Autumn introduces a shift in nature and a new environment filled with crisp air and crunchy, colorful leaves. Preschool children enjoy observing these changes in nature and collecting autumn leaves. These leaves provide a unique medium for making a pumpkin mosaic. Children can build fine motor skills by breaking the leaves into small squares and gluing them on a paper pumpkin shape. By suggesting color patterns for arranging the leaves, teachers encourage children to enhance math skills.
By using fabric at the art center, preschool children can explore a variety of patterns and textures. Working with fabric also allows children to practice using scissors and cutting a material other than paper. After collecting autumn and Halloween patterned fabrics at a craft store, teachers can set up a pumpkin mosaic activity for preschool students. By using a mini pumpkin as a canvas, the students will gain experience doing art with three-dimensional objects. Children will have such a good time decorating a mini pumpkin with fabric squares and strengthen their fine motor skills while working.
By working on a collaborative pumpkin mosaic, the class will work as a group and each child will have the chance to contribute. Teachers can cut a large pumpkin shape out of bulletin board paper for the children to create a class mosaic. Then cut small squares out of orange construction paper and let the children paint designs on them with black tempera paint. Once the paint is dry, the class will work together to arrange individual squares on the pumpkin and create a mosaic. This activity permits preschool children to share a common goal and work as a team.
Pumpkin seeds give children a chance to explore their sense of touch, taste, sight and smell. These seeds also provide a new medium for mosaic design. Children can arrange clean pumpkin seeds on pieces of cardboard to create artistic designs. They might even paint the seeds first to enhance the pumpkin seed mosaic. Some children might want to dig out and clean the seeds on their own, adding to the sensory experience and gaining a better awareness of nature and science.