(This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure statement for more information).
A few weeks ago I saw a picture of a brilliant
painted pine cone wreath. It was like a rainbow of tempera paints exploded onto
a circle of pine cones. It was so viciously vibrant that I decided to give it a
try. What does this have to do with the Thanksgiving giving thanks leaf wreath?
On my way to the park to pick up a few pine cones (I conveniently live near a
park that is actually called Pine Cone Park- and for good reason) my
6-month-old puppy decided that he didn’t want to go past the front yard. And,
here’s what the front yard looks like:
So, with all of the fall leaves I decided to do a
leaf wreath in the same colorful style of the rainbow pine cones. Add another
layer of learning on to the art adventure and include a lesson on giving thanks
(in a not so obvious way). This activity is packed with artsy goodness,
gratitude and fun for kids of all ages!
Here’s What You’ll Need:
·
Fall leaves – Go outside and have your
child collect a few different sizes and shapes of leaves. This is a great
opportunity to talk about nature. Ask your child why she thinks the leaves are
different colors now or why they fell off of the trees.
·
Clear drying school glue
·
Cardboard—I reused an old cereal box.
·
A marker
·
Wax paper – You can use this as a ‘painting
palette’ and a barrier for the mess.
·
Paper
·
Clear tape
·
Scissors
·
Gauze
·
Tempera paint -- You can use any washable, non-toxic paint. For this project we used Crayola Kids' Paint.
Here’s What to Do:
1. Squeeze
golf ball-sized pools of bright tempera paints onto the wax paper.
2. Paint
the leaves. Your child can use a brush or she can ball up a piece of gauze, dip
it into the paint and dab it on. This method is helpful if the leaves are dry
and brittle.
3. Set
the leaves aside to dry.
4. Draw
the wreath shape (a circle) onto the cardboard. Have your child draw a smaller
circle inside.
5. Cut
the wreath out. Your child may need some help getting through the cardboard if
it’s thick.
6. Paint
the cardboard. Use the gauze to dab and dot different colors of paint onto it.
Encourage your child to create patterns, different textures or blend the colors
with the gauze.
7. Let
the cardboard dry.
8. Cut
the paper into rectangles or squares that are smaller than the leaves. Have
your child write what she is thankful for on each piece of paper. If she isn’t ready
to write yet, draw it on with a pencil and have her trace the letters. Ask her
what the word “thankful” means and what she wants to give thanks for.
9. Tape
one thankful paper to the back of each leaf. Why not the front? Because this
activity is about helping your child to understand that being thankful is something
that is deeply personal. It’s not about being showy or broadcasting what you
have.
10. Glue the leaves onto the cardboard. Your
child doesn’t have to completely cover the cardboard. She can let some of her
patterned painting show through.
Every time that your child looks at the wreath, she’ll
think about what she is thankful for. You can also try this as a family
activity in which each personal makes a leaf or two.
Are you looking for more Thanksgiving activities? Follow
my Pinterest board for ideas!
Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Thanksgiving Kids' Activities on Pinterest.
That is a beautiful wreath. I like that you used real leaves instead of making them.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We have so many of them, so I just had to use a few up!
DeleteCute! I love how kid-friendly it is!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSo pretty and alot of fun for a child to fully participate in. I know my daughter loves to pick leaves and paint so this would be a win, win activity for us!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteIf only we had enough fall leaves to do something like this. Very cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks! You could make your own faux fall leaves with paper. I know it's not the same, but it's kind of a substitute.
DeleteHow cute! I will definitely do this with my little ones! Thanks for linking up with us at Mommy Needs a Timeout Thursday. See you again this week! Party starts Wednesday at 8pm EST.
ReplyDeleteLauren
Twin Tested, Pin Approved
http://twintestedpinapproved.wordpress.com
Thanks!
DeleteSo fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great idea. You will be features on Good Tips Tuesday this week. Thanks for linking up. www.abirdandabean.com
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