Recycled Indian Corn Fall Craft

Fall is the perfect time to teach your children or students about the Native Americans and early settlers. Making these Indian corn crafts teaches children about the way of life of the Native Americans as well as the principle of recycling to reduce and reuse. Eco-friendly green crafts are a great reminder for students of the original spirit of Native Americans to protect the Earth and have limited waste.

First, collect enough cardboard toilet paper rolls for each child to have one. Enlist the help of other teachers or neighborhood parents to collect enough toilet paper rolls. You may want to keep a storage bin with items like this for future recycled crafts.

Each child will paint their toilet paper tube yellow, brown, or orange. Remind them to paint a thick coat so no cardboard can be seen. Younger children can use markers or crayons to color their recycled toilet paper tubes for this craft.

Allow the recycled toilet paper tubes to dry completely. While the fall craft is drying, prepare the paper leaves for the Indian corn. Cut long green corn husks to resemble narrow triangles with slightly curved edges. Children can either cut them from plain paper and color them green or use green construction paper. Cut three or four corn leaves.

Align the thick bottom edge of one corn leaf with the yellow painted toilet paper tube. Glue the bottom portion of the leaf to attach it to the craft ear of corn, but leave the narrow top free. Continue to glue corn leaves around the end of the Indian corn craft. Gently fold some of the green corn leaves back from the Indian corn craft tube.

Cover the remainder of the painted Indian corn craft with kernels of un-popped popcorn. Working on one side at a time, place a thick layer of white school glue (which will dry clear) and cover it with the popcorn kernels. Allow the fall craft to dry, flip it over, and cover the bottom side with corn as well.

Allow the recycled craft to dry completely before moving it. If you are using this as a school craft, be sure to make it early enough in the day that students can take their recycled Indian corn craft home.

Make a basket full of these eco-friendly crafts to decorate the table for Tanksgiving or a fall party. Or make one for each place as a place setter. Include a hand-written name card on a leaf shaped paper for each Thanksgiving guest. Make this a family project to celebrate Thanksgiving. Have each child make an ear of craft Indian corn for each thing they are thankful for. Before the holiday meal, discuss the notes attached to each ear of craft Indian corn.