This year, International Screen Free Week is from April 29 – May 5. All around the world schools, communities, families and individuals participate in this event. Turn off the computers, smart phones and electronic devices for a week, go outside and enjoy nature.
Why not make the most of this week and try out some of these herbal activities! These activities can be enjoyed any time of the year so after your screen free week you may just decide to have a screen free day once a week throughout the year!
- Play an herbal game such as GoCultivate! , Herbal_Bingo or Wildcraft! Love games? You could also try out Herbaceous or Morels as well. For more game ideas, check out our game list (scroll down on the page).
- Go on a spring herbal scavenger hunt.
- Make a salad using some of the spring edible herbs.
- Start an herbal journal to keep track of the herbs you learn about. or
- Make an herbarium to keep track of the herbs you learn about.
- Take a walk through your back yard or neighborhood and make a list of all the herbs you see. Don’t forget the trees!
- Learn all the botanical names of the herbs you found in your back yard or neighborhood.
- Learn the meanings behind the botanical names.
- Draw a map of your neighborhood or back yard with a key of where all the herbs are located.
- Pick a plant from all the herbs on your list and find out about it. Use our free herbal mascot and herbal profile printable templates to take notes.
- Print off a copy of the issue of Herbal Roots zine for each child and learn more about your chosen herb.
- Make an oil from one of the identified herbs you found.
- Make a salve from one of the identified herbs you found.
- Make a tincture from one of the identified herbs you found.
- Make an elixir from apple twigs and flowers (peach and cherry work well too).
- Make a vinegar from one of the identified herbs you found.
- Make a syrup from herbs that help with coughs and sore throats such as basil, sage, or thyme. Hawthorn berries also make great syrup.
- Make a video about the herb.
- Make a leaf rubbing using your herb. Add it to your herbal journal.
- Invite a friend over and make some herbal tea to drink.
- Write and illustrate a story about an herb.
- Draw and/or paint some of the plants you found.
- Make a dye out of some plants. Black walnut (hulls or leaves), avocado pits and/or skins, turmeric, dandelion flowers, coffee, and tea all make great easy to use dyes.
- Plant some herbs in your garden. Got shade? Plenty of native medicinal plants love the shade and can be found at local nurseries. Even kitchen herbs have a lot of medicinal value.
- Don’t have room for a garden? Grow a few herbs in pots.
- Visit a local nature preserve and learn about the plants that grow in your area. Compare them to the plants you see in your neighborhood. Be sure to bring along a bag so you can pick up any trash you might see.
- Visit a local park and pick up trash.
- Visit your local botanical garden and see how many medicinal plants you can find.
- Take a hike and scout out the native plants. Bonus points if you can also find the invasives.
- Got Violets? Make some jelly.
- Violets stopped blooming but dandelions are growing like crazy? Make some Dandelion jelly instead!
- Make a batch of fire cider. Though it’s traditional for winter time, it’s always good to have on hand year round!
- Have a daily read aloud story time and fill it with herbal stories.
- Play some herbally adapted games such as “Weed, Weed, Herb” or “Herbal Freeze Tag”.
- Celebrate Herb Day on Saturday, May 4, by throwing a Herb Day party.
- BONUS! Celebrate May Day!