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Activities for Connecting Science, Nature and Art
Comprehensive selection of hands-on resources that combine art, science and nature and integrate these areas across the curriculum. This section includes art activity guides, art supplies, hands-on kits, field journals, educational coloring books, and more.
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Fish Printing Replicas and Kits (Gyotaku)
Fish printing, or Gyotaku, incorporates science (fish diversity, anatomy, ecology), art (create colorful paintings, note cards, displays), math (measure and count fins, proportions, count fin rays), reading (use with stories about aquatic environments) and creative writing (write fact or fiction about the fish prints). All ages and abilities can enjoy creating beautiful, unique, artistic prints. We now offer 24 different fresh and saltwater varieties.
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Leaf Printing Activities
Actual imprints of leaves that have been cast in flexible vinyl for use in art projects or as a tool for plant identification. Press with various colors of stamp pads or roll on different colors of block inks to make leaf prints using a brayer. (Note: we also offer a full range of colorful block inks and brayers - simply type "block ink" or "brayer" in the search area at the top of each page). Leaf replicas range in size from 5-9”.
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Track Molds - (for making track replicas).
Made from flexible vinyl polymers, these innovative molds can be filled with plaster, clay or PerfectCast, the compound used by museum professionals (available from Acorn Naturalists). Use the positive track casts you make with these molds as instructional aids, pressing them into moist sand or dirt to create a story (such as coyote tracks chasing rabbit tracks), for ink prints, or to compare with field specimens. Everyone can have fun making tracks and students can take them home or make displays. Clean occasionally with soap and water. Each mold also features the name of the track and hind (H) or front (F) paw reversed out so that it appears correctly on the positive. Each of the species listed below includes a hind and a front track mold (set), unless designated as ea (birds, some mammals). For additional information on using these replicas, simply click here.
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Paper Making Kits, Books, and Supplies
Recycled paper and other fiberous materials can be made into beautiful, creative papers. Contained in this section are paper making kits, supplies and activity books.
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Paper Casting Kits, Books and Supplies
Paper casting is similar to paper making but in the case of casting, liquified papers are pressed into molds to produce beautiful raised patterns and designs that can be used in artwork, cards, or displays.
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Rubber Stamp Kits and Ink Pads
Science and nature-oriented rubber stamp kits, including stamps of animal tracks, insects and nature images. Also in this section are colorful, non-toxic rubber stamp ink pads.
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Plant (Flower and Leaf) Presses
Wide selection of plant presses for preserving leaves, flowers, or entire specimens. All sizes, from convenient pocket presses to full-size professional versions. Also included in this section are supplies such as extra blotters, ventilators and expansion packs.
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Sketching and Watercolor Activities
Sketching or painting with watercolors offers a perfect way to combine art, writing, scientific observation and nature study. Included in this section are how-to books for all levels as well as kits containing the tools and supplies needed to get started or refine your techniques.
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Glass-topped Riker Mount Display Cases
These durable glass-topped display cases offer protection for dried specimens, pressed flowers, seeds, bones from owl pellets, gemstones, fossils or feathers. Acorn Naturalists offers three styles of displays: standard 3/4" thick displays in four sizes, extra-depth 2" thick displays in three sizes, and sectional displays with two different trays.
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Tree Rings for Art and Dendrology Studies
Acorn Naturalists now offers a wide selection of tree limb cross sections for both art and dendrology study purposes. These quality rounds range in size from 2" to 5" across by 1/4"-1/2" thick and allow for clear reading of growth rings. Tree rings vary in size and appearance depending on growing conditions and species variations. Oaks can be identified by their characteristic radial rays; all rounds show classic seasonal dry/wet ring patterns. Tree rounds provide an ideal hands-on resource for introducing students to botany, forestry, dendrology and methods scientists use to determine past climatic conditions. Acorn Naturalists offers a varied selection of fourteen different tree rounds: six eastern/midwestern species are offered along with eight western species. Also available is a bark beetle life cycle demonstration kit and two tree round discovery kits (eastern and western).
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Sunprint Kits (Photosensitive Paper)
Sunprint art utilizes sun-sensitive paper that can be developed using plain tap water. Natural objects such as ferns, feathers, flowers or leaves are placed under a transparent cover (provided) and exposed to the sun for from 1-5 minutes. Fun for all ages.
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Waterproof Paper, Field Notebooks and Pens
Acorn Naturalists offers a wide selection of all-weather paper designed specifically for use in the outdoors. These papers repel water and are favored by artists because they can respond well to pencil sketching and shading. Manufactured by a company that knows that everything can’t stop just because it is raining - they are located near the Olympic Rain Forest in the Pacific Northwest.
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Elephant Poo Paper
A wonderful sustainable product - these papers are actually made from processed elephant dung, which naturally has a very high fiber content. Profits from the sale of this paper are also recycled back into elephant conservation programs.
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Rubbing Plate Kits with Science and Nature Themes
Rubbing plates offer a creative way for children to learn about science and nature while having fun. To make artistic rubbings, simply lay a sheet of paper over the top and rub with colored pencils. Each set comes with directions and ideas for expanding this art form into many creative projects and lessons. Rubbing plate sizes range from 4” x 5” to 4” x 8”. Hours of creative hands-on learning fun for children ages 5-12.
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Nature Sticker Books for All Ages
Use these quality stickers to create your own customized guides, decorate scrapbooks, make notecards or to supplement journal entries.
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Engraving Kits - Science and Nature Themes
Create beautiful, artistic engravings by slowly revealing the creatures using easy-to-learn scratchboard techniques. Start with any of the pre-drawn backgrounds listed below, etch them using an etching pen (included) and then advance to creating your own unique designs using blank engraving boards (also offered below). Each results in an 8 inch x 10 inch picture you can frame or put in your scrapbook. Anyone can learn the technique, ages 8-adult. Kit includes small scratchboard for testing, engraving pen, artboard and chipboard back. Experiment with different backgrounds - you will love the results.
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Mobiles - Science and Nature Designs
These beautiful mobiles come ready to hang - no assembly required. Each beautifully pictured animal is attached with strong thread to thin metal rods that fold out automatically when taking the mobile out - simply remove from package and mount. Each is perfectly balanced and will float in infinite patterns with only the slightest breeze. Beautiful, moving addition for classrooms, nature centers or the home or office.
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American Indian Crafts and Activities
This section includes a wide array of resources, hands-on activity kits, games, and DVD's for introducing children to American Indian cultures and crafts.
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Eyewitness Animal Replica Casting Kits
Students cast and then paint their own replicas. Each of these model kits contains a reusable mold tray, PerfectCast® casting material, paints, paint brush, booklet, and instructions. Creative fun for ages 8 and up.
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Nature-themed Plastic Molds
These clear plastic molds can be filled with plaster of paris, clay, sand, soap, paper mache, chocolate, or jello. Students can taste science now or just create fun food items that are sure to get comments. With the clays and paper casts, children can dry them and paint unique designs on the casts. Great fun for the classroom, nature center, or home. Average size of mold is 3 inches in diameter.
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Creative Journaling
Writing skills can be effectively enhanced through journaling. Journaling encourages individuals to harness their creative energies into organized thoughts, integrating science and nature with language arts, math, social studies, art and drama. When used effectively, journals can become a catalyst for developing a life-long interest in science and nature - sketches, field observations anbd notes are the clay that has molded many generations of innovative scientists.
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Science and Nature Coloring Books
Acorn Naturalists offers a selection of high quality coloring books that offer a chance to combine art and nature study - students basically color in their own field guides, thus learning how to recognize features and coloration patterns that differentiate species.
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Science and Nature-oriented Magnet Sets
Fun selection of many different science and nature-oriented magnets. These come as sets of magnets showing amazing detail. Use for a wide range of learning activities on magnet boards or for artistic displays. Magnetic fun for all, ages 6 and up.
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Nature Illustrations - Digital & Printed Versions
These books and CD-ROMs offer a wide selection of copyright-free nature images for use in newsletters, bulletins, or art projects. CD's will open on both Mac and PC platforms.
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Nature DVD Selections for Artists
Acorn Naturalists offers a wide array of nature DVDs to inform and inspire artists and naturalists. In this section you will find those resources conveniently located in one section.
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SALE ITEMS: Art & Nature Activity Guides
The art and nature activity guides on sale here are from catalog overstock and special purchases. All of these products are in new, mint condition at prices ranging from 35-65% off. New sale items are constantly being added (and removed when gone).
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