May Day Celebrations are a great way to celebrate and craft together.

May Day is celebrated across Europe, from the celebration of summer starting, it usually falls half way between  the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.  In England, this day is celebrated by Maypole dancing and often Morris Dancers celebrate in May Day Festivals.

1. Maypole Dancing and Ribbon Crafts:

Set up a mini maypole in a cleared area of the woodland. Teach children simple Maypole dances using colorful ribbons. After dancing, engage them in crafting their own ribbon wands using sticks and assorted ribbons. They can personlise their wands with beads, feathers, and other decorations.

2. Flower Crown Making:

Take a woodland walk to gather a variety of spring flowers and foliage. Provide children with headbands and floral wire. Guide them in creating beautiful flower crowns using the materials they’ve collected. Encourage creativity and exploration as they design their crowns, incorporating different colors and textures.

3. Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Create a list of items commonly found in the woodland, such as pinecones, feathers, different types of leaves, and stones. Divide the children into teams or pairs and give each group a list. Set them loose to explore the woodland and collect the items on their list. Try our Print Play Learn, leaf identification poster. 

4. Woodland Storytelling and Puppet Making:

Find a cozy spot in the woodland and gather the children together. Encourage them to use their imagination to create stories inspired by the natural surroundings. Provide materials such as paper bags, felt, and markers for them to make woodland animal puppets. After crafting their puppets, they can use them to act out their stories for each other.

5. Seed Bomb Making and Planting:

Teach children about the importance of pollinators and wildflowers in the woodland ecosystem. Help them make seed bombs by mixing clay, compost, and wildflower seeds together. Once the seed bombs are formed, take the children on a walk to find suitable areas for planting, such as open patches of soil. Let them gently toss their seed bombs into these areas, where they’ll eventually sprout and bloom, attracting bees and butterflies. If you need some guidance then check out Mud and Bloom boxes. 

These activities combine creativity, outdoor exploration, and learning about nature, making for a fun and enriching May Day celebration for children.