Pumpkin Craft from Strips of Paper.

This project is very simple but it looks nice and is fun to make. It includes cutting with scissors and working with stapler. It is suitable for children 4-7 years old.

Materials:

1. Orange-colored Construction paper (Different shades optional)
2. Scissors
3. Ruler
4. Pencil
5. Stapler
6. Ribbon (green, for hanging - optional)

You are going to need 8 strips of construction paper. All of them should be the same width - 3/4 in. but different lengths (2 strips - 4.5 inches long, 2 strips - 6 inches long, 2 strips - 8 inches long, and the last two have to be 11 inches long). Mark the sheet of paper with a pencil and then your child can cut out the strips.

Arrange your strips in a pile starting and ending with the longest (2 shortest in the middle.) Level them at one end and staple this end with a stapler, as shown below (the staple should be parallel to the short edge of your strips).

Bend the strips near the staple into both directions to make the bottom of the “pumpkin” flat.

Bring together and level the strips at another end so they would bend and create a shape of a pumpkin. Staple this end with a stapler.

Bend paper strips of the just stapled tip into opposite directions to make the top flat (as shown below).

You can tie a green ribbon to the top or you can attach it at the previous stage while stapling the top together.

Also, you can make a few pumpkins and then create a festive garland. It would make a fun project for day care or kindergarten.