Ephemeral Nature Art Activities (Grade 1-3 Visual Arts)

This Ephemeral Nature Art Activities resource designed for Grade 1-3 brings creativity and outdoor exploration together! This hands-on activity set allows students to explore patterns, symmetry, and shapes found in the natural world while connecting their art to math and science concepts. Perfect for outdoor learning, these activities will inspire your students to think outside the classroom, fostering a deeper connection to the environment.

What is Ephemeral Art?
Ephemeral nature art is a form of temporary art made using natural materials, such as leaves, sticks, stones, or flowers. It’s created outdoors, and as the name suggests, it doesn’t last long—wind, rain, or time will eventually return it to nature. This makes ephemeral art unique in its emphasis on process over product, encouraging students to focus on the act of creation rather than the final result.

This resource is fun to use any time of year, but especially during the fall and autumn, when there are already many fallen natural materials for students to use!