Annette Kaminsky

Watercolor Rainbows With Markers

April 6, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Making watercolor rainbows with markers is one of the easiest and most fun art activities for early learners to do. Preparation time is minimal, and the art project is stunning every time.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Only the following few supplies are needed for this gorgeous watercolor art project:

eye droppers or pipettes
paper towel roll
set of 10 water-based markers
paint pot with water
ice cream pail lid
reusable tablecover

_______

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Watercolor Rainbows With Markers Art Project

To offer this fun watercolor art project, set out a sample rainbow drawing, a paper towel roll sheet, and a set of water-based markers.

Discuss the colors of the rainbow, and the acronym ROYGBIV. Explain that this acronym stands for the order of colors in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Invite participants to draw a rainbow, starting with a red curved line near the edges of their paper towel sheet.

Tip: To make it easier for young children, draw a large red half circle on each paper towel sheet using an ice cream pail lid as a guide. Then ask participants to draw in the rest of the curved lines of the rainbow.

_______

After each child has finished their rainbow drawing, direct them to a table with eye droppers or pipettes and paint pots filled with water. Ask participants to drop water on their rainbow with the droppers. They will absolutely love this part of the art activity.

Let the beautiful rainbow art dry overnight and display it.

_______

Note: Children may draw their rainbows in a unique color pattern. That is just fine…the rainbows will look beautiful in any color order.

_______

More Eye Dropper Art

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Gorgeous Eye Dropper Art

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Eye Dropper Heart Art

_______

More Watercolor Art

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Pump Bottle Watercolor Art

Unicorn Watercolor Art

Watercolor Planets With Markers

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

_______

[Read more…]

Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

April 5, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, and people are encouraged to participate in activities that celebrate people from different ethnic backgrounds. This easy Celebrate Diversity paper craft draws attention to the diversity in people by representing different skin colors.

_____

Supplies to Collect

_______

To create this eye-catching diversity craft, gather the following:

skin-colored construction paper
green, blue, and red construction paper
18-inch x 18-inch sheet of white art paper
glue stick
scissors and pencil

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

To make this celebrate diversity paper craft, start by tracing each child’s hand and arm on a skin-toned piece of construction paper.

Next, cut out the traced arms and hands.

Then cut a circle from blue construction paper, a half circle from green construction paper, and a heart from red construction paper.

_______

Use a glue stick to affix the blue circle onto a large sheet of art paper that is a minimum of 18 inches x 18 inches in size. Glue the green half circle on top of the blue circle, and add on the red heart.

Afterward, arrange the skin-toned arms and hands around the paper earth and glue them on.

Finally, trim off pieces of paper arms that extend beyond the sides of the white art paper background. If desired, write the words “Celebrate Diversity” on the top section of the craft.

_______

Your diversity craft project is ready for display.

_______

Earth Day Paper Craft

_______

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and is now scheduled every year on April 22. Including an earth with a heart on it depicts the importance of caring for our earth, and allows this Celebrate Diversity paper craft to double up as an Earth Day activity.

_______

More Celebrate Diversity Arts and Crafts

Celebrate Diversity Printable Set

_______

These Celebrate Diversity coloring activities with an “I Belong” theme help children feel seen, accepted, and valued. Designed to nurture confidence and a sense of inclusion, this printable set includes three coloring pages (two are editable), and matching bookmarks to color. The printable is available in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop.

Celebrate Diversity Heart Art

Three Black History Month Crafts

Five Black History Month Crafts

_______

More Earth Day Arts and Crafts

Earth Day Bead Craft

Earth Day Heart Art

_______

[Read more…]

Easter Clothespin Fine Motor Activities

March 24, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Clothespins are traditionally used for hanging clothes, towels, and sheets on a line, and little learners love a chance to do this in the classroom. Clothespins also have creative uses and are easy to incorporate into seasonal activities. These DIY Easter clothespin fine motor activities work well in a spring theme.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Clothespin Egg Fine Motor Activity

Supplies to Collect

For this cute clothespin egg activity, gather the following:

wooden egg craft shape
white or cream acrylic paint
paintbrush
bunny and chick stickers
felt craft bunny head
wooden clothespins
glue gun

_______

Preparing the Clothespin Egg Activity

To prepare this easy DIY clothespin egg fine motor activity, start by painting a large wooden egg craft shape with white or cream-colored acrylic paint.

After the paint has dried, affix Easter or spring stickers around the edge of the egg using a glue gun. These iridescent puffy bunny and chick stickers are an attractive choice.

_______

Then use the glue gun to affix matching stickers to the tips of wooden clothespins.

If desired, add a felt bunny head for a finishing touch to the egg.

Set the sticker-decorated clothespins and egg on a table. Invite little learners to clip the bunny and chick clothespins to their match on the egg.

_______

Clothespins, Eggs, and Color Words

To extend play and add a language arts component to the activity, write the color of each bunny and chick on a 4 ½ inch x 11-inch piece of cardstock paper.

_______

Next, add bunny or egg stickers underneath. Set the cardstock strip on the table along with the clothespins for children to use.

_______

In addition, set out a strip with the color words and no stickers. Invite participants to clip bunny and chick-decorated clothespins to their matching color word.

_______

More Easter Clothespin Fine Motor Play

For even more practice using clothespins, set the decorated clothespins on a table with an Easter treat bucket. Invite little learners to clip clothespins around the rim of the pail. This activity is sure to be a hit.

_______

Benefits of Clothespin Activities

Clothespin activities are loved by young children. in addition to being fun, clipping clothespins to objects is great for finger and hand strengthening and hand-eye coordination. These Easter clothespin fine motor activities add a seasonal touch to the exercises.

_______

Related:

Alphabet and Number Matching Game

_______

[Read more…]

Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

March 23, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

There are a lot of great educational toys for the light table, and I regularly collect them. Routine shopping trips can lead to beautiful, unexpected finds for the center. This Easter bunny light table activity was assembled after a prize find on one of my run-of-the-mill trips.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Easter Bunny Light Table Supplies

_______

The following supplies are in this effortless Easter bunny light table activity:

transparent tabletop bunnies
bunny candy holders
transparent plastic egg garland
large clear bowl
clear reusable egg tray
clear plastic egg carton

_______

The Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

Transparent acrylic and polyester tabletop bunnies were the unique find and are the inspiration for this Easter light table activity.

_______

Bunny candy holders, easily picked up at dollar stores, add variety to the bunny collection.

_______

Plastic eggs in transparent spring colors cut from an Easter garland are set in a clear bowl for sorting.

_______

A clear reusable egg tray and a clear plastic egg carton are the sorting containers.

_______

More Easter Light Table Ideas

To keep things simpler, skip the transparent bunnies and go with bunny candy holders, transparent fillable Easter eggs, egg trays, and round acrylic gems.

_______

For more light play fun, set out Easter bunny, chick, and carrot candy holders along with light-up Easter chicks and acrylic gems for little learners to explore.

_______

More Light Table Play Ideas

Rainbow Light Table Sensory Tray

Gorgeous Eye Dropper Art

Canada Day Light Table

Transparent Page Divider Activities

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Christmas Light Table Small World

Valentine’s Day Light Table Play

Valentine’s Day Jewelry Light Table

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

_______

[Read more…]

Squish Painting Shamrock Art

March 15, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This March I needed to get new art up quickly, and decided to have my little learners participate in a squish painting shamrock art project. Squish painting is a quick and satisfying art activity that little children love to do. Using folded hearts for the art project, the shamrock art is effortless to create.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this seasonal squish art activity:

magenta, green, and white tempera paint
magenta and green cardstock paper
manila tag paper
ruler, pencil, and scissors
paint pots and spoons

_______

_______

The Squish Painting Art Project

To prepare this activity, start by tracing and cutting out hearts from sturdy paper. Manila tag paper works well for the project. It comes in 9 x 12-inch, 12 x 18-inch, or even 18 x 24-inch paper sizes. The larger-sized paper allows for cutting bigger hearts.

When finished with the cutting part, fold the hearts in half.

Next, mix a little yellow into the green tempera paint to create a lighter brighter color.

Then set out green and white paint pots, and add a spoon to each one.

_______

Invite participants to spoon each paint color onto their hearts, then fold one side over the other.

Have children rub their hands over their heart halves to smooth out the paint.

Finally, ask them to open their hearts to see the new design created.

Shamrock Art Display

_______

To make a shamrock using the squish-painted hearts, group the hearts into three leaflets. Glue them to a large cardstock background or tape them to a wall. Then cut a long, thin petiole from green cardstock paper. Affix the petiole to the shamrock design.

_______

Variation of the Squish Painting Shamrock Art Project

_______

Introduce a new tempera paint color for an interesting way to vary this squish painting shamrock art project. Since shamrock plants also come in a purple variety called purple oxalis, using magenta paint instead of green is a natural fit for changing up the activity.

_______

Shamrock Leaf Print Art

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Leprechaun Gnome Craft

_______

[Read more…]