Fall is the perfect time to use the beauty of nature treasures in your arts and crafts projects! These fall nature art activities are exactly what busy moms need - simple, engaging, and guaranteed to keep little hands busy while creating something truly magical. Today, I'm sharing one of our favorite autumn crafts that transforms ordinary sticks into autumn trees!
Why Fall Nature Art Activities Are Perfect for Young Children
Fall nature art activities offer so many developmental benefits while celebrating the change of season! When children engage with natural materials, they're developing their fine motor skills, creativity, and connection to the outdoors - all essential components of healthy childhood development.
The beauty of this activity lies in its simplicity. You just need a few basic materials and your child's imagination to create something truly beautiful and seasonal. Plus, these projects are perfect for toddlers through early elementary age, making them ideal for families with multiple children!
What You'll Need for This Fall Nature Art Activity
- Watercolor paper , watercolor cards, or heavy cardstock)
- Small sticks and twigs from your yard
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrushes (various sizes work great)
- Tape (clear or washi tape both work)
- Water containers
- Paper towels for cleanup
If you already have most of these supplies on-hand, making fall nature art activities can be spontaneous - set up whenever inspiration strikes or you need an easy activity! If you don't have watercolor paper, heavy cardstock or even regular copy paper will work in a pinch.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Fall Twigs Tree Art
Step 1: Collect Sticks and Twigs
Start by taking your children on a nature walk around your neighborhood or letting them find sticks in the yard. Encourage them to look for different shapes, sizes, and textures. This outdoor time is just as valuable as the art-making itself!
Step 2: Prep Your Art Station
Set up a comfortable workspace where your children can spread out and get creative. Cover your table with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to make cleanup easier. Having everything organized before you start makes these fall nature art activities stress-free!
Set up the supplies so your kids can independently access them. Fill water containers, open any new packaging for the watercolors and brushes, and have paper towels within reach.
Step 3: Taping Sticks to Create Tree Structures
Now comes the fun part! Let your children arrange their collected sticks on the watercolor paper to create tree shapes. They can create single trees with one main trunk and smaller branches, or entire forest scenes with multiple trees!
Use tape to secure the sticks to the paper. Clear tape works well, but colorful washi tape can add an extra decorative element. Don't worry about making it perfect - the best part about these fall nature art activities is their organic, natural style.
Step 4: Add Color and Magic
Painting time! Use the watercolors to paint around and over the sticks to create beautiful Autumn trees. You can encourage your child to use traditional fall colors like oranges, reds, yellows, and browns, but also let them explore and be creative!
Some painting techniques to try:
- Dotting paint around branches to create leaves
- Washing color across the background for sky effects
- Layering different colors for depth and interest
- Adding details like grass, flowers, or animals
Extension Ideas & Creative Variations
Fall nature art activities like this are endlessly adaptable. Try these exciting variations and extension ideas!
Mathematical Learning
Count sticks, sort them by size, or create patterns with your collection. These mathematical concepts integrate naturally into art preparation and creation.
Seasonal Scene Creation
Encourage children to paint seasonal scenes around their trees. They might add falling leaves, autumn animals, or cozy houses. This extension turns the simple tree art into an opportunity for storytelling through visual art.
Mixed Media Exploration
Add additional natural elements like dried leaves, pressed flower petals, or small stones. These mixed media approaches make the artwork more textural and interesting while bringing even more nature into the creative process!
Literature Connections
Read books about trees, seasons, or art after your creative session! This literacy connection reinforces learning and provides vocabulary development opportunities related to the art project.
Fall Nature Art Activities Educational Benefits Hidden in the Fun
While your child has a blast with fall nature art activities, they're also engaging in serious learning! Art provides countless developmental benefits that support academic and social growth.
Fine motor development happens naturally as children tape and arrange their sticks, plus using their paint brush. These same skills translate directly to writing readiness!
Color recognition and mixing introduce early science concepts. Children learn about primary and secondary colors plus how the dry watercolor and water interact.
The nature walk and twig collection of this fall nature art activity fosters connection with nature and observation of seasonal changes.
Your Turn to Play!
Fall nature art activities are one of our favorite ways to celebrate the season, and this sticks tree art is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors and encourage creativity! Consider making this a regular autumn activity that everyone gets excited about and enjoys together. Years from now, these simple afternoon art sessions will be remembered as times to connect and spend time together.
The beauty of fall nature art activities lies not just in the finished products, but in the joy of creating together, exploring nature, and celebrating the changing seasons through artistic expression!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All recommendations are based on items I personally use and love with my own children.
Written by Brittany, Stay at Home Activity Mom
Brittany is a former elementary school teacher turned stay-at-home mom of three. Passionate about children learning through play, she began sharing her simple, hands-on, and education activities on her Instagram @stayathomeactivitymom so that other parents could see how fun this type of at-home learning can be.
