Summer Boost
Activity:
Paper Pumpkin
Celebrate the arrival of cool breezes and earlier sunsets by making some pumpkins. This 3-D paper pumpkin is the perfect adornment for any fall table. Your child will love making a variety of these colorful pumpkins to decorate for any and all fall festivities.
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What You Need:
- Strips of cut construction paper, (8.5" x 1/2" or 1")
- 2 brads, or a mini stapler
- Green construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Pencil
What You Do:
- Have your child lay out two strips of paper in an "X" pattern, overlapping them exactly at the center point.
- Have her continue making additional "X" shapes with paper strips until she forms a starburst pattern.
- Carefully poke a brad through the center of all of the strips of paper and splay it out to secure the strips in place, or staple the strips in place at the center.
- She can now lift the strips up to create a pumpkin-like shape. Make sure the strips are saggy and bulgy in the center and all of the tops of the strips meet at the top.
- Secure the top of the strips with either another brad, or a staple.
- Cut off any additional paper that may be hanging off the top edge.
- Have her take another strip of paper and cut it in half.
- Staple, or glue it to the top of the pumpkin shape, from under the area where all of the paper is layered.
- Have her pull the paper up and curl it into a straw shape with her fingers to create a pumpkin stem. Glue this long tube shape in place.
- Draw and cut out two leaves from the green construction paper and glue them on either side of the stem. Let dry.
- Set your paper pumpkin on a table, or attach it to a string and hang it from a tree or window.
