Hands-On Fall Craft Fun

With the start of a new homeschool year, you need some fresh fall craft ideas for your kids. Here are some hands-on projects for all ages. And best of all, you don’t need fancy crafty supplies for these projects. All of these ideas either use recycled materials or fall leaves gathered on a nature walk.

Fall Crafts with Recycled Materials

Before the leaves start to change colors and fall, you can still make these fall crafts with recycled materials you have on hand. Of course, we all have loads of broken crayons in the school room. Instead of just tossing them, why not create Leaf-Shaped Crayons? Not only do they make a new colorful crayon to use in your own art projects, but if you make a few batches, you can gift them to friends too. Having a birthday party this fall? Create enough to use as party favors. Your guests will love them, and they’re cheap to make using recycled bits.

With a fall tree printable and some finger paint, your kids can create a Fingerprint Tree keepsake. Display it in your schoolroom for some personalized art and to remember the little years.

Since you have the finger paint out, check out these additional preschool learning activities using fingerprints.  Or try this fall color mixing tree craft with your preschoolers for some more fall crafting fun.

Here’s a super messy fall craft that your tactile kids will love! It involves shaving cream and food coloring. So, if you’re okay with a bit of mess, pull out the supplies and let your kids decorate the house with Marbled Fall Leaves.

If you’re looking for more Art Projects to Kick Off the Fall, then you’ll love creating pumpkins, trees, and apples using various art mediums. And if your littles want to keep their hands busy and exploring, try these 9 Fall Sensory Bins Your Child Will Love Discovering to keep the kinesthetic learning fresh.

Recycled materials help you homeschool on a budget because you can do some pretty nifty crafts without running to the store and spending a bunch of money. Here are more crafts using recycled and upcycled materials.

• 70 Recycled Crafts for Kids
• Recycled Plastic Bottle Craft Weaving for Kids
• Fun and Easy Upcycled Patriotic Crafts for Kids

Fall Crafts with Leaves

Once the fall season really gets underway and the leaves start to change colors, you can bring the beauty inside with these fall craft projects using real leaves. Check out this Fall Exploration Activity – We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt! to get your leaf supply going. 

All you need is a great collection of fall leaves and some contact paper to create Fall Placemats for your holiday gathering, or just to enjoy for everyday use. Pair this fall craft with some engaging fall unit studies about trees and leaves for a well-rounded seasonal learning experience.

• Fall Unit Study and Fall Activities for Early Learners
• Gorgeous Thanksgiving and Fall Unit Study for Preschool to 3rd Grade
• Fall Unit Study with FREE Printable Lapbook
• FREE Printable Fall Unit Study – includes apples, Sir Isaac Newton, art and Johnny Appleseed
• Free Printables and Resources About Trees and Leaves

Finally, collect enough colorful leaves on your next nature walk to make a few Fall Leaf Votives for your Thanksgiving table. These also make great seasonal gifts for friends, neighbors, co-op teachers and grandparents. All you need is a recycled jar, gathered leaves, white tissue paper, and mod podge. Kids of all ages can create this fall craft.

Looking for more fall craft ideas? Try these:

• 23 Fall Crafts You Can Do in 1 Hour or Less
• Easy Leaf Doodle Craft
• 15 Fall Leaf Crafts for Kids