1. Playing with light

It’s so obvious we forget it’s there sometimes. The sun makes patterns everywhere. Put things in the light and see the shadow it makes. Can you make your own shadow with an electric light? How about a hand shadow? Can you tell a story?

On a sunny day do some sunbathing on the floor. How long does the sunbeam take to move somewhere else?

2. The urban jungle nature game

The aim is to find something growing and pick a bit of it (obviously not something that someone will mind being picked!). Might be a bit of grass, or a dandelion or a bit of hedge. Only the person who saw it first can pick it and you can only pick one bit per spot.

Who can get the most and win? What have you picked? Is there anything you didn’t expect to find? Can you make something out of it?

3. Find a friend

Can you find an insect friend and look after it for a bit? You’ll need some sort of container – match stick boxes are good but anything works. What will it want to eat?

What will you choose? It’s best not to touch caterpillars. Ants and spiders are great escape artists. Worms, snails, woodlice and slugs will need somewhere damp. Ladybirds like to eat little bugs. Remember to let it go after a few hours.

4. Leave a leaf message

Find a leaf, write a message on it, then see if you can find something growing to tie it up with. Grass works. Or anything a bit stringy like a dandelion stalk.

Leave it somewhere for someone to find. Maybe they’ll write one back to you.

5. Play with the rain

It’s pouring with rain, it’s time to play! Can you find water running down a gutter and race leaves down it? Or make boats out of leaves and twigs and see whose is fastest?

Can you catch a raindrop on something? Can you find something hanging somewhere and flick or twang them off?

Can you hear the raindrops pattering? Can you make a song from it?

6. The list game

Make a list of things you’d like to see in the natural world and see who can spot one first? It could be anything you’ve got a chance of seeing like: a daisy; a dandelion; a sparrow; a pigeon; a green hedge; a rainbow; a butterfly etc

A point to whoever spots one. Most points the winner?

7. Plant something and watch it grow

I’m really not green fingered. I’ve generally failed with shop bought bulb kits. My fail safe is an amaryllis which you can get in the Christmas run up. They’re really dramatic the way they shoot up and, touch wood, fool proof.

For a cheaper option, look at planting cress seeds. You don’t even need earth. You can grow them in a bit of cotton wool and they’re quick too. You can eat it when it’s grown. Does it taste good?

8. Watch the skies

What can you see in the skies? What’s the moon doing? When do you see it? Are there any stars? Can you see a satellite (it moves slowly).

In the daylight what are the clouds doing? Are there any that look like something else? Can you make them into a story?

9. Play with sticks and stones

Can you find a good stick? What can it do? What will you call it?

Or maybe you can find a stone to kick? What are the best sizes? Can you find a pretty one? or one that’s an interesting shape?

10. Have a go at grass whistling

Hold a piece of grass between your two thumbs, hold to your mouth and blow… it can take a bit of practice but you should be able to make some good noises. Apparently each blade of grass makes a different one!

11. Walk on the shadows

Can you walk on the shadows all the way home? How will you get across any gaps? What are the rules?

Maybe you can get someone to lend you their shadow for difficult bits?