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Preschool Nature Project - Make a Flower Press
By Linette Gerlach
Pressed flowers and leaves are great for preserving preschool memories. After pressing, flowers are great for use on cards, in frames, on Christmas ornaments, and in other keepsake items. You can create a flower press with your preschooler using only a few materials.
4 washers
4 carriage bolts 3 inch
4 wing nuts to fit carriage bolts
Small jar, or spray can of polyurethane or paint
6 pieces of cardboard 12 x 12
Drill a hole in all 4 corners of each board about 1 inch from the edges of the board. Explain the process to your preschooler, and explain power tools are not toys.
Step 2:
Polyurethane the board, or paint the outside if you want to give it some style. This is a great part of the project to let your preschooler help you with. Let your preschooler paint designs on the outside of the flower press.
Step 3:
Insert the carriage bolts into the holes on one of the boards.
Step 4:
Cut triangles out of the corners of the cardboard, so the cardboard can lay inside the bolts on the board.
Step 5:
Help your preschooler pick some flowers to put in your press.
Step 6:
Layer the leaves and flowers between the cardboard sheets.
Step 7:
Place the other board on top, putting the other end of the bolts through the holes. Place the washers on the bolts, then let your preschooler help tighten the wing nuts down on the bolts. Tighten all four bolts evenly.
It can take several days to several weeks for flowers to dry. Check the flowers' progress periodically. When the flowers are pressed check out Preschool Plant Activity - Pressed Flower and Leaves Nature Book, or Preschool Plant Activity - Pressed Flowers and Leaves Holiday Cards for more projects for your preschooler using pressed flowers.
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Pressed flowers and leaves are great for preserving preschool memories. After pressing, flowers are great for use on cards, in frames, on Christmas ornaments, and in other keepsake items. You can create a flower press with your preschooler using only a few materials. What You Will Need
2 pieces of plywood 1/8 to 1/4; inch thick 12 x 12 (Square)4 washers
4 carriage bolts 3 inch
4 wing nuts to fit carriage bolts
Small jar, or spray can of polyurethane or paint
6 pieces of cardboard 12 x 12
How To Make It
Step 1:Drill a hole in all 4 corners of each board about 1 inch from the edges of the board. Explain the process to your preschooler, and explain power tools are not toys.
Step 2:
Polyurethane the board, or paint the outside if you want to give it some style. This is a great part of the project to let your preschooler help you with. Let your preschooler paint designs on the outside of the flower press.
Step 3:
Insert the carriage bolts into the holes on one of the boards.
Step 4:
Cut triangles out of the corners of the cardboard, so the cardboard can lay inside the bolts on the board.
Step 5:
Help your preschooler pick some flowers to put in your press.
Step 6:
Layer the leaves and flowers between the cardboard sheets.
Step 7:
Place the other board on top, putting the other end of the bolts through the holes. Place the washers on the bolts, then let your preschooler help tighten the wing nuts down on the bolts. Tighten all four bolts evenly.
It can take several days to several weeks for flowers to dry. Check the flowers' progress periodically. When the flowers are pressed check out Preschool Plant Activity - Pressed Flower and Leaves Nature Book, or Preschool Plant Activity - Pressed Flowers and Leaves Holiday Cards for more projects for your preschooler using pressed flowers.
Some Great Flowers for Pressing Are
Queen Anne's Lace, Daisies, Roses, Artemesia, fern leaves, Boxwood, Black-Eyed-Susans, and Mums. There are many more flowers that will work great pressed, including the leaves of most trees when they're changing for the fall.Like this article? Get more like it in your inbox. Subscribe today to our free weekly newsletter.
