Autumn themed art is a great way to introduce a seasonal theme to preschoolers. This early childhood art lesson plan includes steps n how to create a fall collage with young children, lesson discussion topics, and classroom enrichment activities.
Autumn Season Collage Lesson Objectives
- Explore art materials and process.
- Develop fine motor skills.
- Increase awareness of the environment and natural surroundings.
- Recognize and recall the four seasons (with proper names).
- Build vocabulary skills.
- Experiment with multiple artistic mediums.
- Explore color, shape, pattern,and texture.
Grade/ Age Level
This art lesson plan can be used with children ages three and up.
Materials Needed to Create Autumn Collages
- Thick paper such as card stock, cardboard, or poster board
- Clear drying non-toxic school glue
- Natural fall materials (for example, leaves or acorns)
- Bag
- Photographs of fall images
- Children’s scissors
- Optional: child friendly magazines, fall photographs from the children, digital camera
Steps to Create Autumn Collage with Preschoolers
Pre-activity
There are two main components to the pre-activity or preparing phase of this project. The first is to collect a variety of natural fall inspired materials. Take the children for a mini-field trip outdoors. Ask the children to collect fall items from nature, and place them in a bag. Make sure to instruct the class to only choose items that have already fallen, and to not pull live plants apart.
The second pre-activity component is to gather fall themed photographs. These can be brought in from home, cut from a child friendly magazine, or taken by the children themselves. Steps for child created photography include:
- Instruct the children on the use of a digital camera. Supervise closely during all phases of this project.
- Invite the children to look for fall images such as piles of leaves or fall colors.
- Have each child take his or her turn snapping a few autumn photos. Look for different angles and levels in the photography process. Ask the children to take some pictures while standing, and some while sitting.
- A teacher or other adult can then print the photos for the children to choose from.
Process Steps
- Allow each child to select a variety of natural materials and fall photographs.
- Ask the children to arrange these items on the cardboard or card stock.
- The children can now glue these items down in place.
- Set aside to dry.
- Display!
Autumn Collage Art Lesson Wrap Up
After the collages have dried and been displayed, it is time to discuss the creative process. Ask the children how the collages were made. This includes materials that were used, art processes, and fun details. If a child is hesitant to speak, start with simple questions that focus on a color or shape.
Early Childhood Classroom Enrichment Activities
This preschool lesson plan can be used alone as an art activity or combined with other classroom units or themes. Examples include:
- Science: Invite preschoolers to become scientists and study the beauty of nature. Turn the natural materials collection process into a science lesson in which the students go out into the field to collect a variety of specimens. Upon returning to the classroom, help the children to organize, categorize, and record what was collected.
- Seasons/Holidays: Tie this project into a fall theme or add it to a seasonal holiday unit.
- Self-Concept: Ask the children to bring in or take photographs of themselves in the fall. Add this to a unit on self-concept.
- Colors: Use the vibrant fall foliage as a backdrop for a color themed unit.
An autumn themed collage project is a fun way to introduce a variety of basic concepts to preschoolers. Begin by collecting autumn objects from the outdoors, and then move into the photography component. After all of the materials have been gathered, invite the children to create fantastic fall collages that can be displayed in the classroom.
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