40 Fantastic Fall Art Projects for Kids

Autumn is in the air, and you can hardly look to the left or right without seeing an abundance of creative inspiration in the form of pumpkins, scarecrows, sunflowers, and foliage. Whether you prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving, they both provide plenty of inspiration for your next art project. Jack-o’-lanterns, witches, spiders, candy corn, and turkeys are just some of our favorites. We have something for every age and in every medium in our list below. So grab your favorite art supplies and get to work on some of these awesome fall art projects!

1. Fall Tree Sticker Scene

We love this idea because it is no-mess and low-prep. Make a tree on some white paper, then let your students go to town decorating it with a bowl full of fun fall stickers!

Try it: Fall Tree Sticker Scene

2. Pumpkin Picture Frame

What’s cuter than a pumpkin made from Popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners? One with your student’s face on it!

Try it: Pumpkin Picture Frame

3. Fall Leaf Suncatchers

Download a free leaf template at the link below and then grab some autumn-colored tissue paper to make these pretty suncatchers.

Try it: Fall Leaf Suncatchers

4. Fall Leaf Chalk Art

We love this project since it teaches an art lesson on positive and negative spaces. Use painter’s tape to put a leaf template on some black card stock, then let your students smudge chalk pastel all around it. Finally, remove the tape and admire the finished project!

Try it: Gorgeous Fall Leaf Chalk Pastel Art Kids Can Make

5. Pumpkin Zentangle

Older students will surely enjoy this pumpkin doodle project. Zentangles are not only fun, they offer stress-relieving qualities for busy high schoolers!

Try it: Zentangle Pumpkin Drawing

6. Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Puppet

Be sure to have some pretty scrapbooking paper on hand so students have options to personalize their scarecrows. Once they’re finished, they can put on a puppet show for you!

Try it: Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Puppets

7. Sunflower Collage

This sunflower collage can work for students as young as preschool or as old as high school since the size of your scraps and the detail included are up to the artist.

Try it: Van Gogh Sunflower Art Project for Children

8. Fall Collage

As far as fall art projects go, this one can be done last-minute since all you need is some construction paper, a Sharpie, glue, and some scissors. Have students create as many unique trees as they want before gluing them in the layout of their choosing.

Try it: Fall Collage

9. Turkey Headband

This turkey headband is the perfect craft to do before Thanksgiving break in November. While relatively easy, you may want to have an extra set of hands around to measure little heads.

Try it: Turkey Paper Headbands

10. Scarecrow Puppet

Making a puppet from a paper bag is a rite of passage for any kid, so why not have your students try their hand at this adorable scarecrow? Sit back and watch the imaginative free play once their puppet friends are finished.

Try it: Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft

12. Jack-o’-Lantern Collage

No list of fall art projects would be complete without some Halloween imagery. Rather than have your old magazines end up in a landfill, why not use them to create a fun jack-o’-lantern collage?

Try it: Jack-o’-Lantern Magazine Collage

13. Black Paper Cat

Surprisingly simple to create, we just love these spooky black cats. This project will work on young students’ dexterity since they will need to fold their paper accordion-style.

Try it: Black Cat Paper Craft

14. Puffy Paint Candy Apples

These apples look so tasty we just want to take a bite out of them! This is simultaneously an art lesson and a science experiment since students will be mixing their own puffy paint.

Try it: Puffy Paint Caramel Apple Craft for Kids

15. Cheerio Corn Craft

Preschoolers will love gluing Cheerios onto their corn cobs, but make sure you have extra cereal since they will probably sneak a few!

Try it: Cheerio Corn on the Cob Craft

16. Paper Cup Witch

While not exactly scary, these sweet witches will be sure to delight your students. Although they are cute on their own, the light-up tea-light noses really put them over the edge!

Try it: Paper Cup Witch Craft

17. Fall Gnome

So simple and yet so adorable, we can’t get enough of these fall gnomes. Cut out a hat from some fall-themed scrapbook paper, select a fake fall leaf for a beard, then staple a nose on to tie it all together.

Try it: 3-Step Leaf Gnome Craft

18. Leaf People

Bring your students outside for a fall hike, have them collect leaves of all sizes and shapes, then let them create their own unique leaf person. Have some googly eyes and markers on hand so your students can get really creative.

Try it: Fun and Easy Leaf People Craft

19. Paper Plate Candy Corn

These paper plate candy corns are the perfect art project to do during the month of October. Grab your scissors and orange and yellow paint and get to work!

Try it: Paper Plate Candy Corn Banner

20. Candy Corn Flowers

While you’ll need to check for allergies before proceeding with this craft, the end result is just too precious. Once their masterpiece is complete, let your students enjoy the extra candy.

Try it: Candy Corn Flowers

21. Q-tip-Painted Pumpkins

Painting pumpkins should be included in any list of fall art projects. Q-tips make for the perfect paintbrushes for small pumpkins since you can make small, precise designs. Be sure to use non-washable paints if you want to display them outside.

Try it: Easy Q-tip Painted Pumpkins for Kids

22. Beaded Corn

This project is perfect for working on motor skills since students will need to string the beads on their pipe cleaners and twist them into shape. An added bonus is they make for the cutest table decor during Thanksgiving dinner.

Try it: Beaded Pipe Cleaner Indian Corn

23. Fall Doodle Art

This is the perfect art project to break out when you need a time filler since it can be worked on and then put away for later. The finished product will be oh-so satisfying to look at!

Try it: Autumn Doodle Art

24. Handprint Apple Tree

Finger painting is as synonymous with preschool as apple trees are with fall. This handprint/fingerprint tree will surely end up on refrigerators everywhere.

Try it: Handprint Apple Tree

25. Coffee Filter Trees

Who says coffee filters are just for coffee and window washing? Use a stencil to create a spooky tree silhouette, paint a coffee filter, then put it all together for the perfect window decoration.

Try it: Coffee Filter Trees

26. Toilet Paper Spider Stamps

We love this spider project since it is really two crafts in one. Have your students start collecting empty toilet paper rolls in the weeks before you plan to do this art project.

Try it: Two Toilet Paper Roll Spider Crafts

27. Pom-Pom Spiders

Another super-fun spider project that will make for the cutest desk pets during October.

Try it: Halloween Spider Kids Craft

28. Fall Wind Sock

You can use toilet paper and paper towel rolls for the base of these wind socks, or you can choose colored card stock folded into shape. You’ll also need some fall stickers and autumn-colored crepe paper to complete this pretty decoration.

Try it: Fall Windsock Craft for Kids

29. Acorn People

Simple and yet oh-so sweet, these little acorn people will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Use a premade template or create your own.

Try it: Cute Acorn Craft for Kids

30. Apple Stamp Pumpkin

Need another use for all those apples you picked on your annual trip to the orchard? Slice them and use them as stamps to create these fun pumpkins!

Try it: Apple Stamping Pumpkin Craft

31. Pumpkin Paint Mixing

This sensory activity also teaches kids about color mixing. The best part is the mess is contained within the bag.

Try it: Pumpkin Color-Mixing Activity

32. Balloon Turkey

Get your hands on some gold balloons, blow them up, and then supply your students with feathers, googly eyes, etc., to transform them into turkeys.

Try it: Thanksgiving Turkey Balloons

33. Pumpkin Stress Balls

Kids can use a funnel to fill orange balloons with rice. We especially love that it helps kids develop their gross motor skills. Finally, supply kids with Sharpies and let them decorate their pumpkin’s face.

Try it: Pumpkin Stress Balls

34. Washi Tape Pumpkins

Washi tape can be a little pricey, so stock up when it’s on sale. Have kids cut pumpkin shapes out of orange construction paper, and then let them decorate their pumpkins with orange and yellow washi tape. Finally, add a stem and some leaves.

Try it: Washi Tape Patterned Pumpkins

35. Puzzle Piece Wreath

We love a good recycling project that also doubles as a cute craft. Have your students scavenge at home for puzzles that are missing pieces. Then, gather all the puzzle pieces, paint them in fall colors, and let them dry. Finally, assemble them into a wreath and add a cute fall-themed bow.

Try it: How To Make a Puzzle Piece Wreath

36. Painted Acorn People

These acorn people are just too cute! We recommend using some acrylic paint markers so the details are easier to draw.

Try it: Painted Acorn People Decorations

37. Candy Wreath

As far as fall art projects go, this is one of the tastiest we’ve ever seen. Gather all different types of candy and a cardboard wreath base. Then, get gluing all your candy down before topping it off with a bow!

Try it: Halloween Candy Wreath

38. Mixed-Media Pumpkin

Some fall art projects, like this one, are best suited for older kids and teens since they are a bit more involved. Repurpose some old books by painting the pages and creating this high-end-looking pumpkin art!

Try it: Mixed-Media Pumpkin Project for Fall

39. Picasso Frankenstein

Teach your students about Picasso and his portraits, but make it Halloween-themed with this fun Frankenstein portrait.

Try it: Picasso Meets Frankenstein

40. Pasta Tree

Who doesn’t love a good macaroni art project? Have your students paint macaroni in fall colors. Then, while waiting for them to dry, have them create the base for their tree. Finally, glue those wonderfully fall-themed macaroni leaves on your tree or on the ground.

Try it: Fun Fall Art Projects for Kids

What are your favorite fall art projects to do in the classroom? Come and share your ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, get ideas for great collaborative art projects here!