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fall

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

September 1, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Kindergarten fall crafts can be a fun way to introduce your child to a new art medium as well as fall themes. Also, you’ll love my pages Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum and Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Creating these cute little bean mosaics is a great way to work on these kindergarten skills:

  • fine motor skills,
  • patterning,
  • symmetry,
  • sorting,
  • patience,
  • manual dexterity,
  • and independent activity.
10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

It is perfect for kindergarten but can be simplified for younger children or you can require more detail from older children.

Mosaics are a unique art project and inexpensive.

They can be done with a variety of items like beans of course, if you already have a variety of beans on hand it won’t cost a dime.

I believe that kindergarten crafts should be simple, fun, low prep, and inexpensive.

Also, I have rounded up 10 more kindergarten fall crafts to make together to celebrate the lovely crisp weather and cozy feeling of autumn.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts

10 Fall Crafts for Kindergartners

When the weather is cooler use it to teach your children about all the beauty of autumn.

Fun Corn Life Cycle and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

The sensory bin and foldout are both great ways to learn about corn, its life cycle, the different parts, terminology, and even the different ways we can enjoy or use corn.

Photo Credit: www.simpleeverydaymom.com

Apple Name Craft For Kids [Free Template]

As any parent knows, teaching kids to spell their names is an essential milestone.

Not only does it help them to identify themselves, but it also sets the foundation for future success in school and in life.

Photo Credit: www.projectswithkids.com

Autumn Tree Painting with Cotton Balls

I love fall and all of the gorgeous colors that come with the season and this autumn tree painting with cotton balls is a wonderful fall craft that kids of all ages will enjoy. The cotton balls give the leaves a fluffy texture and are a fun way for kids to paint.

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Fun-to-Make Yarn Pumpkins Craft for Kids

Some pumpkin crafts are all about process and others are all about a well-polished finished product. This pumpkin craft project is both! 

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

If you’re doing an apples unit, your kids will love making this fall garland craft. Add this hands-on craft to my fall unit apple study for a study for multiple ages.

Photo Credit: www.gluedtomycraftsblog.com

Felt Caramel Apple Craft For Kids

Plus with the FREE apple template I’ve included in this post, you have NO excuse not to recreate some with your child today!
Photo Credit: kimspireddiy.com

DIY Fall Slime | How To Make Cinnamon Slime |

This DIY Fall slime recipe is so easy to make – you can make it in under 5 minutes! Fun DIY slime idea for the Fall and Autumn season. Homemade cinnamon slime recipe that smells amazing.

Photo Credit: www.thekeeperofthecheerios.com

Paper Plate Scarecrow

Have the kids paint their plates tan- we painted the back side of our plates but either side will work

Photo Credit: nonscreenactivitiesforkids.com

How To Make Puffy Paint Pumpkins (Fun Fall Art Creation)

 Craft projects are a fun way to spend a day at home whilst celebrating the season. They can be a good way for younger kids to join in with Fall decorations when they are not old enough to do pumpkin carving.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Your kids will love this fun stained glass fall leaves craft. Too, you can add this activity to my huge fall unit study.

Whether you live in a place where the trees fall leaves will soon be exploding with color or not this is a great time of year to learn about leaves.

Also, if you want to Ito take this activity to the next level grab Julia Rothman’s Farm Anatomy.

You can use it as a reference to learn about beans, pumpkins, and more fall items that they may want to make.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Another great resource that would be a good fall resource to add to your kindergarten fall crafts is The Scarecrow.

It gives them a look at a familiar fall icon.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Finally, look at how to make these cute dried bean mosaics.

Kindergarten Fall Crafts – Dried Bean Mosaics

If you need to stock up on dried beans for this project, you can find a decent variety at Dollar Tree and still have plenty left over for recipes or other projects.

I was also able to get glue and the muffin tin from there as well.

You will need:

  • Dried beans, corn, lentils, pasta, rice, etc..
  • White cardstock
  • White school glue
  • Pencil or permanent marker
  • Muffin tin
  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush
10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Place a variety of dried beans and other items in each of the muffin tin cups.

Besides dry beans you can use items like small pasta pieces, split peas, coffee beans, lentils, popcorn kernels, quinoa, and other small, dried goods to give a good variety of colors.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Extend the activity by using a mixed bag of bean soup and tasking your child with the job of sorting the different types/colors of beans into each cup of the muffin tin.

Sketch out simple images onto cardstock with a pencil or a fine line permanent marker if you want a more noticeable outline.

Dried Bean Mosaics Easy Fall Craft

You can either draw your images the entire size of the paper or cut the paper in half to make smaller mosaics.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Simple images without much detail and just a couple colors are easier for younger children to complete.

Have your child brush on a thick layer of glue inside and right up to the lines, it is better to work in sections, so the glue remains sticky as they go.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Now they are free to place dried beans and other items as they like to fill in the designs.

They may need to add additional glue and a little on top if there is not enough for the beans to adhere to.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

There are so many fun fall things that they can make-pumpkins, apples, corn, candy corn, leaves, and even a scarecrow.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

A sunflower is really fun and easy to create…

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Once the designs are filled in, set it aside to dry.

I like to lay a heavy book over it once it’s partially dry to flatten it as the glue tends to draw everything up.

When the glue has completely dried you can carefully cut out around the design, if any pieces fall off just add a bit more glue.

To make your bean mosaic last longer you could also have them make it on a canvas and spray with a few coats of clear sealant to prevent it from attracting bugs and other creatures.

10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, kindergarten, mosaics

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

August 16, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your little ones will be so excited to get their hands on this corn life cycle preschool printable and sensory bin. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

The sensory bin and foldout are both great ways to learn about corn, its life cycle, the different parts, terminology, and even the different ways we can enjoy or use corn.

My printable shows your preschooler how corn grows in all its stages from planting to harvest in a simple and fun fold-out that they can color.

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

Then the perfect hands-on activity to go along with your corn life cycle preschool printable is a fun corn-themed sensory bin that they can dig into.

Items We Get From Corn

We get a lot of products that we use every day from corn.

This is a great time to talk about that with your child while they color in their fold-out or dig into the sensory bin.

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

To get you started here is a list of some of the things that corn makes:

  • Corn on the Cob
  • Canned Corn
  • Corn meal
  • Grits
  • Corn Syrup
  • Corn Chips Cornstarch
  • Crayons
  • Toothpaste
  • Popcorn

Also, look at more preschool corn activities.

More Corn Life Cycle Preschool Activities

I grabbed one of my favorite resources and both Farm and Food Anatomy had a page on corn, including the parts of the corn plant, varieties, and fun facts.

These are great to have out while your child explores the sensory bin.

  • Food Anatomy is even great for preschoolers with its pretty illustrations and small snippets of information that will keep them interested
Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • And Farm Anatomy is always a great reference for farm and food-related topics.
Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Make popcorn to enjoy together for a healthy and delicious snack that ties right into the lesson.
  • To incorporate some early math skills you can also add a die to the corn sensory bin to have your child roll a number and count out the coordinating amount of corn kernels.
  • Add 2 for older children and they can practice addition and subtraction using the kernels as a manipulative.
Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Explore different corn products with your child, placing some items from the list above for your child to look at and investigate.
Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Teach your preschooler how to shuck corn, not only is it a great idea for dinner but it helps develop your child’s fine motor skills.

Follow the directions to print and cut out the corn life cycle printable, let your child color their corn images before cutting them out.

  • This Dancing Corn Experiment is a fun science activity that requires very little prep or setup and will fascinate your child.
  • Incorporate math skills like number recognition and fine motor skills with the Preschool Corn Counting Activity.

Corn Activities to Include Older Children

In addition, here are a few activities to include about corn for older your children.

  • Popcorn Science Mini Unit Study Which Brand Pops the Best
  • Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • Free Lapbook on Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.
Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

Finally, look at some ideas for corn preschool sensory bin.

Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin

For the sensory bin you will need:

  • A shallow container, preferably with a lid
  • Whole feed corn
  • Spoons and scoops
  • Small containers
  • Corn toys

Start by pouring corn into your shallow container a couple of inches deep,

 I found this perfect-sized container at my dollar tree. You can even use a baking pan or sheet to hold your sensory bin materials.

You can find whole-feed corn at your local feed store (Tractor Supply, Rural King, and even Walmart).

If you can’t find it you can use popcorn or cracked corn that is sold for feeding birds in its place.

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

Add a few scoops and spoons, as well as a container or two for filling and pouring for fine motor development and hand-eye coordination-important prewriting skills.

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

If you have a preschooler chances are that you have some pretend food in their toys, chances are also good that there is some corn in the mix.

Grab it and add it to the sensory bin, you can also get real corn shucked and unshucked but if you have a child who is very sensory and likes to taste everything you might want to skip using real corn.

We had several plastic corns on the cobs as well as a pretend can of corn and a corn from this Safari Fruits and Vegetables Toob .

Add flashcards or small photos of corn, I did a quick watercolor to put in our sensory bin.

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

You can also add letters to spell out corn using Scrabble tiles or letter beads to help your child with word and beginning letter recognition.

Finally, pop in your corn life cycle printable.

Set your bin up, you may want to put a sheet or shower curtain liner underneath to catch the mess for an easy cleanup.

Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout

Finally, look below to see how to download the corn life cycle foldout.

Free Corn Life Cycle Printable Foldout

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That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

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Sign up again like you’re resubscribing, but you’re not. You get the freebie instantly when you’re a confirmed follower.

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: corn, fall, foldout, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, preschool, preschool skills, sensory bin

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

September 16, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re doing an apples unit, your kids will love making this fall garland craft. Add this hands-on craft to my fall unit apple study for a study for multiple ages.

Bring some nature into your learning space or for home decor while your child works on fine motor skills.

Too for an apple unit your child can work on artistic expression and just have fun learning about apples and all of fall’s wonderful aromas.

Apples, cinnamon, and pinecones are some of the warmest and coziest symbols of fall.

They make you immediately think of cooler temperatures, crunchy leaves, and nature walks.

The natures colors are a perfect way to usher in fall.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Incorporate the fall garland apple craft into a simple fall unit study or create it as a stand-alone fall craft with your kids.

Middle schoolers will easily be able to do the entire craft on their own.

Younger kids will need a bit more help with the oven, knife, and hot glue gun.

Add other fall items like leaves, acorns, twigs, or similar items from your fall nature walks if you like.

12 Things to Make From Apples

While making your fall garland apple craft, talk about all the various things that you can make from apples.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Here are 12 things to make from apples. You can easily stretch this unit study to a full cooking unit.

  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Apple pie
  • Apple dumplings
  • Candied apples
  • Dried apple rings
  • Apple crisp
  • Apple turnovers
  • Apple Sauce
  • Apple Butter
  • Apple juice
  • Apple cider
  • Apple muffins

Expand learning by having a taste test and try as many of the above apple forms as you can.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Have your child rate the flavor of each one, take a poll of the family, friends, and neighbors to see what is their favorite apple treat.

Then, create an apple graph for a bit of math.

Also use both Farm Anatomy and Nature Anatomy have a couple of pages on apples and make great books to keep in your home library for many topics.

They are known for their pretty illustrations and fantastic information on a wide variety of themes within a topic.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

How to Make a Fall Garland

Next, make a fun fall garland. Here are some supplies:

  • Apples. Gala and Granny Smiths are a favorite for baking.
  • Pinecones. If you aren’t able to harvest them locally you can get a bag at the craft store.
  • Unfinished wood beads.
  • Cinnamon Sticks- in the grocery or seasonal aisle at craft stores.
  • Twine.
  • Lemon juice.
  • Salt.

Even using some fall colorful wooden beads would be pretty to add to it.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

First, dry your apples.

Preheat your oven to 200℉.

First, you are going to want to slice your apples.

Instead of cutting them horizontally across the apple the way we did in our dried apple slice recipe we are going to cut these vertically down through the top.

Start on either side of the stem so you get a good cross section view.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Fill a bowl with cold water, add 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of table salt.

And soak your slices for 10 minutes.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Lay the apple slices on a metal rack then place it on a baking sheet.

Bake for 2-4 hours or longer until completely dried.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Once your apples are dried you can begin to create a pattern on your twine.

Decide how long you want it to be. 

Place your first piece all the way to the end of this length by sliding it over the twine through a hole, hot glue in place, or tie a knot around it.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Continue the pattern all the way to the end until your garland is as long as you like it to be.

Other Fall and Apple Unit Study Crafts

Then, add some more fun fall and apple unit study crafts.

  • How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft
  • Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices
  • Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

What do you think? Add a few of them to your learning area and you’ll have the smell of fall year long.

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: apples, crafts, fall, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

September 15, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If your kids love dried apple crafts, they’ll love this fun fall shrunken head apple activity. Add this hands-on craft to my fall unit apple study or to my BEST Westward Ho Unit Study and Lapbook.

Fall immediately turns my mind to cooler temps, pumpkins, and of course apples.

It is a great time of year to talk about harvest.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

You can ask your kids what fruit is in season during the fall season, where it’s grown and even gather a list of uses for it.

Today it’s apples. They’re yummy to eat but also great for a wide variety of crafts like this fun shrunken apple head.

Do you remember making shrunken heads as a child? It’s such a fun activity to do and you don’t have to necessarily set aside a few weeks to do one.

Also, you can use this dried apple craft to supplement a Johnny Appleseed, Pioneer study or a Colonial study.

In addition, you can turn it into a cute mini scarecrow. 

Provide your child some yarn, fur, fabric, and other craft items.

Then encourage them to make period appropriate clothes for whatever topic you choose. Give them total free rein to create.

Other Ways to Use the Dried Shrunken Apple Head

Our shrunken apple head is a replica of Johnny Appleseed wearing the tin pot hat.

He is often depicted as wearing a tin pot hat.

We made a quick hat with some tin foil out of the pantry.

Here is one fun fact about Johnny Appleseed.

He didn’t wear a pot on his head. Look at the book Who Was Johnny Appleseed?

But he did prefer a tin hat believed to look like a baseball cap with a very long front brim to protect his eyes while working which likely doubled as his cookpot.

Also, we made a Daniel Boone apple head complete with a fur hat made with some scrap craft fur we had.

And here is a fun fact about Daniel Boone. He is also often pictured wearing a hat which he didn’t actually wear.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

Although Daniel Boone is shown in a furry raccoon hat, he preferred a wide brimmed beaver hat Quaker-style.

How to Make a Shrunken Apple Head

Now, make your own fun apple head craft.

Look at these materials you’ll need:

  • Apples
  • Apple peeler
  • Paring or other small knife
  • Assorted craft items for decorating

First, fill a bowl with cold water, add several tablespoons of lemon juice and a tablespoon of salt. Stir well.

Peel your apples right up to the stem and then cut out the stem.

Pop the apples into the water mixture and let them sit until you are ready to carve.

Take a small knife and carve out your features.

I found it easier to outline everything with a shallow groove.

And then begin in the middle at the nose and work my way outward to get a face shape, thinning out cheeks, forehead, etc. as I went.

You don’t have to spend too much time on the details as the shrinking will take most of the detail away.

Just give it a noticeable nose, eyes, and mouth.

For younger children you can give them a plastic knife or even a spoon to carve safely

You may even outline the features for them and let them scoop it out.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

Once you are done place your apple head back in the water bath and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

There are a couple of ways you can dry your apple head.

First, let it air dry by placing them in a dry area.

Too much humidity will cause them to mold. This method takes the longest- 3 to 4 weeks to fully dry out.

Second, the oven dry method is easier. This method is much quicker and lessens the chances of mold if dried all the way through.

But it requires you to run the oven all day, it may take a full 24 hours to dry it out.

Preheat oven to 200℉. Place your apples on a shallow baking pan with a rack.

This allows the air to circulate all the way around, drying it faster and more evenly.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

Other Fall and Apple Unit Study Ideas

Next, look at these other resources and crafts for a fall unit study or apple unit study.

  • How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft
  • Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Continue on with your craft.

Once fully dry, it will have shrunk to less than half its original size.

You can add a bit more character with paint, markers, fabric, yarn, or other craft items.

Set out a bunch of craft items and let your child go crazy with their imagination.

You can decorate just the head or add some sticks and wire to form a body. I love the character that the shriveled little faces have.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

To make a tin foil hat I just wrapped a piece around the end of the roll to form it and then adjusted it when I added it to the apple, twisting one corner into a handle.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

We also made a redheaded lady with a little bit of yarn. Who do you think she is? Lucille Ball? Queen Elizabeth?

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

What will you use your shrunken apple head craft to create? A famous hero from history? A scary scarecrow?

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

Share yours with me. I’d love to see what your kids create.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: apples, crafts, fall, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

August 31, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re wanting fall crafts for middle school for a fall unit study you’ll love this project. And look on my page homeschool middle school for more tips.

It may not quite be fall but pumpkin season seems to already be in full swing.

The stores have already begun to release all their fabulous pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavored goodies.

And the craft stores have had their decor out since summer.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

So, it feels like a great time to begin working pumpkins into a fall unit study. 

This art project adds some fun decor for the house which also works in fine motor skills and practical living skills (learning to use a hot glue gun, hammer and nails).

This is a fantastic activity for middle schoolers to do completely on their own with a bit of instruction.

But this activity can also be done by kids in upper elementary with a little more help.

Too, I was able to get all the supplies from Dollar Tree making this project a grand total of $3.75.

And I barely put a dent in the yarn and have plenty of nails left.

If you have any of the items lying around already you can make yours cheaper or even free.

Pumpkin Unit Study Ideas

You can easily turn this into more than just an art project by giving your middle schooler a few other activities to do before or after completing their string pumpkin art.

  • Research the different varieties of pumpkin.
  • List 10 pumpkin facts.
  • Complete the journal prompt – One night while I was walking in the pumpkin patch . . .
  • Research a recipe for pumpkin pie and bake it.
  • Find out which state grows the most pumpkins.
  • Find out how Native Americans cooked pumpkin compared to the colonists.
  • Weigh, measure, and compare a variety of pumpkins.
  • Make a pumpkin catapult – large or small.
Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

I know those ideas will get you started and use the beautiful book Farm Anatomy as a science reference to learn about pumpkins.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Here is a beautiful page from Farm Anatomy to research the different varieties of squash.

Pumpkin Art Supplies

Next, look at the easy supplies you need to make this diy string pumpkin art.

  • ½” to ¾” nails
  • Orange yarn
  • Green yarn
  • Small piece of stick
  • Glue gun/sticks
  • Scrap board
  • Hammer

Again, some of these supplies you may already have.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Here is how you make your own pumpkin string art:

DIY Pumpkin String Art

First, choose whether to make your pumpkin art horizontal or vertical.

This depends on your piece of scrap wood.

Then lightly draw out the shape with a pencil.

This piece of wood was in the craft section at Dollar Tree and they have several sizes and shapes to choose from.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Once you are satisfied with the general shape of the pumpkin you can begin to place the nails.

You can either guesstimate the space as you go or make little dots that are roughly the same distance all the way around.

You know where you will start and end with the nails when you do it this way.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Tap the nails into place, knocking them in about halfway because you want them secure.

Continue all the way around until you have the outline of your pumpkin completed.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Knot one end of the orange yarn around one of the nails.

Then wrap it all the way around the outside of the nails to make an outline.

Your child can do this once or twice to create a thicker outline.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

This next part is fun and easy.

We are going to fill in the pumpkin.

So all you have to do is crisscross vertically and horizontally around the pumpkin until you have filled it in completely.

Each nail should allow for the yarn to wrap around at least 5-6 times.

Tie the end of the yarn around a nail and cut off the excess.

Press your yarn down so that it is against the wood to show your nail heads.

This adds more texture and contrast to your art piece.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Once your pumpkin is filled in you can add your details like the vine.

Wrap green yarn once around the top center nail head.

And then twist it around the top and sides of the pumpkin.

Secure it down at the loops with a bit of hot glue.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Hot glue a small piece of a stick/limb from the yard to the top to make the stem.

You could also use a wine cork piece or another small bit of scrap wood.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

To make a hanger, flip your piece over.

And hot glue a small length of yarn to either corner.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Make several of these to hang around the house for fall.

Also, this makes a great family night or co-op activity. Start with pumpkin and build your ideas out from there.

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

Look at some of these other fall unit study activities:

  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Kids Fun Pumpkin Catapult Stem Challenge for Medieval Unit Study
  • Fall Y’all: Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)

This was so fun to create. You’re ready to ring in the fall season.

I guarantee you and your kids are going to want to come up with more shapes to make for all the seasons and favorite themes.

Don’t forget to check at Dollar Tree. They carry a ton of yarn and wood pieces in the craft section now.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art, fall, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, middle school, middleschool, pumpkin, science

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