Preschool: Autumn-Themed Craft Ideas Recommended for November

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

In November, as the cold gradually sets in, we get to enjoy beautiful autumn foliage and delicious seasonal flavors.

Why not try some fun crafts that capture those delightful autumn moments?

In this article, we’ll share craft ideas for November that let you feel the season.

We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, including autumn foods made with different materials and projects using natural items like acorns.

They’re all activities children can enjoy!

As November gets colder, let’s make the most of autumn indoors!

Because the items children make are treated as works, we refer to them as “seisaku” (productions) in the text.

[Childcare] Autumn-themed craft ideas recommended for November (111–120)

Autumn leaves with a single-faced cardboard stamp

This is an autumn leaves wall decoration made using single-face corrugated cardboard with the wavy ridged side exposed.

Dab paint onto the ridged side of the single-face cardboard and stamp it onto construction paper or kraft paper.

Prepare the cardboard in an easy-to-stamp shape—such as making it into a loop—so children can hold it comfortably.

Once the stamping is done, let the paint dry thoroughly, cut out leaf shapes, and attach them to a backing sheet to finish.

The cardboard’s striped pattern looks just like leaf veins, resulting in a wonderfully charming piece!

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yuri

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Three-dimensional owl

Let’s make semi-3D owls and create an autumn forest in the childcare room.

First, prepare slightly large brown envelopes.

We’ll make the owls’ faces with construction paper, so cut out oval shapes.

If you draw guide lines with a pencil, it will be easier for the children to work.

Have them freely create expressions on the faces using crayons and paper parts.

After attaching the face parts to the bag, make and paste the owl’s wings and feet as well.

Next, draw patterns for the owl’s body on the envelope.

Finally, stuff newspaper into the envelope to puff up the body, and it’s complete! If you also make a tree on the wall where the owls can perch and display them, the atmosphere will really come together.

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tsukada moe

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Paper tape hedgehog

This wall decoration features an adorable hedgehog with colorful, spiky quills! Hedgehogs are popular animals that often appear in picture books, and in recent years they’ve grown in popularity as pets too, so kids are sure to have a great time with this activity.

Once you’ve prepared the hedgehog-shaped construction paper as the base, simply cut strips of paper tape and stick them on freely.

When you’re done, draw in the eyes and nose to finish it off.

For cutting the paper tape, you can tear it by hand, use scissors, have the teacher pre-cut it, or choose whatever method best suits the children.

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yuri

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Fallen leaves with spray paint

Leaves that change color from the lush greens of summer to shades of red and brown.

Those changed leaves eventually fall, tinting the paths with autumn hues.

Let’s recreate those fallen leaves using paint spray! Just dissolve paint in water, pour it into a spray bottle, and you’re ready.

Then spritz it onto paper towels to add color.

Once the colors dry, cut them into leaf shapes, and, if you like, add eyes or decorations with round stickers.

You’ll have bright, adorable fall leaves! Depending on the children’s ages, it may be best for the teacher to handle the prep up to filling the spray bottles with paint.

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SAKI

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Pop-out roasted sweet potato

A unique craft idea features a roasted sweet potato popping out from a campfire.

You can make the mechanism using two paper cups and twine.

Since the mechanism involves making holes, it’s best for the teacher to handle that part.

The children can draw campfires and roasted sweet potatoes on the cups, or cut and create them with origami! It’s really fun to pull the string and see a piping hot sweet potato pop out from the campfire, and the kids will likely be absorbed in playing with it.

You can also stack three or more paper cups, or adapt the design with seasonal motifs for even more fun!

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miyabi

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