Art and Design:
Designs on Nature Fruit or vegetables can be scanned or photographed. The images can then be loaded into an painting or image manipulation package to create stunning effects. The resulting work can be also used in a D and T activity to create place mats or menus to use at a party, to create a photograph frame or even to create special planting labels. If you wish to scan the objects you will need to make sure that you cover the scanner with cling film of an acetate sheet. As it will be difficult to close the scanner lid you will need to use a cover to block out any light. Click here for ideas on how to use natural objects in design Want to create something special from your design? For something really special you could have your design transferred to canvas check out canvas prints you can have digital designs transferred to other object too check this site for ideas. |
Fruit and vegetable Mosaic: 
Choose a vegetable or fruit on which to base a design for a cut-out paper mosaic. (small ceramic tiles are availabe which could be used for this if you feel adventurous and want to create a larger more permanent feature). Alternatively you could create a desgn in the pointillist style. |
Printing with fruits or vegetables: 
We have all at some time carved out a potato to use as a printing block but that doesn't mean that the activity isn't new to the children. Why not develop this by using other fruit of vegetables cut in half. Apples, Pears, Sprouts etc all produce good effects. |
Making vegetable dyes: Link to Design Technology and Science Vegetables have long been used to make natural dyes. We have all stained our fingers when picking blackberries or chopping beetrootThe dyes can be used to stain eggs for easter of could be combined with a tie dye activity. Natural fabric such as cotton must be used. The following links give instruction of how to use vegetables to make dye click here and here. Note that the dyes will not be fast unless a mordant is used.  Ingredient | Colour Produced | Instructions | Comments | chopped red cabbage | blue/teal | Put 2-3 tbsps. chopped red cabbage in heat safe cup. Add boiling water. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar. | Let sit overnight.
Avoid excess handling. | onion skins, yellow | light peach to gold/orange | Use 1 large handful of onion skin for each cup of water. Simmer 20 minutes then add 1 tsp. of white vinegar. | Easy. | grated red beetroot | magenta red | Put 2-4 tbsps. freshly grated beets in heat safe cup. Fill 2/3 with boiling water. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar. |
Dye may be strained before use.
| red cabbage & turmeric | green | Pour scant tsp. of turmeric and 2-3 tbsps. of chopped red cabbage in a heat safe cup then add boiling water. | Speckled design.
Wipe vegetable off with damp cloth. | red cabbage & beetroot | purple | Put 2 tbsps. grated beet and 2 tbsps. red cabbage in heat safe cup. Add boiling water. | Striking and intense. | onion skins, red | pale green | See directions for yellow onion skins. | Allow long steeping time. |
Science: Investigate which vegetables produce the best colours or what happens when you dip your egg/fabric into one dye and then a different dye. Record results |
Observation using a Digital Microscope: 
Link to Science Use a digital microscope to view parts of the plants and also to create detailed observational drawing. Images can also be captured to assist in art work or to incorporate into notes on observations. |
Making Plant Markers and Labels Link to D&T 
This idea comes from the Kiddies' gardens website and more detail can be obtained from their site by clicking here |
Painting Plant Pots  This idea comes from the Kiddies' Gardens website and more detail can be obtained from their site by clicking here |