[Childcare] November wall decorations and autumn craft ideas
As the days when we feel a slight chill gradually increase, November overflows with the cozy charm of autumn.
This time, we’re introducing recommended wall decorations for November, along with creative autumn craft ideas.
From pieces that incorporate natural materials like vividly colored leaves and acorns, to delicious seasonal foods like chestnuts and grapes, and familiar autumn creatures such as bagworms and hedgehogs—these projects are packed with ideas that capture the essence of fall.
Make the most of children’s individuality in their creations and enjoy the autumn season to the fullest!
Because the items children make are treated as artworks, we refer to them as “seisaku” (creations) in the text.
- Preschool: Autumn-Themed Craft Ideas Recommended for November
- Ideas you can use for autumn wall decorations
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Recommended in November! Autumn-Themed Craft Activities
- Craft Activity Ideas for 5-Year-Olds: November Edition
- [Autumn] Easy Origami Ideas for November
- [Childcare] Autumn craft ideas
- Fun November craft ideas for 1-year-olds!
- Even 1-year-olds will be captivated! A collection of craft ideas to enjoy the art-filled autumn
- Get kids excited in November! A collection of play and craft ideas using autumn’s natural treasures
- [October] Craft ideas for fall you can use in childcare
- [November] Enjoy with 3-year-olds! Craft activity ideas recommended for autumn
- [Autumn Activities] Nature Play and Craft Ideas for Fall to Incorporate into Childcare!
- Ideas for October wall decorations: an autumn wall display that makes use of children’s artwork.
[Childcare] November Wall Decorations and Autumn Craft Ideas (31–40)
Two ways to fold an acorn
Even when we say “acorns” as a catch-all, there are many kinds—apparently more than 20 species native to Japan alone.
In this idea, we introduce two styles: a long acorn and a round acorn.
That said, the folding method is the same for both.
With the colored side of the origami facing up, fold down the top edge.
This part becomes the acorn’s cap, so make this section narrower for a long acorn and wider for a round acorn.
After folding the cap, flip the paper over and fold the left and right edges toward the center line.
A key point here is to align only the brown section with the center line.
You want the white section to suggest the cap’s flare, so fold it while slightly opening it outward and flattening it.
After that, just fold the top and bottom corners inward to refine the shape.
Adding patterns to the cap makes it extra cute.
Ginkgo hanging ornament
Ginkgo decorations, which are very popular as autumn ornaments, add a warm touch to any room.
Prepare origami paper, string, double-sided tape, and a stapler, then let’s get started.
Fold the origami paper in half horizontally three times, aligning with the center line, then unfold it completely.
Flip the paper front and back as you make an accordion fold.
Trim the corners to create a rounded shape, fold it in half toward the center, and staple the bottom.
Finally, stick the center together with double-sided tape to finish.
Attach them to a string to make hanging garlands, or decorate walls and other spaces—have fun creating!
Recommended for walls too! How to fold a ginkgo leaf
Around November, when autumn deepens, the autumn leaves are at their most beautiful.
It’s also a great time to enjoy the foliage with children by folding origami.
This ginkgo leaf can be made with just one sheet of origami paper.
First, fold the paper into a triangle twice to create crease lines.
Fold both sides toward the center line, then fold the bottom tip upward to form the ginkgo shape.
The key is to use your fingertips to make crisp, firm creases.
Using brightly colored paper like orange or yellow will let you create a lovely, large ginkgo tree.
A cute autumn tree made of origami
Let’s make a simple autumn tree using origami.
Prepare two sheets of origami paper and create separate parts for the leaves and the trunk.
For the leaves, fold into triangles and squares, pressing firmly with your fingers to set crisp creases.
Following the creases, fold everything inward as if tucking it inside.
If it’s difficult, have an adult help.
Once you shape the corners into leaf-like points, the leaf section is complete.
For the trunk, fold along the center line to create a three-dimensional shape.
Attach the leaves and trunk together to finish.
It’s also nice to use different paper colors for a more autumnal look.
Realistic fallen leaves you can make with origami!
Red, yellow, green, brown… Autumn begins with colorful foliage and is a season to enjoy leaves in many shades.
So why not make fallen leaves with origami, too? They’re great for wall decorations and a handy idea to remember.
To prepare, fold the origami paper in half top to bottom to make a rectangle, place it with the fold at the bottom, then crease diagonally from the top right corner to the bottom left corner and cut along the crease with scissors.
You’ll use the remaining triangular piece of origami paper.
Fold the top corner of the triangle down to meet the base to halve it, then repeat this same fold three more times.
Next, unfold the paper and refold it in an accordion (zigzag) pattern.
Fold the origami in half, bringing the left and right sides together, glue the inner layers, adjust the shape, and you’re done.
Make with Origami! Autumn Insect: Cricket
When it comes to autumn insects popular with children, crickets come to mind.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper.
Fold it in half into a triangle twice, then stand the triangular section up and gently squash it into a square.
Fold the left and right sides toward the center line, then fold the entire top triangular section forward.
Open up the folded part and spread it so it becomes a diamond shape.
Once you’ve made the cricket’s head and legs, it’s done.
Some children may find the squashing-into-a-square step difficult, so please have an adult help them in that case.
Finish by drawing the eyes.
Make crickets with different expressions, line them up, and enjoy!
A cricket you can fold with origami
Here’s how to make a cricket that signals the arrival of autumn.
The steps are simple, perfect for young children.
First, fold the origami paper twice to make a small triangle, then squash the pocketed part to form two squares.
Open one of them and squash-fold it into a diamond shape.
Open the lower corner of the diamond to the left and right, then fold both sides of the bottom corner inward along the center line.
The thin sections on both sides will be the cricket’s legs.
Slightly fold down the top corner, then fold both corners of that crease into small triangles to make the tail end.
Flip the paper over, make a curled fold at the bottom corner to form the head, then fold the paper in half along the vertical center line.
Finish with a pleat (step) fold to add movement to the legs, and you’re done.
Cute persimmons perfect for autumn
A quintessential autumn fruit! Let me show you how to make a persimmon.
Prepare one 15 cm square of orange origami paper and one 7.5 cm square of green origami paper.
First, fold the top and bottom edges of the 15 cm paper to meet at the center to make a rectangle.
Rotate the paper 90 degrees to a vertical orientation, then fold it in half top to bottom to make a crease.
Next, fold the top and bottom toward that center crease again, but fold slightly short of the crease rather than exactly on it.
Make the folds so that the folded sections and the remaining central section are the same width.
Finally, fold all four corners inward to complete the fruit.
For the leaf, do a “zabuton” fold three times with the green paper.
On the third time, slightly fold the corners first, then fold toward the center.
Flip the paper over, open and flatten the four pouch-like sections, then fold the corners to finish.
Attach it to the fruit to complete your persimmon.
Autumn origami acorn
Let’s make an acorn with a hat using two sheets of origami paper.
Use a 15 × 7.5 cm sheet for the acorn and a 7.5 cm square for the hat.
First, we’ll make the acorn.
Fold the paper in half to make a square, then fold the top, bottom, and left corners toward the center—done.
Next, we’ll make the hat.
Fold the paper into a triangle twice to create creases.
Fold the bottom corner up to the center, then fold up along the crease to form a triangle.
Turn the paper over and fold the top corner down so it sticks out slightly below the base of the triangle.
Tuck both corners inward, then place it over the acorn you just made.
Autumn Origami Dragonfly
Seeing dragonflies flying makes you feel autumn, doesn’t it? Here’s an idea for making a dragonfly using two sheets of origami paper.
For both sheets, first do a cushion fold once, then flip the paper over and fold the top and bottom corners to the center.
Rotate the paper 90 degrees, flip it over, and squash the top and bottom pocket-like sections into a boat shape.
From here the steps differ, since this idea makes the wings and body separately.
For the wings, once you have the boat, fold the top and bottom to meet the center line, then fold the four left and right corners outward from the slit to create triangular creases.
Use those creases to make inside reverse folds, and the wings are done.
For the body, while pulling the right corner of the boat inward, pull the corner on the back straight out to the side.
Fold the opposite corner inward, then fold the top and bottom edges to meet the center line.
The right corner becomes the dragonfly’s tail, so align the orientation and insert it into the wings.
After inserting, slim the tail a bit more, add eyes, and you’re finished.