The fall months, with their colorful leaves and intriguing pine cones, present the opportunity for nature collages. Preschoolers can bring in a collection of pretty leaves and other intriguing objects they discovered outside. The leaves can lead to a discussion of the weather during the fall, why leaves change colors, and what clothes the kids wore while searching for them. A paper towel roll can be used to make a 3D collage. First, put some cardboard feet on the roll to keep it from rolling away by cutting out two strips of cardboard and gluing the paper towel roll onto them. Once that's completely dry, give the rolls to the children; they can put glue on the leaves and stick them to the paper towel roll or cover the roll with glue before sticking on the leaves. You can also cut slits or holes in the top of the paper towel roll to insert pine cones or sticks.
During the winter months, preschoolers can make art projects that reflect snowy or windy environments. Cotton balls are the perfect media for them to make snow, clouds and snowmen. Have the children draw a winter scene on a large piece of paper. They can pull the cotton balls apart to make clouds, fill in the body of a snowman or represent the snow on the ground. Drawing a winter scene is a good opportunity to discuss perceptions of winter colors. For instance, do they draw their winter scenes in gray and muted colors, or in bright colors? Allow the children to make a scene that represents their visualization of a winter day to encourage self-expression.
The children can make a picture of a spring day using pompoms and markers. Have them draw an outdoor scene with grass, flowers, clouds and rain. Use colored pompoms -- which come in a variety of sizes -- and have the children use them to create 3D flowers. White pompoms or cotton balls can make clouds, and tiny blue pompoms can represent rain falling from the clouds.
A beach scene is a great way to show that summer is hot and sunny. Have the children draw a line to mark the end of a beach and beginning of the water. They can leave room for a sky with a sun. The water and sky can be painted different shades of blue. Yellow glitter can make a sparkly sun. Bring in a bucket of sand. The children can paint glue onto their paper and then sprinkle on the sand. For a different type of sand project, give children shoe boxes and fill their bottoms with sand. Have them draw and cut out beach scene objects, such as a lounge chair or bucket. Though the pictures will be 2D, they can still enjoy arranging them on the beach.
A weekly weather chart is a way to show children the changing daily weather and can be a good group art project. Make a chart with a large area for that day's weather and a space for each day of the week. Leave a space for daily weather picture cards. Velcro is available in long strips, which you can cut into squares. Attach the fuzzy side of the velcro to the weather chart, two or three for that day's weather, and the same number under each day of the week. The children can draw weather pictures on squares of poster boards. For instance, they can draw a sun for sunny days or clouds with rain for a rainy day. Place velcro on the back of their squares. Each day, they can check the weather and pick the appropriate weather squares to attach. Once that day is over, move the squares down to the proper day of the week. On the last day of the week, discuss that week's weather.