[For 4-Year-Olds] Recommended in November! Autumn-Themed Craft Activities
As the number of chilly days increases, November ushers in the height of autumn.
Many teachers may be thinking, “I want children to fully experience the charms of autumn!”
So this time, we’re introducing creative project ideas for 4-year-olds that are perfect for November.
Packed with ideas that incorporate a variety of autumn-themed motifs—natural materials like acorns and fallen leaves, delicious seasonal foods, and adorable creatures such as bagworms and squirrels—these projects help children feel the essence of autumn.
We also share project ideas related to Shichi-Go-San, so be sure to use them as a reference.
Because we’re introducing ideas that nurture children’s flexible imaginations through making things, we use the term “seisaku” (creative projects) in the main text.
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[For 4-year-olds] Recommended for November! Autumn-themed craft activities (71–80)
[Ages 3 and up] Hedgehog Snip-Snip Craft
Using everyday paper plates to make hedgehogs is a great craft for 3-year-olds who are starting to enjoy expressing themselves.
Get paper plates, scissors, construction paper, and glue ready.
Prepare the hedgehog bodies in advance, and have the children make cuts around the edge of the paper plate, snipping from the outside toward the inside.
It’s also a good idea to draw guide lines so they can cut along them.
By drawing the hedgehog’s face themselves, each child can create their own original hedgehog.
Giving the hedgehogs names and using them in play can make the activity even more fun.
Let’s fold autumn fruits with origami!
Here are origami ideas for persimmons and grapes that you’ll crave making in autumn.
First, the persimmon: place an orange sheet of origami paper color side up, fold it in half top to bottom, and crease.
Fold the bottom edge up to meet the crease; the white back side will show in that area, so paste a green sheet of the same size over that white section.
From here, you’ll fold both the leaf and fruit from a single sheet.
For the grapes, use half-size origami paper to make four identical units and combine them.
Both projects include a step where you open a pocket and squash it flat, so press your creases firmly with your fingers and fold each step carefully.
Chestnut gathering with an original basket
Here’s a craft idea using construction paper and origami to make delicious-looking autumn chestnuts and a basket for chestnut gathering! Cut the construction paper into a half circle to form the basket base, then make vertical slits with scissors.
Weave thin strips of origami paper up and down through the slits to create a woven basket effect.
Decorate a backing sheet by arranging the basket together with origami chestnuts for a piece brimming with autumn vibes! You can also adapt the basket idea for other seasons by changing the materials and color palette, so give it a try.
Squirrel made of origami
Squirrels are small animals with fluffy tails and adorable expressions! They’re super cute, making them a perfect autumn motif that kids will love.
The method is very simple: make the head and body separately, then attach them together at the end.
Finish by drawing the squirrel’s facial features, and you’re done.
Using a basic brown gives a lovely seasonal feel, but you can also use your favorite colors of origami paper to create a unique piece.
Let children’s creativity lead the way and enjoy making them freely.
Autumn wreath
In autumn, many of us enjoy going for walks in the park and collecting nuts like acorns and pinecones! Let’s use the nuts you find in nature to make a cute wreath.
Cut a circle out of cardboard with a craft knife to create a wreath base.
It might be better for teachers or parents to prepare the wreath bases.
Have the children glue on nuts, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), pom-poms, and other materials! Display the wreaths in the room or around the school and enjoy them.
Easy Mushroom Origami Instructions
When you think of autumn flavors, many people probably imagine mushrooms.
Let’s make a mushroom out of origami.
First, fold the origami paper in half into a square twice, then open it and fold two corners toward the center.
Next, turn it over and fold the remaining two corners up to form a rectangle.
Turn it over again, fold the left and right sides inward, then fold it in half.
Fold down only the white part.
Fold the left and right sides of the white part inward.
Finally, fold all the corners inward to create rounded edges, and you’re done.
Feel free to draw patterns on your mushroom by adding drawings or stickers.
Acorn-cap painting activity
Here’s an autumn craft idea that makes the most of the cute acorn shape! First, paint patterns on origami paper or let kids create freely with a marble-painting technique.
Next, fold the patterned origami into the shape of an acorn cap.
To finish, have them make their own face and place the acorn cap on top! The face can be made by cutting construction paper, or by cutting out faces the children have drawn on construction paper.
It’s exciting to imagine what original, creative art four-year-olds will come up with.