leaves: leaving a corner of fallen leaves in the garden gives it shelter.
Same idea for a fox (russet leaves) or an owl (leaves as feathers).
If it goes wrong
- Leaves crumble : Pick them just fallen, or dampen them slightly.
- Leaves come unstuck : Liquid glue, or a piece of tape.
Safety
- Wash hands after collecting; nothing goes in mouths.