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Halloween is almost here and I have a super-simple craft you can create inside the classroom or at home with your little ones! The best part is that pumpkins are in-season all through the fall so this cute window decoration can stay up right through Thanksgiving.
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Before you begin this craft, you will need to gather some materials. Each child in the class is going to need to sheets of clear contact paper (approximately 9×13″ in size). Each child will also need 1 pumpkin frame cut from orange construction paper and 1 brown construction paper stem. You will also need to have lots of 1″ squares of orange and yellow tissue paper handy. In my classroom, groups of 2-3 children share a basket with tissue paper pieces.
While the students are away from their desks (either during play time or while they are at a special), I peel a sheet of contact paper and place it sticky-side up on each student’s desk. I then add the pumpkin frame and stem to the contact paper. No glue is required ! The papers stick right to the contact paper with ease.
Once the setup is complete, the children fill the inside of the pumpkin frame with tissue paper squares. I give my kindergarten students lots of reminders to only apply one tissue paper square at a time. Overlapping the pieces is encouraged to add extra color and dimension.
I also encourage my students to fill the ENTIRE space inside of the pumpkin. A completed project should look like this.
Once the pumpkin is completely filled with tissue paper, I add a second sheet of clear contact paper to the back of the pumpkin to hold all of the tissue paper squares in place and “seal” all of the pieces together. The students then trim the excess plastic from their creations.
The completed projects are adorable and they look beautiful when the light shines through my classroom window.
Want to make these adorable pumpkins for your home or classroom? Download a free pumpkin frame template from my TpT store and get ready to start crafting!
If you are looking for more stained glass window decoration ideas, check out these blogs posts! They are filled with exciting ideas that are sure to spruce up your windows.
I’m a former kindergarten teacher turned work-from-home mom. I still love sharing ideas and resources to make teaching easier, so you can focus on what really matters in the classroom. When I’m not working on the blog, you’ll find me chasing kids around the house with a cold cup of coffee in my hand (some things never change even once you’re out of the classroom!)
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5 Responses
Seriously cute! I also sit here thinking you must own stock in clear contact paper! These projects are adorable though. I took your mode of thinking with a project that I am using in class this week. We are doing the letter T this week and my kids made fall trees out of contact paper and their hands. It is turning out seriously cute.
Love this activity! The apple one you offered was just as awesome! I have all of these materials on hand….so simple yet adorable! Thanks a bunch!
Does each child need two or one 9×13 sheets of contact paper?
Also do you know about how many packages of tissue paper makes enough for a class of about 24?
so cute! great way to get more practice with scissors!
I love this craft but I found that it is easier to do using a laminator. The children make their pumpkin inside a lamination pocket and I run them through the laminator and then they trim around the edge. It is much easier than messing around with contact paper.