Apple Stained Glass Window Decorations + Free Template

During our apple study, my kindergarten students made the cutest apple window decorations with clear contact paper, tissue paper squares and a little construction paper. I make many of these “stained glass” decorations throughout the year and I love how festive they make my classroom feel! These decorations are also very quick to create and they are mess-free since no glue is involved in the project. I'm happy to show you a quick tutorial and share a free apple template so you can easily create the same decorations in your classroom (or home!)

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For this project to run smoothly, it is important to prepare the materials ahead of time. It involves a lot of cutting, so this is a great project to enlist the help of some classroom volunteers. You will need to cut the following materials:

2 sheets of clear contact paper per child (approximately 13×9″ each)
1 construction paper apple frame per child (1 used red)
1 green construction paper leaf per child
1 black construction paper stem per child
red, yellow and green tissue paper cut into approximately 1-2″ squares

I always do the set-up for this project while my students are away from their desks. Typically, this is while the class is out of the room at a special or during indoor playtime. To set up, peel one sheet of contact paper per child and place it sticky side up on each child's desk. Add an apple frame, stem, and leaf onto each piece of contact paper as well. Finally, place a small basket of the tissue paper squares within reach of each child.

Once the materials are arranged on each child's desk, the fun can begin! Children simply add one piece of tissue paper at a time to fill in the center of the apple. I encourage the students to try and cover the entire inside space and to overlap pieces of tissue paper. I also remind the children to use only one piece at a time so they don't end up with big clumps of tissue paper on their window decorations.

One student decided she wanted to have an ALL RED apple. Precious!

This child is carefully adding the finishing touches to his apple craft.

Once the apple is completely filled with tissue paper pieces, I take a second sheet of tissue paper and stick it on top of the tissue paper. This helps to “seal” all of the pieces in place. As a final touch each child trims the excess contact paper from the edges of their apples.

 The newly trimmed apple is ready to hang in the window. Here you can see the back of the apple with all of the overlapping tissue paper squares. I always turn this side of the apple so it faces outward. This allows us to admire the clean edge of the apple frame from within the classroom.

I just LOVE how cute these fall decorations look in my classroom. They are a great seasonal decoration that I can keep up until Thanksgiving!

Free Apple Craft Template

If you want to make this adorable apple craft with your own students, I have made it easy for you with a free apple template! Print the template, trace it onto cardstock or cardboard, and use it to trace perfect apple frames for your classroom! You can print the stem and leaves included in the template directly onto construction paper or cardstock for the project as well. Click the image below to download your free Apple Craft Template!

More Stained Glass Window Decorations

Want to see more festive window decoration ideas? Click any of the links below for some fun projects that the children in your life will love to create!