# Lentil Pumpkins
> Kids spread a thick coat of white glue over a jack-o'-lantern outline and pour or spoon on orange lentils, with green lentils for the leaves and black lentils or marker for the face. It's a simple fall or Halloween craft that builds fine motor skills.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/15464-2/
- Ages: 3–7 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 20 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: fine-motor, art, colors
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 sheet Pumpkin / jack-o'-lantern silhouette template
- 1 sheet Cardstock paper
- 1 piece Cut-up cereal box or cardboard (optional) (household)
- 1 piece White school glue
- 2 cup Orange (red split) lentils
- Green lentils
- Assorted lentils (with black lentils) (optional)
- 1 piece Black marker (optional)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)
- 2 piece Small bowls (household)
- 1 piece Spoons (optional) (household)
- 1 piece Paintbrush for spreading glue (optional)

## Substitutions
- Instead of black marker: Black lentils (from an assorted lentil set) (Fill the eyes, nose and mouth with black lentils instead of coloring them in.)
- Instead of cardstock: Cut-up cereal box or cardboard (Sturdier backing for the heavy lentils.)

## Safety
- Dry lentils are small and a choking hazard. Supervise closely, especially with kids who still mouth things.
- The lentils are craft material here, not a snack. Don't let kids eat raw dry lentils.
- Sweep up spilled lentils promptly so little ones don't pick them up or slip on them.

## Before you start
- Draw or print a pumpkin/jack-o'-lantern silhouette and cut out one per child.
- Glue each cut-out onto heavy paper, a cut-up cereal box or cardboard so the finished pumpkin is sturdy.
- Pour orange and green lentils into small bowls.

## Steps
1. Set out the pumpkin cut-outs, white glue and bowls of orange and green lentils.
2. Spread a thick coat of white glue over the pumpkin and leaves, but not the eyes, nose and mouth.
3. Gently pour or spoon orange lentils over the wet glue on the pumpkin.
4. Pour green lentils over the glue on the leaves and stem.
5. Fill the eyes, nose and mouth with black lentils, or color them in with a black marker.
6. Let the glue dry completely, then hang or display your pumpkin.

## Tips
- Since we are using heavy materials like lentils, make the paper as heavy as possible. Better yet, glue the pumpkin cut-outs onto a cut-up cereal box or cardboard so the finished product is sturdy enough to hang or display.
- It's a good time to NOT go easy on the glue, since it has to hold the lentils. A thick coating of white glue should do it.
- We are a vegetarian family and use a ton of lentils in our everyday cooking, so check your pantry first. Lentils come in many colors: orange, yellow, green and black.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2016)

Kids can build their fine motor skills while working on this cute pumpkin craft for **[Halloween](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/halloween-holidays/) or the [fall season](https://www.funlittles.com/category/season/fall-season/)**. We have created [**sparkly pumpkins**](https://www.funlittles.com/pumpkin-crafts-for-kids-sparkly-pumpkins/) with ice cream salt and today we are using lentils to create a fun pumpkin. Materials **[Orange Lentils](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K89490/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[Green Lentils](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MN30DC2/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[Assorted Lentils](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BT6WM54/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[Cardstock Paper](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IDRW/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[White Glue](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038DZZJC/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[Black markers](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFHD/?tag=blmemo-20)** Use a pumpkin silhouette template and cut 2 of them and glue them on heavy paper or a cardboard.



We are a vegetarian family and use a ton of lentils in our everyday cooking. I have a wide variety of them in many colors { orange, yellow, green, black, red haha!!} If you are interested take a look the assorted lentils link in the materials section. Lentils is one of our most important source of proteins right after **[chick peas](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PEWJWC/?tag=blmemo-20)** I had an overflowing amount of lentils and inspiration struck and I set out this invitation to create pumpkins using lentils. Since we will be using heavy materials like lentils I would suggest that the paper you use for this art project be as heavy as possible. Better yet, use a cut up cereal box or cardboard and glue the pumpkin cut outs on them so that the finished product is sturdy enough to hang or display.

### Instructions for lentil pumpkins craft

Have the child glue over the pumpkin/Jack O' Lantern except the eyes, nose and mouth. It's a good time to NOT go easy on the glue since they have adhere the lentils. A thick coating of white glue should suffice. I had 2 cups of orange lentils and green lentils{not pictured} near by.



If you want more colors {black for the eyes} then you could take a look at these [assorted lentils](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BT6WM54/?tag=blmemo-20) that has black lentils in their set.



The kids will gently pour the lentils or even scoop with spoons over the wet glue area.



Use the green lentils for the leaves and orange for the pumpkin itself.



If you have black lentils fill up the eyes, nose and mouth with them or simply fill them with black markers.



### **Finish off with these great Pumpkin themed books {clickable images}**

Thanks for reading