Make a Wildlife Collage
You’ll need:
– a base: construction paper, cardboard, poster board
– old magazines, newspapers, pictures
– scissors
– glue or paste
– items you’ve collected, respectfully with permission, from the outdoors
A collage is a piece of artwork or a poster that is made of many different images or objects. To make a wildlife collage, first choose a theme, animal or habitat. Try Red Fox, Birds of Virginia, or Forests.
Now, search old magazines and newspapers for pictures related to your theme. Cut them out and arrange them on a piece of construction paper, cardboard, or poster board.
To make your project more exciting, collect things outside that might relate to your theme. Make sure to respect nature and only collect things that you find on the ground or in your own yard.
Creatively glue your pictures and other items on your base. You might decide to arrange objects on your base so they form the shape of a raccoon, you might glue dried leaves on a poster about caterpillars, or you might find lots of pictures of birds and arrange them by colors.
If you want to go more in depth with your project, choose an animal or plant and think about the ecosystem they are part of. If you are interested in Northern Ringneck snakes, for example, a little research will tell you that they live in hardwood or pine forests. Glue on some pinecones! These snakes eat voles, carpenter ants, and copperheads. Try to find a picture of their prey or cut out the shape of an ant and affix it to your poster. Attach some paper coils to represent the Northern Ringneck snake’s defense mechanism of coiling its tail when threatened. They are also nocturnal, so you might choose a black background or paint your poster before you attach your items.
For more collage theme ideas check out the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s Habitat Herald Archives to read a short article about something that interests you before you get started. Be artistic with your science!