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.
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.
I know those ideas will get you started and use the beautiful book Farm Anatomy as a science reference to learn about pumpkins.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To make a hanger, flip your piece over.
And hot glue a small length of yarn to either corner.
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.
