Cut the shapes of the leaves of different trees from construction paper in different shades, or bring in fresh leaves from your area. Invite the children to try combining the leaves into bouquets or collages so that they complement each other. Examine photos of forests and note the varying greens of the trees, especially in a forest that is primarily deciduous but punctuated by evergreens in isolation or in patches. Sassafras, with three different shapes of leaf on one tree, provides a lesson in itself. Similar activities can be centered on flowers, insects, birds, or fish.
Invite children to explore what feelings different colors provoke in them. Give each child a blank sheet of paper and one crayon or marker; tell the students it doesn't matter what color they have at first because they will have a chance to change it. Have each child draw on the paper what that color makes her think of or feel -- a person, a thing or some abstract expression. Have each child trade colors with another child and again draw what that color inspires. Next, have the children exchange papers and draw in response to both their colors and what they see on the papers from their classmates. Finally, invite the children to tell each other the stories of their collaborative efforts.
Using the different national cultures represented in your group, or drawing on multicultural resources, share with the children the textiles, crafts and artistic patterns of different national traditions. Compare the differences and similarities of embroidery designs, headdresses or jewelry.
In the same way, share photos or real examples of foods from different cultures. Compare foods of the same type, such as desserts or breakfasts, and discuss how some cultures don't eat those categories of foods. Make taste tests of some of the foods and have children draw what the flavors make them think of. Tie this activity back to the diversity of nature, by taste-testing different fruits or vegetables, but be careful of food allergies among the children.