Use the broken bits from the bottom of the crayon bucket to make leaf rubbings. Take children outside to collect fall leaves. Ask them to find flat leaves that aren't ripped or broken. Inside, place the leaves on a table. The sides with the veins should face up. Have children place white paper on top of the leaves. Give children small pieces of crayons with the labels removed. Have them rub the sides of the crayons over the paper. The shape and vein design of the leaves will appear.
Gourds and miniature pumpkins are available everywhere in fall, from the garden store to the grocery store. Buy a variety of gourds in the lightest shade you can find. Help children wash the gourds with damp paper towels, then let them dry. Give children papers with the outline of a gourd and ask them to plan out the pattern they will create. Pass out paintbrushes and paints and let children get busy painting their designs onto the gourds.
Let preschoolers create prints and designs using real apples. Bring in a bag of apples. Cut the apples in half and give one half to each child. Pass out large sheets of paper along with paint and paintbrushes. Let children use the brushes to coat the cut side of the apple with a thin layer of paint, then help them press the apples onto the paper. They can cover the page in apple prints, or they can experiment with layering prints together or dragging the apples across the page.
Create all kinds of creatures with pine cones from your own backyard. Set out bowls filled with felt pieces, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and glue. Give each child a pine cone. Give children some suggestions for creatures they can create or let each child design his own masterpiece. Children can glue or tuck pieces of felt and pipe cleaners into the cone to create clothing or facial features, then add googly eyes. Help them attach arms or tails made from pipe cleaners. Glue the pine cones onto acorn caps or pieces of felt to create feet.