During October or November I usually do an autumn or fall theme with my young students. The season offers so many opportunities for introducing vocabulary for colours, weather, clothes and nature. Plus there are loads of wonderful activities that are so much fun to do with little ones!

This simple autumn-fall tree craft is one that I always like to do because it’s so easy and versatile. There are many ways you can have kids decorate it, so the activity can be as clean or as messy as you like! I’ve included some ideas below to inspire you. It also works well for a range of ages, so I can use it with my 3 year olds all the way up to my 8 year olds.

I’ve included a FREE template for the tree that you can download – scroll down the page for the download box. The file includes a version in UK English (the text reads “My Autumn Tree”) and a version in US English (the text reads “My Fall Tree”).

We also have just the the frame (without the tree) available in portrait and landscape formats which you can use as the border for other autumn arts and crafts projects with your kids!

Supplies

White paper or card stock
Glue or coloured tissue paper
Paints, crayons or coloured pens
Optional: clothes pins and cotton balls, lego bricks

How to make the Autumn-Fall Tree Craft:

Download the free template (see the download box at the end of the post)

Print onto white paper or card stock.

Ideas for decorating the tree:

Tissue paper balls:

Invite children to colour the trunk of the tree. Put out pieces of orange, yellow, red and brown tissue paper. Ask them to scrunch up the pieces into balls and stick them to the branches to make the leaves. With very young kids, I recommend that you demonstrate beforehand how they should put the glue on the branches and then stick the tissue paper balls. In my experience, most preschoolers will try to put the glue directly on the tissue paper balls if not directed otherwise!

Finger painting:

Finger painting is always a winner with kids! I invite them to first colour the trunk of the tree with crayons or pencils and then add the fingerprint leaves afterwards.

Cotton ball painting:

This is a bit less messy than finger painting. Put out pots of orange, yellow, red and brown paint. Clip cotton balls to clothes pegs to make disposable paint stamps. Children dip the cotton balls into the paint and stamp them on the branches to make the leaves. Thick paint will take a while to dry, so if you only have an hour long class you may need a hairdryer to speed things up!

Lego brick stamping:

Another stamping technique that preschoolers especially enjoy! The round raised pegs on the bricks make fun stamps, and they’re easy to clean afterwards too!

Download