Tips for Using Nature & Me Activity Cards at School
The Nature & Me activity cards are a set of 54 nature-based activity cards developed to help children identify ways to feel more calm, present and connected through nature-based activities. The cards were co-designed in consultation with children, early years teachers, nature-based occupational therapists, speech therapists and neuro-affirming consultants, and are perfect for use across a range of education settings.
About the Nature & Me Activity Cards
The set of 54 Nature & Me activity cards support children to use nature as a tool for feeling more calm, present and connected. All of the included activities have been selected to suit different sensory preferences and learning styles, and the cards are designed to be used to guide children through a process of exploring what works best for their own unique bodies and brains.
Trialled across a cross-section of of Western Australian schools, we loved hearing how WA educators were using the cards with their students so we have collated their feedback to present this collection of tips for using the Nature & Me Activity Cards at school.
Tips for Using the Nature & Me Activity Cards at School
- Staff on duty at break times carry the cards in a bum bag to offer to any children that appear to need support. The child is given the opportunity to select a nature activity card to try. This often attracts other children who are keen to do the activity with them, or who would like to choose an activity card of their own (Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School)
This is a great strategy for supporting children who are overwhelmed by play choices during break times, or students finding it tricky to join in play.
“Students that are struggling to find something to do in the playground at recess and lunch are given a Nature & Me card to stimulate their imagination and curiosity to play…the resource is brilliant in helping support those students who need support in playing and connecting with peers and great for teachers coming in on duty who aren’t used to working with early years.”
Amanda Flatt, Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
- In a timetabled Nature Play session each week children are invited to check-in with their emotions and then choose activities to do in the garden that correlate with their mood (Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre)
- The Nature & Me cards are used to help shift students’ mindsets, especially when they feel unsettled or upset, through a walk outside, the distraction of a playful activity and engagement in meaningful conversation (St Munchin’s Primary School)
- Nature activity challenges are used to prompt and extend play when outside, and as one of a range of regulation strategies the teachers offer and model when co-regulating with students (Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre)
“We used the activity cards as a springboard for nature play. We chose a limited amount of activities to offer the class depending on their mood and the day as we found bringing the whole deck out can became overwhelming.”
Shea McDonald-Eckersall, Kindy/Pre-Primary Teacher
(Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre)
- The activities are used as whole-class brain break or mindfulness activities, and cards added to Pre-Primary regulation tool kits
- The ‘Slow Down’ nature activity cards are being used by teachers as part of ‘wonder time’ for religion classes (Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School)
Nature & Me Posters and Cards
At St Jude’s Catholic Primary School, Kindy teacher, Estelle Bollen photocopied the Nature & Me introductory instruction cards onto A3 sized paper and laminated them. These poster versions of the cards were attached to trees and fences around the playground with the activity cards in a zip lock bag placed next to the posters.
“The children were very interested in the posters and activities and would go to the cards when they could relate to the pictures. They then asked a teacher to read the cards. Over the weeks they came to understand what the pictures were asking them to do and would take some friends off to the sand pit or to find different objects in the playground, etc.”
Available Now
Printed by a local, environmentally conscious printing company onto recycled card stock and laminated for durability, the Nature & Me card deck is available now for $30 +P&H.
