Make Scented Pumpkins

Engage children's senses with this autumn art project. They will create a paper pumpkin along with some scented, textured paint to add an element of sensory fun. Children will love touching, smelling, and, of course, looking at their seasonal masterpiece.

What You Need:


•Orange and green construction paper

•Scissors

•White glue

•Water


•Pumpkin pie spice


•Paintbrush


What You Do:


1. First, help the children cut out the pumpkin. Have them cut a large circle from the orange construction paper. If they need help cutting out the right shape, you can have them trace a plate, or you can sketch out the shape and have them cut along the lines. Talk about the shape and color as he cuts. What other fruits and vegetables are shaped like a circle or are orange in color?


2. Have them cut a small rectangle from the green construction paper. This will be the stem. Have them glue the green rectangle to the orange circle to create his pumpkin.


3.Now it’s time to make your scented paint! Help them measure equal parts white glue and water. Encourage them to stir the two ingredients together until the mixture is smooth.


4. Next, help them open the container of pumpkin pie spice. Encourage them to sniff it. What do they smell? Allow them to liberally sprinkle the spice over the glue and water mixture and stir again.


5.Now give them a paintbrush and encourage them to cover every inch of the paper pumpkin with the scented paint. When the paint dries, it'll be shiny and have a delightfully grainy texture from the added spice. And it'll even smell like pumpkin pie!


A great outing to go with this activity is a visit to your local pumpkin farm where children can observe the pumpkin life cycle in action. Talk about the process: pumpkins start off as one little seed. The seed sprouts into a seedling. The seedling grows into a vine. Flowers blossom along the vine and each flower becomes a little green pumpkin. As each pumpkin ripens, it becomes bigger and turns orange. While you're at the pumpkin farm, pick up a pumpkin of your own!