Annette Kaminsky

Snowflake Reindeer Craft

December 21, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This snowflake reindeer craft is a fun Christmas one to include in your rotation of festive activities. It gives little learners a chance to use scissors and paint and help create an animal craft. Download the free printable to make this craft super easy to put together.

The original plan for this activity was to create a neutral snowflake reindeer paper craft. The neutral paper proved to be a little hard to cut into snowflakes, so my little charges moved on to cutting shapes from coffee filters instead. This led to painting them in pink, purple, and turquoise hues, not anywhere near actual reindeer colors. So we ended up making brown red-nosed reindeer, and others in turquoise, pink, and purple hues.

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Snowflake Reindeer Craft Supplies

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Gather the following supplies to make this cute snowflake reindeer craft:

round coffee filters
brown, pink, purple, and turquoise liquid watercolors or tempera paint blocks
paint pots
paintbrushes
brown, turquoise, purple, white, cream, and grey cardstock paper
red, pink, and teal pompoms
wiggly eyes
glue stick
white glue
scissors

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The Snowflake Reindeer Craft

To make the reindeer craft, start by having participants fold and cut coffee filters into snowflake designs. A lovely blog post by supermakeit.com shows how to create them.

Next, invite participants to paint a snowflake light brown, using liquid watercolor paint or tempera blocks made wet with water.

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While the painted coffee filter snowflakes are drying, cut reindeer heads and legs from brown cardstock, and antlers from cream-colored cardstock. Older children can do this themselves. Feel free to download this pattern to make craft preparation easier.

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Reindeer Craft PatternDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Afterward, have participants use a glue stick to adhere their decorated snowflake to the center of 8 ½ x 11-inch or 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper.

Then guide them in using their glue stick to tack on the reindeer’s head, antlers, and legs.

Finally, have them use white glue to adhere two wiggly eyes and a red pompom nose to their reindeer.

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In addition to having children paint snowflakes in a neutral hue, set out a few other paint colors. Purple, pink, and turquoise are good color choices for painting them. Offer complementary-colored cardstock for the reindeer heads, antlers, noses, and legs.

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More Christmas Crafts

Paper Airplane Christmas Craft

Spin Painting Poinsettia Craft

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

Monochromatic Christmas Tree Art

CD Case Christmas Craft

Christmas Sheep Craft

Washi Tape Christmas Pots

Handprint Angel Craft

Turtle Christmas Craft

Christmas Tree Art

Christmas Dove Art

Handprint Angel Christmas Keepsake

Woodland Fox Treat Holder

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[Read more…]

Candy Cane Wreath Experiment

December 20, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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It’s tradition for me to do a candy cane science experiment every December, and each year I arrange the candy canes in a new way or change up the sizes and colors of the sweet treat. In this post, I debut my latest design, a candy cane wreath experiment.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies to Collect

Gathering supplies for this simple science experiment couldn’t be any easier. Just select an edged waterproof tray, and purchase a package of candy canes. You may have some on hand already. Then fill a pitcher or large glass with water and you are good to go.

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The Candy Cane Wreath Experiment

To perform this inexpensive color science experiment, arrange candy canes around the edge of a waterproof tray in a wreath-like shape.

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If you look closely, you’ll notice one or two broken candy canes in the tray and a few oddly shaped ones. This science experiment is the perfect use for them, as I wouldn’t have wanted to hand those out as treats.

Next, slowly pour water into the tray until the candy canes are just covered in liquid.

Then watch what happens. You’ll see the candy cane colors slowly spread through the water.

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Note: The color changes happen quickly. Stay by the science experiment and have your camera ready to snap a few pictures.

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After a little while, you can carry on with other activities and periodically check in on the experiment to see even more color changes and view the candy canes melting away.

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The Science Behind This Candy Cane Color Experiment

Candy canes are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water away from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar. When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

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More Candy Cane Activities

Candy Cane Playdough Tray

Mini Candy Cane Tree Experiment

Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

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[Read more…]

Candy Cane Playdough Tray

December 19, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If you need a quick activity to do with the children in your life, this candy cane playdough tray has got you covered. A lovely peppermint smell wafting through the air is a highlight of this playdough invitation.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Making The Candy Cane Playdough

A simple no-cook homemade playdough recipe is the base for this activity. I love the recipe featured on The Artful Parent website and use it regularly. It is easy and quick to make and keeps about as well as the cooked version.

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Next, knead in crushed candy cane bits. The playdough is ready to use. So easy!

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Or, give participants the creamy white playdough and sprinkle candy cane bits on the table. Invite everyone to blend crushed candy cane bits into their playdough. They will love seeing the playdough change colors as the candy cane pieces are kneaded in.

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Note: Some of the crushed candy cane bits appear a little sharp. They didn’t poke or irritate my skin while testing out the festive dough. When I offered this playdough invitation to staff and students, they thoroughly enjoyed it.

The more candy cane pieces that are added, the more colorful the playdough will become. And it may be a little mushy when used again on another day. If you would like the playdough to have a second or third use, be a little sparing in adding crushed candy cane bits to the white dough.

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Crushing Candy Canes for the Playdough

You can crush candy canes for this play invitation if you do not have ready-to-use crushed ones on hand.

Just stick candy canes in the freezer for about twenty minutes. Then place them in a sealed Ziplock bag and smash them on a cutting board with a mallet, rolling pin, or meat pounder. Another method is to break candy canes into small pieces after taking them out of the freezer and then grind them to the desired coarseness in a coffee grinder. Children would love to get in on the candy cane crushing.

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The Candy Cane Playdough Tray

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Offer a rolling pin, disposable knife, and a few Christmas cookie cutters to participants exploring candy cane playdough. Here are some accessories to consider adding:

non-breakable candy cane and gingerbread decorations
candy cane cookie cutters
green, red, and white buttons and pony beads
peppermint candy and gingerbread man erasers

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More Christmas Playdough Activities

Christmas Playdough

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Orange-Scented Playdough Invitation

Gingerbread Playdough

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[Read more…]

Paper Airplane Christmas Craft

December 18, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Children tend to get more and more energetic during the countdown to Christmas, and this paper airplane Christmas craft is bound to put some of that boundless energy to productive use. With the holiday airplane, children can transport paper passengers to the North Pole and back…so fun!

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this Christmas air transportation craft:

red and green copy paper
recycled Christmas or gift cards
number stickers
scissors
glue stick or glue gun
black marker

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The Paper Airplane Christmas Craft

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To make the craft, fold 8 ½ x 11- inch pieces of red and green copy paper into airplanes. I picked a basic model for the craft. HGTV has a great blog post titled “How To Make A Paper Airplane” detailing how to design it and craft a few other unique airplane styles.

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Then, select recycled Christmas or gift cards with animal or snowman characters and cut around them. A cardstock Santa would be fun to include too.

Next, use a glue stick or glue gun to affix the cutouts in the middle of Christmas planes. Then add more glue in spots that keep the airplanes folded together. As an alternative, use tape to secure the folded paper into airplane shapes.

Afterward, using a black marker, write the name of a North Pole airline on one side of the airplanes, and add number stickers to the other side. Or use the marker for the numbers too.

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Now the Christmas airplanes are ready to be tested in a flight. Little aviators can see how high, far, and fast their airplane can fly.

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Variations of the Paper Airplane Christmas Craft

Here are two variations of this festive airliner craft:

Use thin Christmas-themed double-sided scrapbook paper for the airplanes. This is an easy way to add color and pattern to the craft.
Use photo cutouts of your child and his friends to insert into the plane instead of animals, snowmen, and Santas.

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December Kindness Activities Printable Set

A December Kindness Calendar and Kindness Jar are two activities to teach empathy and kindness at home or in the classroom. Download this gorgeous pastel holiday printable set of kindness activities in my Skills N Smiles Etsy Shop for a low-low price. You’ll have the December kindness activities ready in minutes!

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More Christmas Crafts:

Spin Painting Poinsettia Craft

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

Monochromatic Christmas Tree Art

CD Case Christmas Craft

Christmas Sheep Craft

Washi Tape Christmas Pots

Handprint Angel Craft

Turtle Christmas Craft

Christmas Tree Art

Christmas Dove Art

Handprint Angel Christmas Keepsake

Woodland Fox Treat Holder

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[Read more…]

Spin Painting Poinsettia Craft

December 17, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Gorgeous new poinsettia varieties have been developed in recent years, and this spin painting poinsettia craft is based on a spotted poinsettia newcomer. Native to Mexico, poinsettias are prevalent during the Christmas season, and this craft is a beautiful way to include them. The craft gives children an opportunity to participate in two well-loved process art activities: spin painting and spatter painting.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few supplies are needed for this simple speckled poinsettia craft:

pale green or creamy white cardstock paper
decorative cardstock paper
red and pink tempera paint
paint pots and spoons
old toothbrushes
salad spinner
scissors and pencil
glue stick or glue gun
adhesive gem stickers
art tablecloth

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Starting The Spin Painting Poinsettia Craft

To make this beautiful spin painting poinsettia craft, start by cutting a circle from pale green or creamy white cardstock. It should fit just inside the bottom of your salad spinner basket.

Next, place the circle at the bottom of the salad spinner. On a table covered with an art tablecloth, use spoons to drop in red and pink tempera paint.

Tip: If you do not have pink tempera paint, mix a little white tempera into a pot of red and you’ll have a nice pink color to use.

Give the salad spinner a good spin and take a peek. You can choose to add more spoonfuls of paint if you wish and give it another spin.

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Afterward, take the paint-filled circle out of the spinner and spatter pink and red paint on it using toothbrushes. Then let the process art project thoroughly dry.

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Carefully cut poinsettia leaves from the decorated circle. Feel free to download this poinsettia pattern to make your crafting easier.

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Poinsettia Craft Pattern PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Note: A little paint may chip off during the cutting. But you’ll have plenty left to give your poinsettia leaves a spotted look.

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Assembling The Poinsettia

To assemble the poinsettia, choose a decorative piece of cardstock paper to use as a background.

Then choose four painted and cut leaves and glue them on. Affix them in the shape of an X, leaving a little space in the center.

Afterward, glue the other four leaves in between.

Finally, add three to five medium-sized adhesive gems to the center.

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Variations of the Spin Painting Poinsettia Craft

In addition to making a great wall art project, this poinsettia craft would look superb on a holiday greeting card.

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Novelty poinsettias come in a wide range of colors, and the carstock leaves could be brush-painted in hues such as vibrant red or orange, salmon pink, or peach. The color possibilities for this poinsettia holiday craft project are endless.

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