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Recycled Pumpkin Scarecrow Craft

  • History & Social Studies
  • Sensory Play
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 6-8
  • Grades 1-3

Using new and recycled materials, create a smiling scarecrow, in a nighttime scene to decorate for fall.

Materials


  • Paint Brushes Triangle Handle
  • Rainbow Fuzzy Sticks
  • Acrylic Paint Jars, 24 Assorted colors
  • Skinny Sticks
  • Foam Ball
  • Cardboard Paper Roll
  • Construction Paper (black, green, white)
  • Foam Sheets (dark brown, brown, orange)
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Craft Knife **Adult assistance required
printDownload Template

Instructions


Step 1. Gather your supplies.

make a fall craft scarecrow

 

Template for Scarecrow

 

Step 2.

 

Download, print and cut out the template for the scarecrow’s clothes.

Make a scarecrow craft with kids

 

Step 3.

 

Trace the template pieces onto the brown foam and cut out.

Children's scarecrow craft

 

Step 4.

 

With scissors cut cardboard tube in half long ways, as shown. Then cut in half the other way to make a shorter piece.

Make a scarecrow craft

 

Step 5.

 

Cut slits around the bottom of the tube, about ¼ inch apart.  The slits should go approximately halfway up the tube.

DIY Scarecrow craft for kids

 

Step 6.

 

Fold over the 2 sides of the tube, keeping the middle part curved, this will make the hat 3-dimensional once it’s glued on the paper. Cut off the flaps on the folded sides, as shown.

Make a scarecrow craft for fall

 

Step 7.

 

Have an adult cut a foam ball in half using a craft knife. Glue 1/2 of the foam ball near the top of a piece of black construction paper. Tip: leave room for the hat.

Scarecrow craft

 

Step 8.

 

Apply glue to the 2 folded flaps of the hat and glue onto the background paper over the foam ball. The flaps you cut, which mimic straw hair, should overlap the ball.

kids craft scarecrow

 

Step 9.

 

Glue the foam shirt and pants cut in Step 3, onto the background paper.

Arts and Crafts Scarecrow project

 

Step 10.

 

Cut a Skinny Stick to size that fits under the scarecrow’s body and glue onto the background. Tip: You may need the help of an adult to trim the stick.

Make a scarecrow for fall

 

Step 11.

 

Cut a yellow Fuzzy Stick in half. Gently fold the Fuzzy Stick between your fingers, as shown, to create some straw for the scarecrow.

Children's craft activity, scarecrow

 

Step 12.

 

Glue the bended Fuzzy Stick piece around the scarecrow’s neck. Repeat to create additional accents on the waist, arms and legs of the scarecrow’s outfit.

scarecrow craft

 

Step 13.

 

Glue orange foam squares onto the scarecrows clothes to mimic patches.

scarecrow collage activity for kids

 

Step 14.

 

Cut a 2 inch strip from the bottom of a sheet of green Construction paper and fold in half. Cut slits into this folded piece to create grass.

Make a scarecrow craft

 

Step 15.

 

Unfold the paper and glue along the bottom of your picture. Gently fold the flaps back away from the picture, this will keep the grass from blocking your the bottom of your scarecrow.

kids arts and crafts scarecrow

 

Step 16.

 

Cut a crescent moon out of white Construction paper and glue in the sky.

children's craft scarecrow

 

Step 17.

 

Add Acrylic Paint to your scarecrow. We painted the foam ball face, made his hat black and added stitches to his patches and clothing.

scarecrow craft project

 

Step 18.

 

Cut triangles out of dark brown foam for the eyes, a triangle out orange foam for the nose, and a mouth out of the dark brown foam. Glue the pieces to the scarecrow’s face to finish your picture.

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Learn about the history of the scarecrow while creating your own recycled version to display in the classroom.   

  • Scarecrows Everywhere: The long history of scarecrows starts with the Egyptians, who used wooden frames and nets to protect their crops from quail along the Nile River. Learn how other countries created their own versions of scarecrows to keep their crops safe.
  • Change of Scenery: Enhance the spooky nighttime background with other craft materials! Create fuzzy stick zig zags to add bats and add star stickers to light up the night sky — or trade the black construction paper for textured scrapbook paper instead.

Give the scarecrow something to scare away! Complete the festive fall scene by pairing this craft with three recycled crows to show students some ways cardboard and egg cartons can be used to make creative projects.