“Pumpkins” is a popular theme in the preschool classroom, and one of my favorites to do during Fall. I’m always looking for simple, low-budget art projects and created one based off of this coffee filter apple craft.

Photo of pumpkins in different colors and a preschool coffee filter jack-o-lantern craft

 

Materials

  • Coffee filters (one per student)
  • Orange, red, green blue and yellow Markers
  • Black paper
  • Picture of different colored pumpkins and a pumpkin stencil – become a member to get free printable here
  • Tape
  • Spray bottle filled with water and a tray (for less mess)

Setup

Gather your supplies and print the pumpkin picture and stencil

Cut out the stencil and trace on black paper.

Stack the remaining black paper (as much as you can cut at one time) behind the traced paper and fasten with binder clips. Cut out.

traced pumpkin on black paper and teacher cutting tip

Using chalk, free hand a Lima bean shape on the inside of each pumpkin.  Be sure the hole isn’t bigger than the coffee filter. 

Cut the inside of each pumpkin, unless your students’ fine motor skills are advanced enough to cut themselves.

With pencil write lightly each student’s name on a filter.

Place  your spray bottle (with water) and tray where you plan to spray.

Preschool and kindergarten fall pumpkin craft using coffee filters and other basic classroom materials.

Directions

  1. Share the pumpkin pictures with the students and ask “We all know pumpkins are orange but, they also come in many colors. What colors do you see?”
  2. Give each child a coffee filter and markers that match the picture’s colors.
  3. Color away! Encourage the students to hold the markers with a pincer grip and to color the entire coffee filter, as this will make the final product brighter and more colorful.
  4. When your class is finished coloring, let students spray their coffee filter creations until the colors start to bleed together. Allow time for them to dry (at least 2 hours) before the next step.
  5. After the coffee filters are dry, flatten the filters and tape them to the back of your pumpkin stencils and admire the art!

 

Pumpkin preschool art with coffee filters and watercolor effect.

This is a great activity to start in your art center and finish in a small group with teacher guidance. I have also used it as a morning table top activity to get students engaged in our pumpkins theme.

For another fall activity, check out Jack-o-Lantern with Dot Markers.

Halloween Dot marker printable of a jack-o-lantern and bingo dobbers