Paper Plate Wreaths for Fall

There’s nothing that says fall more loudly than a preschool fall wreath craft! And this paper plate wreath will not disappoint! If you’re looking for the perfect mix of craft and process art to add to your fall preschool activities, this is a must-do!

These paper plate wreaths are painted with vivid fall colors and then adorned with color coordinating tissue paper and glitter. They are a festive fall craft for preschoolers, but also suitable for toddler process art, too.

Create a festive and colorful fall wreath craft for preschoolers using everyday materials like paper plates, paint, glitter, and tissue paper. That’s what this paper plate wreath is all about!

This hands-on process art project not only encourages creativity but also enhances fine motor skills as little ones paint, decorate, and assemble their very own autumn wreaths. It’s a perfect combination of process art and skill development for young learners.

Fall Wreath Craft

They are easy to make and inexpensive, which is always a plus when you have preschoolers using your supplies! But better yet, these fall wreaths are made by cute little preschoolers!

Materials

• cheap paper plates
• washable tempera paint in fall colors
• tissue paper squares in fall colors
• clear drying liquid glue
• glitter in fall colors

How to Make a Paper Plate Wreath

This fall wreath craft is super easy to make and only requires a little bit of prep work for the teacher.

1. Cut out the paper plate wreath shape.

Begin by cutting the center out of the paper plate, making it into a ring. I used a traditional 9-inch paper plates for my preschoolers, however a series of 6-inch wreaths hanging from a door would look lovely as well.

We used 6-inch plates in our Christmas paper plate wreaths last year. If they are smaller, you can turn them into a garland, too.

2. Paint the wreath.

I asked my preschoolers which colors they typically see during the fall season. We looked through our paint supply and pulled the colors most fitting. So, we settled on red, yellow and brown paint.

And purple. Because my son’s favorite color is purple and insists on always using it.

Invite your preschoolers to paint the wreaths as they see fit, using all one color, using all the colors, or mixing the paint to make new colors.

Make messy projects like this one easier by providing the right tools for your preschooler to protect their clothing.

• Use a food tray as a contained workspace for your preschooler.
• We love these art smocks that protect clothing.
• Put butcher paper or a clean shower curtain down on the table for quick cleanup.

3. Add the tissue paper.

At this point, you can allow the paper plates to dry, or you can move on to the next part — adding glue and squares of tissue paper.

For an added fine motor component, you can have your preschoolers tear their own tissue paper, but it will be too difficult for toddlers. I typically just buy pre-cut tissue paper squares to save some time.

My preschoolers found that they liked the tissue paper to be bunched up a little bit, which is excellent fine motor work, but a few of my preschoolers gently laid the tissue paper squares on the glue, keeping them flat.

4. Add some glitter!

Finally, we added some glitter.

If the paint is still wet, the glitter will stick to the wet paint, so make a judgement call here.

I prefer the look of strings of glittery glue that wind through the wreaths. My preschoolers used liquid glue and then poured fine glitter over it, and since the paint was dry the glitter made neat lines as it stuck only to the glue.

Alternatively, you can also use glitter glue, which always is met with an outburst of enthusiasm by preschoolers, and a better choice if you are trying to keep the mess to a minimum.

Crafted from simple paper plates, these fall wreaths add a burst of seasonal charm throughout the classroom.

Their vibrant autumn colors infuse a sense of festivity into our learning environment, and I just can’t get over how different each individual wreath is. My preschoolers felt such pride and accomplishment.

Wreath Crafts for Kids

Arts and crafts are a fun way for young children to work on fine motor skills, while making important decisions about their work. Try some of these other wreath crafts for kids.

They all use paper plates as a base for the wreath, making them really cost effective for preschool.

• Christmas Paper Plate Wreath Craft
• Not-so-Spooky Halloween Wreath
• Snowman Wreath Craft
• Night Sky Wreath Craft
• Turkey Wreath Craft

Fall Art Activities for Preschoolers

With fall providing so much inspiration for fall crafts and process art, how could we stop at just fall wreaths? Try of some of these other amazing fall art activities for preschoolers and toddlers.

• Tissue Painted Pumpkins
• Fall Process Art for Toddlers
• Autumn Collages for Kids
• Leaf Suncatchers