We love creating nature tables. It can be as simple as gathering seasonal objects from nature and displaying on a mantel, or making artistic projects to feature in a nook or on a shelf.
The nature table is not stagnant, but rather alive and constantly changing! As the seasons progress, so does the nature table.
Children can be involved in so many ways. Even the process of taking down one season's setting, cleaning, gathering items, and talking about how to set up the next season can be a lesson all on its own. Reverence for changes in nature make us feel connected to the Earth, and also help us to understand the changes that we feel within ourselves.
Sometimes, the weather drastically changes earlier or later than we estimate, so rather than sticking strictly to the solstices and equinoxes, we change the nature table when we "feel" that it is time. Then, little creatures appear for holidays, such as bunnies and chicks for Easter.
The nature table can get cluttered! Taking away is as important as adding to the setting. Keeping special objects in a moth-proof/critter-proof container is helpful for storage.
Each year, we like to create at least one new object for the nature table per season. Singing, sharing stories, and saying verses while changing the nature tables is a happy family ritual. For inspiration on nature tables, look at pictures on Flickr, take a peek inside of Pre-K-5th grade Waldorf classrooms, read books about the seasons, or search for pictures on blogs.