Fall is the perfect time to bring acorns, leaves, woodland animals, and other nature themes into your classroom or homeschool activities. This paper plate acorn craft is an easy way to add a hands-on art project to your fall learning plans without needing a long list of complicated supplies.
I created the printable template to make assembling the acorn easier for preschool and kindergarten children. Instead of having to draw all the pieces from scratch, children can use the printable acorn cap, stem, eyes, and cheeks to turn an ordinary paper plate into an adorable fall acorn friend. The printable template includes a large patterned cap designed to fit across the top of the paper plate.
This is a fun craft to use during an acorn theme, fall unit, woodland animal study, Letter A activities, or a lesson about oak trees.
Why Make a Paper Plate Acorn Craft?
I love creating paper plate crafts because the basic supplies are inexpensive and familiar, while the finished projects can look completely different from one theme to the next.
This paper plate acorn craft for kids also gives children more to do than simply assemble a finished picture. Painting, coloring, cutting, positioning pieces, and gluing all provide opportunities to practice fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Similar acorn crafts are commonly used with preschool and kindergarten children because the large pieces are easier for little hands to work with, and fall themes make it easy to connect the craft with seasonal learning.
You could use this craft for:
- Preschool fall activities
- Kindergarten fall crafts
- Acorn and oak tree units
- Woodland and forest themes
- Letter A activities
- Nature studies
- Fall classroom centers
- Homeschool art
- October and November activities
- Fall bulletin board displays
It can also make a cute companion activity after a fall read-aloud.
Supplies for Your Paper Plate Acorn Craft
One reason this project works well for a classroom or homeschool setting is that it doesn’t require unusual craft materials.
For this acorn craft, gather:
- 9-inch white paper plate
- Printable paper plate acorn craft template
- Brown paint
- Paintbrush
- Crayons or colored pencils, if using the black-and-white template
- Scissors
- Glue
- Printer paper or cardstock
I recommend cardstock for the printable pieces when possible. It makes the large acorn cap a little sturdier, especially when children are coloring, cutting, and gluing their pieces.
Washable brown tempera paint is also a practical choice when working with younger children. If painting isn’t convenient, children can color the plate brown instead.
How to Make a Paper Plate Acorn Craft
Before beginning, print the paper plate acorn craft template and gather all of the supplies. Younger children may need help cutting some of the pieces, particularly the large acorn cap.
Step 1: Paint the Paper Plate
Begin by painting the front of the paper plate brown.
Children don’t have to make the paint perfectly even. Different brushstrokes and shades can give each acorn its own appearance.
Set the plate aside and allow the paint to dry completely before adding the printable pieces.
For a lower-mess version, children can color the plate with a brown crayon instead.
Step 2: Prepare the Acorn Template
While the paper plate dries, cut out the pieces from the printable template.
The template includes the pieces needed to give the acorn its cute fall look, including the large textured acorn cap, separate stem, eyes, and rosy cheeks. The crisscross design on the cap adds some of the texture children would see on a real acorn.
If you’re using the black-and-white version, children can color their pieces before cutting them out.
This is an easy way to add a little more fine motor practice to the activity.
Step 3: Add the Acorn Cap
Once the paper plate is completely dry, position the large acorn cap across the top of the plate.
Glue it securely in place.
The cap is intentionally large so that it stretches across the plate rather than looking like a tiny hat sitting in the center.
Step 4: Attach the Stem
Glue the brown stem behind the top of the acorn cap so that it sticks up from the finished acorn.
Let children decide whether they want their stem perfectly straight or tilted slightly to one side. Those tiny differences are part of what makes a classroom full of finished crafts so much fun to display.
Step 5: Give Your Acorn a Face
Now it’s time to turn the plate into a friendly little acorn.
Glue the two eyes toward the center of the paper plate and add one pink cheek underneath each eye.
Finish the face by drawing a simple smile with a black marker.
Children can experiment with different expressions, too. One acorn might have a tiny smile, while another has a giant grin.
Step 6: Let Everything Dry
Allow the glue and any remaining paint to dry before displaying the finished paper plate acorn craft.
Once everything is secure, the acorns can go on a fall bulletin board, classroom wall, homeschool display, or refrigerator.
Turn This Acorn Craft Into a Fall Learning Activity
A craft can easily become part of a larger lesson rather than being a stand-alone activity.
Before making the acorns, introduce children to real acorns and talk about where they come from. Acorns are the fruit, or nuts, produced by oak trees. Children can examine an acorn and compare its shape, color, cap, and texture with the acorn they are creating.
If you have access to oak trees, an outdoor acorn hunt can be especially fun.
Have children collect a few fallen acorns and bring them back for observation. They can sort them by size, count them, compare their caps, or use a magnifying glass to look closely at their surfaces.
For preschoolers, keep the discussion simple. Kindergarten and early elementary children may be ready to learn more about how an acorn can eventually grow into an oak tree.
Paper Plate Acorn Craft for Fine Motor Practice
One of my favorite things about adding crafts to educational activities is that children can practice important skills without the activity feeling like another worksheet.
This project includes several different hand movements.
Holding and moving a paintbrush works differently from coloring with a crayon. Cutting the template requires children to follow an outline. Picking up and positioning the eyes and cheeks requires more precise movements.
Even squeezing glue and deciding where each piece belongs adds useful practice.
For younger preschool children, adults can pre-cut the more difficult pieces while allowing children to handle the painting and assembly. Older preschoolers and kindergarteners can complete more of the cutting independently.
Make an Acorn Bulletin Board
These little acorns would be especially cute together on a fall classroom bulletin board.
Give each child the same paper plate acorn craft template, but allow them to personalize the face or choose different shades of brown for the plate.
You could create a simple fall display with a large paper oak tree and arrange the finished acorns underneath it.
Add a heading such as “We’re Nuts About Fall,” “Growing Together,” or “Our Little Acorns.”
Another option is to write each child’s name underneath the finished craft. This turns the project into seasonal classroom decor while still allowing every child’s artwork to remain unique.
Picture Books to Pair With an Acorn Craft
A fall picture book can turn this simple craft into a longer literacy activity. I especially like choosing books that introduce children to acorns, oak trees, squirrels, or seasonal changes.
A few books to consider are Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer, Little Acorn by Melanie Joyce, The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri, and Acorn Was a Little Wild by Jen Arena.
After reading, talk about what children noticed in the story before beginning the craft. Ask questions about where acorns come from, which animals might eat or collect them, and what eventually happens when an acorn begins to grow.
You can also place the books in your fall reading basket so children can revisit them throughout the week.
More Fall Activities and Printables
The paper plate acorn craft doesn’t have to be the end of your fall theme.
I like the idea of combining hands-on crafts with simple printable activities because children get a mixture of cutting, coloring, writing, counting, and creative work throughout the week.
Pair your acorn craft with fall-themed activities such as squirrel worksheets, fox worksheets, owl worksheets, sunflower activities, apple worksheets, fall tracing pages, alphabet coloring pages, or fall preschool worksheets.
For an acorn or woodland mini-unit, you could also include an acorn counting activity, an A is for Acorn coloring page, leaf sorting, a nature scavenger hunt, or an oak tree life cycle activity.
Pin This Paper Plate Acorn Craft for Later
Not ready to make your acorn today?
Save this paper plate acorn craft for kids to your favorite fall crafts, preschool activities, kindergarten crafts, or homeschool Pinterest board so you can find it when you’re planning your next fall theme.
It’s an easy one to keep tucked away for September, October, or November when you need a seasonal activity that combines art and fine motor practice.
Get Your Paper Plate Acorn Craft Printable Here
Ready to make your own little collection of fall acorns?
I created this printable paper plate acorn craft template to make preparation easier for parents, homeschool families, and teachers. Simply print the pieces, gather your paper plate and basic craft supplies, and you’re ready to begin.
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Easy Fall Fun With a Paper Plate Acorn Craft
This paper plate acorn craft is a simple way to bring a little fall creativity into a preschool classroom, kindergarten lesson, or homeschool day.
With a paper plate, brown paint, and the printable template, children can create their own cheerful acorn while practicing painting, cutting, gluing, and fine motor skills along the way.
Pair it with an acorn picture book, an outdoor nature hunt, or your favorite fall worksheets, and a simple paper plate can become the starting point for an entire autumn learning theme.
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