Come on in and learn how to use colorful pumpkin seeds to create pumpkin seed art in preschool. You are definitely going to want to add this to your list of must-do preschool pumpkin activities.
This super simple fall art idea can use up your extra pumpkin seeds. And it’s a great way to talk about colors and fall leaves. Plus, it gives the kids a fun way to practice those fine motor skills.
And if the kids want to make something completely different with the materials, that’s fine too! But the dyed pumpkin seeds make lovely fall leaves, don’t they?
Related: Name Activities with Colorful Pumpkin Seeds
This activity came about in the best way possible – the children instigated it.
I’m a big proponent of following the children’s lead when it comes to topics to explore, preschool themes to plan, and skills to practice. Of course, there’s always an overarching plan in place. But there’s also always enough wiggle room to integrate ideas that engage the children. Preschool magic happens when the kids are engaged and have ownership over their learning.
So, back to the children instigating some awesome pumpkin seed art. The conversation came about on the tail end of exploring how to dye pumpkin seeds and make them into pumpkin seed discovery bottles. We all had a blast with that process, and our colorful seeds had been in the science center for a while.
One day, a few of the children asked if we could use those seeds to make some art. My response: “Pumpkin seed art?! Of course!” Can you tell I was a little excited? Read below to find out about our process.
Related: Pumpkin Seed Turkey Thanksgiving Art
Preschool Pumpkin Seed Art
Here’s what we did. It’s a super simple process, so I’m confident you’ll be able to replicate it in your classroom, too.
Materials We Used
First, grab your materials. Here’s what we used (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- White construction paper
- Glue bottles
- Dyed pumpkin seeds
If you haven’t already, you can read here how to dye pumpkin seeds. You’ll need some dry pumpkin seeds (we just got ours at the store) and liquid watercolors.
Related: Pumpkin Seed Christmas Tree Art
Directions for Pumpkin Seed Art
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to set everything up. We grabbed some paper and glue, along with a bowl full of our dyed pumpkin seeds, and sat down at the art table. Since it was a group of students who’d requested this art invitation, I already had a crowd around me.
As you’re setting up the materials, you might find your students popping by to see what’s going on. Otherwise, you can invite a few children over to the art center with you.
Then basically explain that the kids can use the materials to create whatever art they’d like to. Depending on your preferences, you could also encourage the children to grab some additional materials.
That’s really about it in terms of directions. That’s one of the great things about process art for kids – you set up the materials and leave creativity for the children.
Don’t worry, they can handle it!
Related: Pumpkin Geoboard Pumpkin Math
Pumpkin Seed Art Video Tutorial
Here’s a quick video to show you how you can get pumpkin seed art ready in your own classroom!
After you watch it, be sure to read about how my students ran with the idea.
Related: Pumpkin Crafts for Preschoolers
How My Students Created
Oh how I love observing children as they play, create, and learn. And inevitably bring me into a fun conversation.
Some of the children just loved running their fingers through the seeds.
Others wanted to glue the seeds all over their paper.
A few wanted to create something specific, but couldn’t decide what they wanted to make.
We ended up chatting with me about the pumpkin seeds for a while. We chatted about our observations, commenting on the different colors, the scent of the seeds, and how they felt.
Then we got on the topic of the shape of the seeds. I mentioned that they were tear-drop shaped, which led into a side discussion all about tears.
It’s preschool – we get into a lot of interesting side discussions, right!?
Once the tear-drop conversation dried up, one of the kiddos said, “The seeds look like leaves!”
That led to the decision to make fall tree pumpkin seed art. Which is what a few of us ended up doing!
We looked out the windows and observed how the trees looked so we could draw the trunks and branches.
A few of the children were insistent that I needed to make my own art project while I was there.
It didn’t take much to convince me. Sitting and creating WITH the children is just plain fun.
After we drew our tree trunks, it was onto adding the seeds. I found it interesting to observe which children added one or two and which children went wild with adding seeds to their trees.
In the end, everyone seemed rather happy with how things turned out!
It is so interesting to observe how children come up with different ideas. It’s even more fun to be a part of that process.
Related: Pumpkin Seed Activities
Preschool Pumpkin Lesson Plans
Preschool Teacher 101’s pumpkin theme lesson plans have more than 180 pages of daily and weekly plans, center explanations, book suggestions, and related printables.
They will make planning your preschool pumpkin theme a breeze.
Have you ever created fall seed art with your students?
If you do so, be sure to share it on Fun-A-Day’s Facebook page or tag Fun-A-Day on Instagram!
More Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds
Here are a few more ideas for using pumpkin seeds. You can use dyed seeds or just plain seeds.
Pumpkin Seed Counting Game from Mama.Papa.Bubba
Pumpkin Seed Puzzles from I Can Teach My Child
Indian Corn Craft from I Heart Crafty Things
Originally published on October 29, 2015.
I. Love. This! What great ideas. I am so excited to connect with you through KBN. How exciting!!! I will be trying this asap.
Thank you so very much, Kate!!!! 🙂
This is really pretty. I love the colors of the seeds and the beautiful tree. I am sure that the kids trees will be just as beautiful. I want to try this. Thank you for the suggestion.
Thanks so much, Deborah! Be sure to tell me how it goes if you give it a try.
The place where I saty doesn’t have dyed pumpkin seeds ….how do I do it ?
It’s linked in the directions in the post. I used liquid watercolors to dye them. The directions are here – https://fun-a-day.com/how-to-dye-pumpkin-seeds/. 🙂
How did you dye the seeds?
Hi Karen! The directions for dyeing the seeds are in the post linked in the directions — How to Dye Pumpkin Seeds. We used liquid watercolors, but I’m sure food coloring would work, too. 🙂
Hi please can you tell me how to dye the seeds x Donna
Hi there Donna! You can grab the seed dyeing directions in this post. We used liquid watercolors, but food coloring would work too I’m sure.
What store did you find the pumpkin seeds?
Thanks
Hi Debra! I grabbed them from my local grocery store. 🙂 Although I think Target and Walmart likely have pumpkin seeds too.
So cute. I will be doing this project 😊Thank you
Thank you! Let me know how it goes.
this looks like fun
Thank you! Yes, we have had a blast with this (in one variation or the other) over the years.
Trying this with my firsties tomorrow! Very excited!! Wasn’t sure how you applied glue to the seeds. I’ll be experimenting with what works on 6 year olds 🙂
We just used regular glue from the glue bottles (just be careful of using an overabundance of glue as the coloring might leech out a little – but we didn’t have much trouble with that). Let me know how it goes!!!
I wonder if glue sticks would work ?
You can definitely give it a try! 🙂 Let me know how it goes.
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing!
Come on, fall!!!!
Thank you, Cindy! YES, I am so ready for fall now! 🙂 Let me know how it goes if you try the pumpkin seed art.
Is there another way to dye the seeds? I don’t have liquid watercolors and still haven’t managed to check on my supplies back home from Hurricane Ida.
Hi Casha! I’m sorry to hear that you were affect by Hurricane Ida!! You can try using regular food coloring to dye the pumpkin seeds. I’ve had success with that in the past too, but I find liquid watercolors to be a little easier. If you give it a try, let me know. 🙂
This in not “art” this is a craft. It teaches colors, strengthens fine motor skills, teaches following directions. BUT, every child’s would look basically the same, so not art.
I disagree. If you read the post, you’ll see that the kids are the ones who came up with the idea to use the seeds for tree leaves. And you would have also read the directions, “Then basically explain that the kids can use the materials to create whatever art they’d like to. Depending on your preferences, you could also encourage the children to grab some additional materials. That’s really about it in terms of directions.” You would have also read that different kids made different things with the seeds. But it appears you only left a comment based on looking at a picture or two.
I used food coloring and the colors looked really bad and ugly. They were not really rich with color. So my next step is to try liquid watercolors. I hope it makes a difference in the brightness of the colors. I really want to do this project with my students.
I’m sorry the food coloring didn’t work. Yes, definitely give the liquid watercolors a try! I have much better luck with them (although I did accidentally over-do it once and had some washed out colors, but the kids didn’t care – but just that once). Let me know how it goes!!!
yes, I really love this activity tried it last year and am now in another school program and about to share it with my 3-year-olds. The only thing is with food coloring it stayed wet and sticky so yes worked better with watercolors
That’s what I’ve found out now, too! Thanks for sharing your experience, Dashiell!! 🙂