[Autumn Activities] Nature Play and Craft Ideas for Fall to Incorporate into Childcare!

Torn-paper collage sweet potato

These torn-paper roasted sweet potatoes are perfect for an end-of-autumn craft.

Use red, purple, and brown construction paper or origami paper, tear it by hand, and glue the pieces onto a sweet-potato-shaped base.

If you crumple and soften the paper before tearing, it becomes easier for children to rip—give it a try! For added dimension, you can also shape a sweet potato out of newspaper and then cover it with colored paper.

This craft idea brings out children’s expressive creativity and is sure to make autumn events even more enjoyable.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Three-dimensional grapes made with sticker pasting

This is a 3D grape craft made by sticking round-cut origami pieces onto a long, narrow strip of construction paper.

Put double-sided tape on the back of the cut-out origami circles, and have the children peel and stick them.

Once the origami pieces are attached, wrap the strip around a triangular piece of construction paper in a spiral.

Finally, add a pipe-cleaner stem and paper leaves to finish.

You can also use stickers instead of origami, of course.

Let the children choose their favorite patterns.

It’s a perfect idea for an autumn wall decoration.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

Cosmos in paper cutting

This is a way to make a cosmos flower by simply folding origami and cutting along the outline.

Fold the origami paper in half into a triangle, then fold it in half again, repeating until you’ve folded it three times, and sketch the shape of the petals.

Since you’ll draw the petal outline with a pencil, it’s best to fold with the white side facing out.

The jagged tips of the petals are a bit intricate, but once you cut and unfold it… you’ve got a cosmos flower! Kirigami, where the shape becomes something completely different when opened, is a highly recommended craft that sparks children’s creativity.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Autumn Lion

Here’s a craft idea for making an autumn lion using fallen leaves.

Draw the lion’s face in the center on the back side of a paper plate.

Let the children use crayons or other materials to draw the lion however they like.

Once the face is done, stick double-sided tape around the rim of the plate and attach fallen leaves onto the tape.

Go all the way around the plate so the leaves form the lion’s mane.

Mixing green leaves with orange and yellow ones, as well as leaves of various shapes, will create a unique and expressive lion.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Flying dragonfly

Here’s a craft idea for making a dragonfly out of construction paper that you can actually fly.

Fold a sheet of red construction paper in half and draw half of a dragonfly along the folded edge.

Cut along the line with scissors and open it up to reveal the dragonfly shape.

Then decorate it with stickers or crayons, and insert a paper clip halfway onto the head.

Now your flying dragonfly is ready! It’s perfect for an autumn craft.

For children who aren’t ready to use scissors, let them enjoy creating patterns using various techniques.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

acorn

Kimie Gangi: Easy and safe “How to make an acorn top (spinning top)” for elementary school Life Studies. #acorn #donguri #LifeStudies #2ndGrade #children’splay #elementaryschoolteacher

Why not make a homemade spinning top using acorns you’ve picked up at parks or campgrounds? It’s also a great opportunity for kids to get hands-on with natural materials.

The trick is to choose larger acorns, such as sawtooth oak (kunugi) acorns, for the top.

First, mark the center of the top of the acorn, then set it on a rubber doorstop or similar item to hold it steady.

While holding the acorn firmly, use a pushpin to make a hole.

If you want to widen the hole, you can use a screw hook.

Once the hole is made, insert a toothpick straight in, trim it to a suitable length, and you’re done! This method is simple and safe enough for elementary school children, so give it a try.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

miyabi

Report a problem

Making cosmos flowers with a sponge

[Craft Activity] Wall Mural Cosmos Made by Dabbing Color with a Sponge

Let’s try painting cosmos flowers, which are at their best in autumn, using a sponge! Prepare a piece of thick paper with a cosmos shape cut out, then dab paint onto a sponge and stamp it into the cut-out area to add color—your cosmos will take shape! For the yellow center, you can also apply color with a sponge or use round stickers.

Another recommended method is to cut a sponge into thin strips and use them to make individual petals, building up the cosmos flower.

Try painting these beautiful autumn flowers in whatever style you like!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem