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pumpkin

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

October 10, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Tis the season for pumpkin spice lattes, crunching leaves, and all the wonderful pumpkin fall crafts you can fit into the season to celebrate. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Big round pumpkins usher in all that fun and make a fantastic inspiration for all sorts of crafts and activities.

Gather up a few of your favorite craft ideas below and enjoy a seasonal dive into the crafty world of pumpkins.

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Don’t throw out those seeds when harvesting pumpkin for pies. Use them in a recipe instead.

Another great thing about fall is the delicious recipes like pies and of course roasted pumpkin seeds.

I have a pair of sweet and savory recipes to bake and enjoy with the seeds from your fresh pumpkins.

Pumpkin Facts

  1. The word ‘pumpkin’ traces all the way back to the Greek word “ pepon” which means- a large melon.
  2. You may have thought that pumpkins were a vegetable but they are in fact a fruit, just like cucumbers.
  3. Morton, Illinois is considered the  ‘Pumpkin Capital of the World’ and is the home of Libby’s pumpkin industry.
  4. Pumpkin was very likely first served in 1621.
  5. Christopher Columbus carried pumpkin seeds with him back to Europe, as well as many other seeds.
  6. You can find pumpkins growing everywhere but in the harsh environment of Antarctica.
  7. There are over 45 different varieties of pumpkins to choose from, some are better for carving and some for eating.
  8. Pumpkins are made up of 90% water and are an excellent source of fiber.
10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Also, watch A Pumpkin Grows for preschoolers to learn all about the life cycle of the pumpkin.

And also watch Blippi Explores a Pumpkin Patch.

Fun Fall Activities

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts

Whether you create them with the real deal or out of construction paper, paint, paper plates, or other supplies, pumpkins are definitely an iconic symbol of fall that are fun to make.

Photo Credit: www.sunnydayfamily.com

Adorable No Sew Fabric Pumpkin Kids Can Make

Seriously, by the middle of September our house looks more like a pumpkin patch than anything. (I even made a backyard pumpkin patch one year.).

Photo Credit: www.scraplifters.com

How to Paint Pumpkins (the Right Way)

Today I am going to share a quick tutorial regarding how to paint pumpkins. Did you know there’s a right way and a wrong way to paint a pumpkin? 
Photo Credit: www.madewithhappy.com

Easy Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Craft for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Here is a super easy Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Craft for Toddlers and Preschoolers to make.

Photo Credit: www.teach-me-mommy.com

Pumpkin Handprint & Photo Keepsake

This month’s handprint and photo keepsake is a pumpkin one! A cute handprint and photo of my little pumpkin!
Photo Credit: iheartcraftythings.com

Black Glue Pumpkin Art Project

Looking for a fun art project to make with children as we usher in the fall season? This black glue pumpkin art project is a fun way to celebrate the fall season with kids at home or at school.

Photo Credit: www.reallifeathome.com

Mixed Media Pumpkin Project for Fall

I also get the urge to craft and create (okay, I always have that urge). But it seems a little more pronounced as we head into the cooler months. I start nesting and decorating for the upcoming seasons

Photo Credit: www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com

Pumpkin Template Printable Outlines & Patterns for Crafts

Looking for free pumpkin template printables for your fall craft projects? 

Photo Credit: stepbysteppainting.net

How To Paint A Pumpkin Harvest Moon

Beginners can learn to paint a pumpkin on canvas. This beautiful night fall pumpkin painting features a harvest moon and falling leaves! 

Photo Credit: www.simplefunforkids.com

Marbled Pumpkins

The last time we did it was months ago, so I thought we’d try and make some Marbled Pumpkins for fall decorations, and to see how E handles this project now that she’s older.

Photo Credit: kidsactivitiesblog.com

{Pumpkin Craft} How to Make a Pumpkin

There are so many ways to have fun with pumpkins, you can make an easy craft, edible treat or create home decor.

Too, I have more fall craft ideas.

More Fall Craft Ideas

  • 10 Fun Crafts to Do with Pinecones and a Turkey Pinecone Craft for Kids
  • Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar
  • 8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch
  • Make Cute Felt Leaf Sachets For Fall Leaf Crafts for Preschoolers
  • How to Make Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub & 7 Fall DIY Crafts For Teens
  • 10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics
  • 10 Dollar Tree Crafts for Teens & Craft a Cute Fall Fairy Garden Wreath
  • Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft
  • Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids
  • How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Fall Homeschool Learning Resources For Middle School
  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  • Free Fall Unit Study Ideas– For Older Kids Too
10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Finally, look at these recipes for pumpkin seeds.

Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

You can make both or one of these yummy pumpkin seed recipes with your kids.

Simply split in half to make some of each to sample.

You will need:

  • 1 ½ cups pumpkin seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon of olive or coconut oil

Savory-

  • Dry ranch seasoning

Sweet-

  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Once you scoop the seeds out of your pumpkin, rinse them well in a strainer. Pick out any bits of pumpkin.

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Pat the seeds dry.

Pour over the oil and mix so that each one is soaked.

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Add in seasonings and stir to coat all of them well.

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Spread prepared pumpkin seeds over a baking sheet lined with a silpat mat.

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to mix and bake all of them evenly until they are browned,

Once the pumpkin seeds have cooled, loosen up the ones that are stuck together, the sugared ones especially will stick, and then place in an airtight container.

They are good for about a week to 10 days.

10 Pumpkin Fall Crafts and Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes

2 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, pumkin, pumpkin, science

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Printables

October 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Pumpkin anatomy is a wonderful topic for fall where your child can explore the ins and outs of a pumpkin using their senses. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Dissecting a pumpkin allows children to explore every part of it and encouraging them to describe it using all their senses develops language and vocabulary.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

First, look at vocabulary words for parts of a pumpkin.

Parts of a Pumpkin Anatomy Facts

  • Skin- Also called the rind, it protects the insides of the pumpkin from bacteria and keeps moisture in.
  • Stem- Pumpkin stems are green while the pumpkin is growing and attached to the vine, turning darker green and then brown as the fruit ripens and matures.
  • Tendrils-Help anchor the vine and protect it from the wind. They are also vital in absorbing nutrients for the plant.
  • Leaves- The leaves help to create shade for the fruits and protect them from sunburn or sunscald. They are also edible and are a rich source of various vitamins and minerals.
  • Seeds- Each pumpkin contains about 500 seeds, once they are planted and sprout it takes 90 to 120 days to reach maturity.
  • Fibrous Strands-Also known as funiculi, each of the strands is connected to a seed and to the placenta of the fruit. As the pumpkin grows nutrients travel through these strands to feed the seeds.
Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Also, grab some of these fun books about pumpkins.

Books About Pumpkins

8 Pumpkin Books

Grab some of these fun books about pumpkins, fall and fall harvest.

Too Many Pumpkins

Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins ever since she was a girl when pumpkins were often the only food her family had. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, she shovels dirt over the pieces and forgets about them. But those slimy pumpkin smithereens sprout up in autumn, and Rebecca Estelle finds a sea of pumpkins in her garden. A heartwarming classic for more than twenty years, this story shows what happens when one thrifty gardener figures out how to make other people happy with the squash she can't stomach.

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Picture the Seasons)

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie follows Apples for Everyone in the Picture the Seasons series. This beautifully photographed picture book about everybody’s favorite fall treat is sure to please kids both young and old. The glossy, festive images and lively text are sure to get your family in the mood to celebrate the season.Pumpkins! Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field?

How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow?

Every year, giant pumpkin contests take place at fairs across the country—the 2012 record-holder weighed over a ton! The latest craze is to carve the most enormous pumpkins into racing boats. But what’s next? Why not think really big? Award-winning artist Wendell Minor does just that as he imagines larger-than-life pumpkins decorating some of America’s favorite places—as immense as the Capitol dome, Mount Rushmore, the Brooklyn Bridge, even the Grand Canyon! This celebration of famous landmarks and landscapes plays with concepts of size and scale and is full of fun facts.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?

How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess.

Pumpkins (First Step Nonfiction ― Plant Life Cycles)

Plant Life Cycles

From Seed to Pumpkin: A Fall Book for Kids

This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Plus it includes a find out more section with activities such as an experiment to show how plants use roots to drink water from the ground and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."-

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

Next, look how to use the fall pumpkin notebooking pages.

Anatomy Life Cycle and Parts of a Pumpkin Notebooking Pages

Also, I have these pumpkin anatomy, life cycle and parts of a pumpkin notebooking pages.

Altogether I have 8 pages in total.

Here are the sets.

  • The first set is Anatomy of a Pumpkin label page. It is the SAME page in two different ways. One page is labeled and the other one is not labeled. Some kids can’t write, some kids struggle with writing and others love to write. You have choices.
  • The next three pages are Parts of a Pumpkin. Print the cards and you can even laminate them and use them over and over so your little ones can label the pumpkin as they investigate it.
  • The next two pages are Pumpkin Life Cylce. Like the anatomy page, one is labeled and the other page is not labeled.
  • The last page is for an older learner who may prefer to just write about fall or a pumpkin.

Also, remember my printables can be folded like minibooks and placed in your lapbooks.

Read how to do that here at my post How to Turn Boring Worksheets into Fun Minibooks – From Boring to Interactive.

Note: My free printables were free for a limited time for my subscribers.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Next, look at some more fun hands-on pumpkin activities.

Pumpkin Anatomy Hands-On Activities

  • Take the sensory experience even further by making Pumpkin Slime With Real Pumpkin.
  • Focus on the pumpkin’s skin with the Preschool Pumpkin Skin Experiment and test the strength of the skin and more.
  • Pumpkin Science: States of Matter- Let’s kids investigate pumpkin in all of its different states.
  • Pumpkin Experiment: Do Pumpkins Sink Or Float?
  • Take exploring the parts of a pumpkin to the next level by turning them into the Parts of a Pumpkin Craft
  • Who doesn’t love a good bubbling volcano? Try these fun Pumpkin Volcano Activities for Preschoolers

Note: My free printables were free for a limited time for my subscribers.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Finally, look at this activity to learn about pumpkin anatomy.

How to Set Up Your Pumpkin Anatomy Station

You will need:

  • Pumpkin(s)
  • Knife
  • Magnifying glass
  • Tweezers
  • Plastic spoon
  • Pumpkin Anatomy printables
Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

First, start on the outside of the pumpkin and have your child feel and describe the pumpkin. Is it smooth or bumpy?

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

How about the stem? How would they describe the stem of the pumpkin? Is the pumpkin heavy or light?  If you have more than one pumpkin, compare the weight, ask which is heavier.

Knock on the outside, what does it sound like?

Pumpkin Anatomy Station

Now, you can use the printables any way you like but if you are going to be exploring and matching up the parts of a pumpkin I suggest you print out the pumpkin anatomy and the parts of a pumpkin card and laminate them.

This makes it super easy to wipe off if they get pumpkin on them and they can be reused time and time again.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Next you want to cut off as much of the top of the pumpkin as you can so they can really dig in there and explore. That is the most fun part, especially for sensory seeking kiddos.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Adding tools like magnifying glass, tweezers, and a little plastic spoon makes it a lot more fun to dig.

Let them get in there and explore as much as they like, pulling out seeds and the fibrous strands.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Peel off a bit of the tough skin of the pumpkin, so that they can feel it on both sides.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

Explore the fiber strands, talk about what parts of the pumpkin are edible, and how they feel.

Talk about how the seeds feel and how each one can grow a new pumpkin.

Take some of the seeds and plant them in a little cup of dirt.

This is the time of harvesting rather than planting them but at least they can watch their little pumpkin sprout over the course of a few weeks.

In warmer states you will likely not get your hands on a pumpkin you can cut fresh from the vine so it will probably not have leaves or tendrils.

To give your child an understanding of these parts you can add some silk leaves and a coiled pipe cleaner to help them visualize it better.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

How to Get the Pumpkin Lapbook Pumpkin Anatomy Pages

Finally, I have a fun pumpkin lapbook to use with multiple ages. I geared it toward grades 2 to 4 but again grades are selective as we know.

Look at the printables included in the download.

  • One front outside cover in color. Mix and match the pieces for the outside flap.
  • One front outside flap cover for your child to color.
  • Pumpkin Life Cycle and labeled parts of pumpkin
  • 7 vocabulary words and definitions
  • Seed box pocket to store saved seeds
  • About pumpkin pocket with facts
  • Parts of pumpkin fact card
  • More Pumpkin Facts & Fun pocket to glue on back of file folder

One About Pumpkin Notebooking page for your children to write what interests them.

Two Anatomy of a Pumpkin Notebooking Pages. One has facts filled in and one page is blank so that your child labels the part.

  • Dynamic and Fun Pumpkin Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic and Fun Pumpkin Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

Three pages of pumpkin note cards to use to identify the parts of a pumpkin.

Two Life Cycle of a Pumpkin pages. One has facts filled in and one page is blank so that your child labels the cycle.

Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Printables

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earthscience, elementary science, fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, life cycle, life science, pumpkin, science, sciuence

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

September 28, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 8 easy fall wood crafts for kids. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

I love to walk the craft aisles at Dollar Tree to see what I can come up with.

Have you been lately?

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

They have so much great stuff for homeschooling and crafting now.

I found several great unfinished wood items for kids to make a cute fall pumpkin patch as a centerpiece or anywhere else you want to display it.

Just in case your own little pumpkins can’t get enough I have 8 more easy fall wood crafts for kids from preschoolers up to the biggest kids.

Fall Crafts For Kids

First, look at these other fall crafts for kids.

  • Make Cute Felt Leaf Sachets For Fall Leaf Crafts for Preschoolers
  • How to Make Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub & 7 Fall DIY Crafts For Teens
  • 10 Kindergarten Fall Crafts and Craft Fun Bean Mosaics
  • 10 Dollar Tree Crafts for Teens & Craft a Cute Fall Fairy Garden Wreath
  • Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft
  • How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study
  • Fall Homeschool Learning Resources For Middle School
  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  • Free Fall Unit Study Ideas– For Older Kids Too

Next, look at these fall wooden crafts for kids.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids

Add some of these fall wood crafts to your crafting homeschool day.

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

Wood Slice Turkey Craft

 Kids will enjoy creating these wood slice turkeys. Add some floral wire, and they become place card holders or photo holders! 

Photo Credit: simplemomproject.com

Easy Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft Tutorial

 I’m excited to share one of my favorite fall crafts; the easy DiY fall scarecrow popsicle stick craft.

Photo Credit: www.virginiasweetpea.com

Dollar Tree Tumbling Tower Block Pumpkins

Dollar Tree Tumbling Tower Block Pumpkins are easy and inexpensive to make and they are perfect to use for fall decor.

Photo Credit: www.themakersmap.com

How to Make a Dollar Tree Mini Pumpkin DIY Fall Decor

How to Make a Dollar Tree Mini Pumpkin DIY Fall Decor
Photo Credit: simplybeautifulbyangela.com

Scrap Wood Pumpkin

I’ve seen a few tutorials in blogland for making pumpkins out of scrap wood and they always turn out so cute! This year I decided to finally make one

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Photo Credit: wordandhome.com

Dollar Tree Caramel Apple Sign DIY

No one loves pumpkins as much me, but did you know there’s another fall staple? I’ll give you some hints; apple cobbler, apple pie, and even apple crisp!! They are so delicious, but sometimes I forget how cute they can be for fall! I found these cute apple cutouts at Dollar Tree and thought they’d be perfect for a Dollar Tree caramel apple sign DIY!!

Photo Credit: www.mycreativedays.com

DIY Dollar Store Fall Garland Craft

This DIY Dollar Store Fall Garland Craft could not be any easier and the outcome looks like you spent a lot of time and/or money on it. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Photo Credit: www.semiglossdesign.com

How to Make a Twig Wreath for Fall

Learn how to make a twig wreath.

Our colorful inspiration for our Dollar Tree pumpkin patch came from the beautifully colored varieties we found in our Farm Anatomy Book.

Just look at how beautiful the options are.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Even though it is a fun fall craft you can still introduce a little learning by talking about the varieties and shapes of pumpkins and squash.

Encourage them to research fun questions like where the most pumpkins are grown or what the biggest one ever grown weighed.

Finally, look at how to make a dollar tree wooden pumpkin patch.

How to Make a Dollar Tree Wooden Pumpkin Patch

This is an excellent craft for the whole family but it can be as simple or as elaborate as you like depending on the crafter, even toddlers or preschoolers will love painting a wooden square.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

You could also have each member of the family paint their own pumpkin to add to the display.

You will need:

  • Square Wood Planks (Dollar Tree)
  • Wood strip (Dollar Tree)
  • Mini Jenga pieces (Dollar Tree) or small bits of sticks
  • Silk Leaves- (Dollar Tree)
  • Several colors craft paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Fine permanent marker
  • ruler
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

First, grab 3 square planks out of the 6 pack and let your child paint them any colors they like.

We went with some unusual but realistic squash colors in addition to orange like the ones we saw in our book.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Flip them over and paint the other side, again in any colors. Let them dry.

We are going to paint both sides because this craft can be seen from all sides, especially if you opt to put it on a table.

Dollar Tree Fall Crafts for Kids

Don’t forget to have them cover the edges as well.

Paint 3 tumbling tower blocks brown and set aside to dry.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Use a ruler and fine-line marker to add ribs to the pumpkins.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Lay out your pumpkins to decide what order you want them in.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Run a bead as long as your square along the center but towards the edge of the wood strip and press the pumpkin into place.

Hold it there until the glue cools and hardens.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Repeat with the next two pumpkins but place them at either end along the edge of the other side so that they are staggered and have a little room between them.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

Glue a small silk fall leaf to the top of each of the pumpkins.

And you can also add them to the stem in the next step if you would rather.

Top with a brown tower block to create the stem.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

That’s it, this pumpkin patch is ready to go on display.

Want to create a more extended centerpiece? Glue as many strips of pumpkins as you need end to end to create a large pumpkin patch.

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

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

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

August 26, 2022 | 1 Comment
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Your kids will love this glue and watercolor pumpkin to include in a pumpkin unit study. Too, you can add this activity to my huge fall unit study.

Besides loving unit studies, I love watercolor as a medium for art.

I put the two together to give you a start for your own pumpkin unit study. 

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Watercolor is forgiving. And whether child or adult, you don’t need to be an artist to make wonderful images to display.

If you are hesitant but want to give it a try, then, today’s tutorial is the place to start.

This fall watercolor painting goes great with a pumpkin unit study.

And besides the simple tutorial I have some great ideas for you to create your own study.

Pumpkin Art

This dramatic pumpkin watercolor painting is great on its own as a simple art project.

One easy way to create contrast and drama in a simple watercolor picture is to make the outlines black and raised.

We do this with school glue colored with black craft paint.

The other way to make the watercolor stand out is to cover the entire page and leave no white space.

We are doing both of these today.

First, to make your own pumpkin unit study, always start with a couple of books that draw in your kids.

The Anatomy Series by Julia Rothman is great for so many studies.

They are worth the investment

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

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

They make for great art inspiration as well.

For younger children Pumpkin Jack is a great read aloud, but also teaches about the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Hands-on Activities for a Pumpkin Unit Study

  • Make a pumpkin watercolor
  • Pumpkin Experiments
  • Taste pumpkin in different ways-fresh, canned, seeds, pie, muffins,etc..
  • Bake a pumpkin pie
  • Roast pumpkin seeds

  • Use pumpkin seeds as manipulatives for math.
  • Measure, weigh, and compare pumpkins.
  • Label the parts of a pumpkin-stem, ribs, pulp, tendrils
  • Visit a pumpkin patch and talk to the farmer.
  • Test the density of pumpkins and seeds

  • Draw the pumpkin life cycle
  • Write a poem about a pumpkin
  • Give pumpkin related journaling prompts
  • Make a list of questions for your child to research online or in books
  • Create a fall bucket list – great writing practice

In addition, have your child research about pumpkins. Look at these questions below.

Research Facts about Pumpkins

  • How many different things can be made from pumpkins?
  • What state produces the most pumpkins?
  • How long do pumpkins take to reach maturity?
  • What vitamins do pumpkins contain?

Finally, gather up all your items and enjoy your delicious pumpkin themed unit study.

Begin with this fun watercolor painting.

How to Do A Pumpkin Watercolor Painting

You will need:

  • Watercolor paper
  • Watercolor paints
  • Brushes
  • Spray bottle of water
  • Black craft paint
  • Craft glue
Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

You can create any pumpkin design you like- an entire patch, a side view of a large pumpkin, or a close up view of the top of a pumpkin.

Today, I’m giving you step by step directions for the top view.

Start by drawing your design in pencil until you like the general shape. 

I started with a stem.

Easy Fall Art

Then drew the ribs of the pumpkin starting from the stem and working my way out all the way to the edge of the page.

Keep the curve moving in the same direction all the way around.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Now we are going to create a dramatic black outline and give it some texture.

You want to start with a bottle of glue that is no more than ⅔ of the way full.

This is a great way to use up those partial bottles.

Add black paint and shake the glue and paint up. If need be use a craft stick to stir it a bit more.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Once it is mixed well trace the drawing you made in pencil with the black paint, allow it to dry completely.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Once the glue is dry, lightly spritz the tray of watercolors as well as the entire page with water.

This is a trick I learned that helps the color spread better easier and allows you to layer color. This will create some dimension.

Next, mix orange watercolor and a little brown, black, or red with it.

This will make it a little darker than the rest of the pumpkin.

Go along each of the ribs with this darker color to create shading.

Make sure you do it on the same side of the ribs all the way around so it looks like the light is coming from one direction.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Fill in the rest of your pumpkin with color, adding water as needed.

Once the painting is dry add some more watercolor with less water to deepen the color.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Dry the remaining of your painting and it’s ready to share.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

What do you think? Are you read to get started on a fall themed unit study?

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

  • Fall Homeschool Learning Resources For Middle School
  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art, fall, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, pumpkin, science

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