.png){kind=small}
Build Your Back-to-School Herbology Shelf: A Year of Herbal Learning Through Crafts, Nature, and Observation
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Shalom, Family!
One of the easiest ways to teach herbalism to children is to stop treating it like a science class and start treating it like an adventure.
Children naturally notice colors, textures, smells, shapes, insects, seeds, and flowers. They are already observing the things herbalists observe. The goal is simply helping them slow down and pay attention.
This collection was designed for homeschool families, grandparents, co-ops, nature clubs, and anyone who wants to weave herbal education into everyday life. Each activity helps children learn about plants through creating, observing, growing, tasting, and exploring.
Instead of memorizing facts about herbs, they begin building a relationship with the plants around them.
See our latest video on how I teach my children biblical herbalism below!
Wild Violet Exploration Project
Wild violet is one of the best beginner plants for children because it is easy to identify, beautiful, and can be used in multiple activities.
Learn
Plant identification
Flower structure
Leaf shapes
Seasonal growth patterns
Observe
Where does it grow?
Does it prefer sun or shade?
What insects visit the flowers?
Journal Activity
Draw the plant and label:
Flower
Leaf
Stem
Root
Pink Herbal Sugar Project
Children love watching flowers change food.
Activity
Create pink sugar using dried wild violet flowers.
Learn
Plant pigments
Color transfer
Food preparations
Drying herbs
Discussion Questions
Why do some flowers have bright colors?
Why do colors fade after drying?
Sun Shadow Plant Art
One of the simplest herb activities requires almost no supplies.
Materials
Paper
Pencil
Fresh herbs or flowers
Sunshine
Activity
Place a plant in direct sunlight and trace its shadow. This works best for a plant that is unharvested, place a piece of paper right next to it, and trace the shadow that reflects on to it.
Learn
Plant structure
Leaf patterns
Observation
skills
Extension
Color the finished drawing and create a field guide page.
This activity combines science, food, and herbalism.
Learn
Plant pigments
Acids and color changes
Herbal beverages
Observe
Watch how lemon juice changes the color of the violet infusion.
Journal
Describe what happened and why you think the color changed.
Everyday Herbs: Meditations from the Heart, Recipes from the Soil
Buy Now
Nature Art From the Garden
Children can create beautiful artwork using materials gathered outdoors.
Materials
Leaves
Flowers
Twigs
Grass
Seeds
Ideas
Mini trees
Nature collages
Seasonal wreaths
Pressed flower bookmarks
Learn
Plant diversity
Shapes and textures
Creative observation
Goldenrod is a wonderful late-summer and fall herb to study.
Craft
Create a goldenrod flower using yellow pipe cleaners.
Learn
Pollinators
Native plants
Seasonal blooming cycles
Discussion
Many people confuse goldenrod with ragweed.
Research the difference between the two plants.
Read the full blog project here!
Children learn herbalism best when they grow something themselves.
Activity
Plant strawberries from runners or starter plants.
Learn
Plant life cycles
Gardening skills
Food production
Patience
Observation Journal
Track:
Planting date
Growth changes
Flower formation
Fruit production
Extension
Make a strawberry smoothie when the harvest arrives.
Kiddie Kitchen Apothecary: Nurturing Nature's Bounty for Children Paperback
Buy Now
Plant Pressing Project
Pressing plants helps children preserve what they learn.
Collect
Wild violet
Clover
Plantain
Strawberry leaves
Goldenrod
Create
Bookmarks
Greeting cards
Herb journals
Plant identification pages
Learn
Plant anatomy
Preservation methods
Seasonal collecting
You can purchase a plant press here! *
Backyard Herb Scavenger Hunt
Find Something That Is:
Purple
Yellow
Fuzzy
Fragrant
Edible
Growing in the shade
Growing in the sun
Learn
Children begin noticing patterns that herbalists look for every day.
Build a Children's Herb Journal
Throughout the year, encourage children to collect:
Drawings
Pressed flowers
Photographs
Recipes
Observations
Garden notes
By the end of the school year, they will have created their own herbology notebook.
The Holistic Herbal Helper: Journal of Materia Medica
Buy Now
Bonus Resource
Looking for more family-friendly herbal activities?
Download the Biblical Herbalism for Children Guide for additional lessons, projects, nature studies, and hands-on activities designed to help children connect plants, Scripture, and creation.
Final Challenge
Choose one plant this season and study it for an entire month.
Draw it.
Photograph it.
Grow it.
Taste it.
Research it.
Create something from it.
Most herbalists spend years learning to observe plants.
Children already know how.
Our job is simply to help them keep that curiosity alive. 🌿
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. We only share products and resources we believe may be helpful to our readers.
Comments