September: Autumn crafts! Ideas you can use in childcare
In September, when the season gradually shifts from the hot summer to autumn, there are many chances to feel the change of seasons through nature and living creatures.
This is a must-read for teachers at daycare centers and kindergartens who are thinking, “We want to incorporate crafts that let children feel autumn!”
Here are some recommended craft ideas for September.
We’ve gathered a wide range of ideas—from those that incorporate familiar autumn elements for children such as fallen leaves and acorns, to ones that use unique techniques that stimulate the five senses.
With a bit of adaptation, these activities can be enjoyed by children from infants to the oldest kindergarteners, so please make good use of them.
Since we emphasize project ideas that make the most of children’s free imagination, we use the term “制作 (seisaku: creation/production)” rather than “製作 (seisaku: craft/production)” in the text.
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[September] Autumn Crafts! Introducing Ideas You Can Use in Childcare (71–80)
Chestnuts you can try from around age 3

Here’s an origami chestnut that even preschoolers can enjoy.
Fold the paper in half, then open it and fold the bottom edge up toward the center crease.
Flip the paper over and fold the top half along the line to form a triangle.
Fold the lower left and right corners up along the crease, then round the corners to finish.
Draw a face to create your own cute, original chestnut.
Display the finished chestnut indoors for autumn crafts or as wall decor to bring a sense of the season and add a charming touch.
A chestnut that breaks on the eighth fold

When September comes, it’s the season when chestnuts are delicious.
Let’s fold autumn’s seasonal chestnuts with origami.
After folding the paper in half, fold the left and right corners toward the center line.
Flip the paper over and fold the bottom part of the chestnut toward the center line.
Finally, adjust the shape into a chestnut and you’re done.
You can enjoy different sizes of chestnuts by changing the size of the origami paper.
Also, by folding the corners to create roundness, the chestnut gains a three-dimensional look, resulting in a tasty-looking chestnut perfect for autumn.
Give it a try!
Easy Ghost Origami Instructions

Here’s an origami ghost that’s perfect for autumn Halloween.
Prepare one sheet of origami paper and fold it into a triangle.
Then fold the left and right corners in toward the center line.
Tuck the loose, fluttery corner downwards.
Fold the whole piece toward the center line, then fold the tip downward to shape it into a ghost.
If you fold the bottom part of the ghost at an angle, it adds movement and makes a cute ghost.
Once it’s finished, draw a face and stick it on a Halloween bag or wand to enjoy!
Easy and cute pampas grass origami method

The Japanese pampas grass that signals the arrival of autumn in Japan has a deep charm, doesn’t it? Let’s try making pampas grass with origami.
First, cut your origami paper into a quarter-sized rectangle, fold it in half twice to make a long, narrow shape, then fold it in half once more.
Open it back up to the state where it has been folded in half once from the original.
Along that center crease you just made, use scissors to cut a slit up to the middle.
Fold it in half again, and then, starting from the slitted section, offset each layer sideways as you fold them one by one.
Finally, adjust the shape so the white and colored sections alternate when viewed, and you’re done.
Please use this as a guide and display it next to your moon-viewing dumplings!
Easy maple leaf origami instructions
We’ll show you how to fold a simple, irresistibly touchable, cute maple leaf.
Start by folding into a triangle and creasing, then fold both sides of the paper toward the center line to form the base of the maple leaf.
The key is to tuck the paper in so that it puffs up slightly.
As you fold, match the height of the maple leaf’s lobes, keeping the left-right balance in mind.
Since some parts will get thicker as layers overlap, fold those sections slowly and carefully.
You might also enjoy gluing the finished maple leaves onto poster board to create a maple tree!
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.
Easy acorn

In autumn, you often see children picking up acorns on their walks.
Let’s make the acorns children love using origami.
Fold the origami paper into a triangle twice.
Open it, then fold the corners toward the center line, and fold toward the center line two more times.
Gently guide the children to fold slowly and carefully.
Flip it over, fold the left and right sides in about one-third each to form the acorn shape.
Slightly fold the tip into a small triangle to round it off, and it’s done.
It also sounds fun to make them in different colors of origami paper.


