I never anticipated that I’d be a homeschool mom, but here we are in 2020 and I’m in full-homeschool-mom mode. One thing I learned about homeschooling is once you start looking, you never stop. There are curricula and cool learning games and fun crafts around every corner on Pinterest, and if you’re not careful, the bill gets pretty steep.
Fortunately for my bank account, I’m also a pretty thrifty person, so I found some great fall crafts and activities that I can do using things that I already have around the house.
Crafts:
- Leaf Rubbings
This craft is so simple that even very young preschoolers can do it by themselves.
Supplies needed: Leaves, thin paper, crayons - Simple Autumn Leaf Collage & Leaf Collage Pictures
Use your imagination to create beautiful pictures from fall leaves.
Supplies: Leaves, sticks, flowers, etc., glue, paper - Fall Trees
Create pretty 3D fall trees using coffee filters and toilet paper rolls.
Supplies needed: Coffee filters, toilet paper rolls, markers, scissors, spray bottle with water - Botanical Prints
You’ll first need to go on a nature walk for this project. Forage for flowers and leaves of varying colors. Once you’re back at home, using paper and a hammer, watch the beautiful prints you can make from your nature collection.
Supplies needed: Flowers/leaves, paper, a hammer (or substitute) - Coffee Filter Spider Webs
Like making snowflakes out of paper, but tweaked just slightly to make spider webs. If you have black construction paper or felt on hand, you can also make little spiders to live in the webs.
Supplies needed: Coffee filters, scissors, black construction paper (optional) - Veggie Stamps
Cut up potatoes, pumpkins, apples, celery, okra, and more. Use the fruits and veggies as stamps and let kids explore what different shapes they can make.
Supplies needed: Paper, variety of fruits and vegetables, paint (Don’t have any paint? Scroll to the bottom for simple DIY paint!) - Leaf Salt Painting
This fun craft is both an art project and a science project. Create a leaf pattern using salt and glue and watch the colors travel around the leaves.
Supplies needed: Paper, glue, salt, watercolor paints or food coloring, paint brush - Stained Glass Pumpkins
These pretty pumpkins will brighten up any room. Another very simple craft for young preschoolers. To keep the pumpkins for more than one season, you may want to laminate them before hanging them in the window, but this isn’t necessary.
Supplies needed: Coffee filters, markers, scissors, spray bottle with water, tape, laminator (optional)
Activities:
- Pumpkin Pie Ooblek
This spin on the classic ooey gooey cornstarch and water recipe is super fun and smells delicious. Add a little orange food coloring and pumpkin pie spice and this simple sensory activity is now fit for fall.
Supplies needed: corn starch, water, orange food coloring, pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon and nutmeg), bowl, spoon - Spiced Playdough
Homemade playdough is surprisingly simple to make and this recipe smells amazing!
Supplies needed: flour, liquid (water, tea, juice), salt, cream of tartar, oil, cinnamon
Don’t have paint on hand? Try one of these recipes for homemade paint!
I’m Hannah — a Seattle native and a mom to three spirited daughters. I love a good oat milk latte from Caffe Ladro, learning to skateboard with my 6-year-old, and exploring new parks with my best friend and partner, Matt. I’ve walked through hard seasons of divorce, single-parenting, and mental illness (in my kids and myself), but in the last couple years I’ve been redefining what it means for me to be a mom in my 30’s and how to find joy right here. (Hello, skateboard lessons and adult art class!) I didn’t expect much of anything about my life as it is now, but I’m learning to savor each moment. There is so much joy to be found here.
