Painting with unexpected materials shows kids that there is more than one way to create a masterpiece. This craft helps kids practice fine motor and tracing skills and gives them a creative canvas with which to work.

This is what you’ll need:

• Pumpkin
• Watercolor or art paper
• White school glue
• Watercolors
• Paint Brushes

Step 1 – Observe a Pumpkin:

Have kids investigate a pumpkin.

Connect: What shape is it? Feel it; is it cold, bumpy, smooth, soft? What color is it? Does it have lines? Do the lines go horizontally or vertically? Trace the lines with your fingers. What does the stem look and feel like?

Step 2 – Draw a Pumpkin Using Glue:

Have kids squeeze glue onto the art paper to outline the shape of a pumpkin. Let the glue dry overnight.

Connect: Younger kids will need more help during this stage. You could help your child squeeze the glue while guiding his or her hands, or you could draw the pumpkin on paper and have your child follow the lines. Alternatively, you could just let your child run wild with his or her imagination. Using a smaller bottle of glue will ensure that your child doesn’t use all the glue in your house for this project.

Step 3 – Add Some Pizzazz:

Your child can paint in the spaces between the glue using watercolors and a brush. It’s ok if they paint the glue lines too. After the paint is dry, have your child trace the edges of the glue with a black pen or a pencil. Younger kids may have trouble with this step. Let them be creative!

Connect: If your child is receptive, talk about the color orange. Explore color mixing and investigate what happens when you add yellow or red to the orange. If your child wishes to paint the pumpkin using less realistic colors, that’s fine too. You can still talk about color mixing and create a beautiful work of art.

October is a great month to get creative while getting back to nature. The weather is perfect for nature walks or walks in the woods, and kids love collecting treasures. With Halloween hovering at the end of the month, engage your children in some imaginary play during which they can be mad scientists.

This is what you’ll need:

• Mason jars (use plastic jars if you’re concerned about breakage)
• Liquid watercolor paints
• Water
• Pourable containers for water
• Paint brushes or paint droppers
• No-spill cups
• Self-adhesive googly eyes
• Small items collected from nature: acorns, twigs, plants, grass, dead flowers, etc.
• Bag or basket for collecting treasures

Step 1 – Go on a Treasure Hunt:

Kids can explore the backyard, hike down a local trail, or investigate the beach to collect small items that will fit in their mason jars.  

*Tips for parents: Encourage kids to explore their environment. Talk about how their treasures feel: hard, soft, fuzzy, etc.

Step 2 – Mix up the Potions:

When you return from your treasure hunt, set up mason jars, pourable containers of water, and no-spill cups filled with liquid watercolors. Encourage kids to pour, mix, and add color. Adding the found treasures will make the mixtures especially spooky.

*Tips for parents: Kids can add color to their potions by dipping a paintbrush in the color and then swirling it in a mason jar filled with water or by using an eye dropper to remove color from the spill-proof cup and depositing it into the mason jar. Use this time to talk about color mixing—kids will love watching the colors change before their eyes.

Step 3 – Creepify the Jar:

Once kids seem to be finishing up the project, ask them to add googly eyes to the mason jars and display them on a windowsill until Halloween.