5 Little Pumpkins Craft for Kids
Materials needed PER CHILD: Pumpkins – 5 orange pipe cleaners and 5 green Wikki Stix (green pipe cleaners can also be used), Gate – 6 craft sticks, liquid glue, brown paint, paintbrushes, paint smocks (or an old T-shirt to protect clothing), and paint cups/trays. Colored or plain construction paper can be used for mounting.
Prior to the craft activity – demonstrate for the children how to make a spiral out of one pipe cleaner. Tucking the end in and wrapping the pipe cleaner around itself is a great fine motor activity for small fingers. Allow time for the children to practice making spirals. Once the children are successful, they will be very proud of their creations!
Making the Gate – have the children paint 6 craft sticks brown. Let the sticks dry thoroughly before assembling the gate. The gate will hold better with liquid glue rather than glue sticks. Have the children use a paintbrush to apply liquid glue to the backs of the craft sticks before assembling the gate on any colored or plain piece of construction paper (see photo above).
Making the Pumpkins – have the children make spirals from each of the 5 orange pipe cleaners. The green Wikki Stix (or pipe cleaners) can be used to form the stem/leaves, if desired. *We like using the Wikki Stix for the “stems/leaves” as the Wikki Stix will allow the pumpkins to adhere to the paper without additional glue!
For the poem to accompany the craft above – See Jack-o-lanterns and 5 Little Pumpkins
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies with Buttermilk Glaze
This is one of our favorite FALL cookies!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cookie Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup applesauce, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 TBLS. cinnamon, 1 can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix), 1 tsp. baking soda, 2 cups flour, and 1/2 cup oatmeal.
In a large bowl, beat all the ingredients together in the order listed above. (If you’d like, you can add raisins, chocolate chips, or walnuts/pecans to the mix). Drop the cookies onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake for approx. 15-18 min. The cookies are done just when the shiny part of the cookie’s center disappears.
Glaze Ingredients – 1 cup powdered sugar, 3-4 TBLS. buttermilk (or whole milk) and 1/4 tsp. vanilla. Whisk the glaze ingredients together and spoon over the cookies while still warm.
These cookies are DELICIOUS in the FALL (or anytime!)
COUNTING COOKIES
While the cookies are baking, have the children use small counters (beads, beans, marshmallows, etc.) to help them complete the Cookie Work Mat (linked below)! Have the children place one counter on each of the cookies. Add the cookies in each row. The children can stamp or write the total number of cookies inside the last (circled) cookie in each row – Counting Cookies
Exploring Math is fun for kids! We hope your children enjoy playing and learning along with us! For more fun ideas see Preschool and Kindergarten Themes for Active Learning and Play!
Leave a Reply