Fall is a wonderful time of year to explore nature with your kids. Leaves changing, cooler temperatures, and falling acorns.

Yes, that's right, heading outside and collecting fallen acorns is a great way to enjoy the autumn season. Painting with acorns is a creative way for kids to use all of the acorns they collect!

Up here is New England, oak trees are pretty abundant. Throughout the year and specifically in the fall you can find acorns all over the ground near deciduous forests.

Green, dark brown, light brown, large, and small, no two acorns are the same.

finished acorn process art made with real acorns covered in paint painted acorn template inside the box and painted large acorn template on table next to it with paint tray with paint

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. Nature Inspired Learning receives a small commission when certain items are purchased, but the price is the same for you.

Jump to:

What Ages can Benefit from this Project
List of Supplies
Preparing for the Activity
Cutting the Cardboard Box
Painting the Acorns
Creating Acorn Process Art
Painting with Acorns
Comments

What Ages can Benefit from this Project

The great thing about arts and crafts is that really kids of all ages enjoy creating. This project is appropriate for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and elementary aged children.

child painting with acorns using a cut cardboard box, real acorns covered in paint, and a printed off acorn coloring page wooden table below with paint tray

I did this activity with my toddler and he loved it! But honestly, it is even a fun craft for parents to do alongside their child. I like sharing ideas that are not only fun for kids, but for you as the parent!

List of Supplies

Real life acorns
Variety of acrylic paint
Cardboard box
Scissors or X - Acto Knife
Plain Paper or Acorn Template
Plastic Paint Pallet or Disposable Pallet
Paper Towels or Rag
Sink with Water
Optional: Tongs, Drop Cloth, and Apron

You can use any color of acrylic paint for this craft. Kids love exploring color combinations and watching the paint mix. I selected natural colors that resemble real life acorns.

a cut cardboard box with an acorn template inside on a wooden table with a plastic paint tray with orange, tan, brown, and green paint a paint brush, and six real acorns

Colors including green, brown, white, along with yellow can be mixed to create the colors shown in the examples. Burnt orange is also a good color to go along with this project which can be made with red, brown, and yellow paint.

I like using acrylic paint because you can use it for both indoor and outdoor craft projects. It washes out of your hands easily, but it can stain surfaces. A drop cloth and apron are great ways to protect fabric and furniture from paint.

Keep a paper towel or rag next to your work surface. You can also do this craft outside from start to finish if the weather is nice!

Preparing for the Activity

Prior to doing this activity, head outside to hunt for acorns with your children. Kids love being a part of the process of collecting supplies for art projects. During the fall, you can often find acorns of different shapes and sizes in a small area.

a collection of green, dark brown, and light brown acorns in a woven basket with a white stripe outside in the grass with oak leaves on the ground

We are fortunate enough to have several mature oak trees. Have I mentioned that oak trees are my all time favorite?

If you don't have them near by, consider heading over to a hiking trail or nature center.

Plastic acorns can be purchased online, but really, its hard to beat the real thing!

Related Activity: Fall Color by Number

Cutting the Cardboard Box

This art project resembles splatter paint, but instead of using a paintbrush, paint is applied to the acorns directly.

The acorns then roll around within a box and spread the paint. Kids love shaking and moving the box around to create a unique art peice!

a child holding a cut cardboard box with acorn painting supplies for acorn process art using real acorns and paint wooden table below with part of a paint tray

To prepare the box, simply select one that fits the size of the paper you place inside. I printed off an acorn template which can be downloaded for free.

The template is 8 ½ inches by 11 inches, so I picked a box that was one inch wider and longer than that.

Using an X-Acto knife or scissors, cut the top off of the box. I used an X-Acto knife. Leave the sides up a few inches so keep the acorns from rolling out of the box.

With younger kids, do this step for them as these items are very sharp.

Painting the Acorns

Add your different color paint into a pallet. Mix them to create the different colors you want to use.

Kids love this step and will have fun mixing the paints together. A great way to incorporate the color wheel, primary colors, and secondary colors!

a hand holding the top of an acorn and dipping it into tan paint five real acorns on the table and orange, brown, and green paint in the paint pallet

Place a piece of paper or acorn template inside of the cut cardboard box. Drop the acorns into the paint.

Then using their fingers, have your kids roll the acorns in the paint. After, drop the acorns one at a time onto the paper inside the box.

Wash or wipe off hands if they get paint on them. I simply washed mine off with a wet rag right after to get the paint off before it dried.

a cut cardboard box with an printed off acorn template inside with six real acorns covered in paint on the paper. Paint tray with neutral colored paints next to it on a table with a paint brush

You can also dip the acorn into the paint while holding onto the stem. Doing this will keep your child's hands free from paint. Tongs can also be used to dip the acorns into the paint.

Creating Acorn Process Art

Now for the fun part, shaking the box. As you move the box up and down, the acorns will roll around and cover the paper with paint. As the acorns dry, simply re-dip them into the paint and drop them back in the box.

child's hands tipping a cut cardboard box with an acorn template with real acorns with paint rolling inside the box to make artwork with a paint tray with paints on the table below

Creating process art, which is art the is made with the process not necessarily the end result in mind, is a great sensory experience for kids.

Depending on how they move the box, will determine how the acorns move. There is even a nice sound created as the acorns roll around and hit the sides of the box!

Kids can repeat this process as many times as they would like. Change out the paper when they feel their creation is complete.

Allow a few hours for the paint to completely dry.

two acorn coloring pages on a table covered in paint with a paint tray with paint and six real acorns on the table along with a cut cardboard box

Painting with acorns is a great way to explore the fall season together. Additional autumn posts for kids:

Have you ever tried painting with acorns with your kids? Let us know in the comments below!

Yield: 12