Halloween is the most recognizable holiday in October for preschoolers, and it is an exciting one for many of them. Since pumpkins are one of the more well-known symbols of Halloween, making paper pumpkins is an ideal craft project.
Cut out large pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper, and give one to each child. Instruct them to draw a face onto their pumpkin and then decorate it in any way they'd like, using crayons, finger paint or markers.
Many preschoolers are familiar with dinosaurs on a basic level. October is International Dinosaur Month and therefore a good time to expand your preschoolers' knowledge of dinosaurs. Talk to them about the many different types of dinosaurs that used to exist, and then have them decorate their own dinosaur shapes.
To prepare for this art project, you will need to stencil the outlines of various dinosaurs onto construction paper and then cut them out--you'll need one dinosaur shape per child. Provide the children with a dinosaur shape, as well as crayons, yarn, glue, feathers, finger paint or markers to decorate them with.
Farm animals, from sheep to chickens, provide humans with all manner of goods and food, such as eggs and cotton to make clothing. World Farm Animals Day is October 2--you can use this day to talk with preschoolers about the importance of farm animals and also to make paper masks.
To make the paper masks, you will need dinner-sized paper plates (one for each child) and finger paint. Ask the children to think about their favorite farm animal, and then have them decorate their mask to look like that animal. Allow the masks to completely dry before giving them to the children to play with.