Anthill in the Forest

A large, dome-shaped anthill stands in the middle of the picture, flanked by a tall conifer with a narrow trunk on each side. Small tufts of grass and round stones are scattered across the ground.

What do you see?

The surface of the hill is covered with several oval marks that suggest the twigs and needles a real anthill is built from. The two conifers show several curved layers of branches stacked on top of each other, while small stones and blades of grass lie scattered along the bottom of the picture.

• Color the anthill in different shades of brown
• Paint the conifers in varying greens
• Make the small stones gray and the grass light green

With its many small marks on the hill and layered trees, this scene suits children from around five years old. The individual marks on the hill can be colored one at a time, at a relaxed pace.

How many small marks on the anthill can you count?

The page suits a forest project at home or school, whether to talk about the life of ants, or as a starting point for a short story about forest creatures.

Good to know

Structure

Anthills are built from needles, small twigs and soil

Residents

A single hill can be home to several thousand wood ants

Location

Wood ants often build their hills close to conifer trees

Anyone who wants can add a few individual ants on the hill or the ground to make the picture feel more alive. The motif is also a good way to talk with children about teamwork and living in a large community.