Annette Kaminsky

Santa Claus Sensory Bin

December 23, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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With Santa on many children’s minds right now it’s the perfect time to set out a simple Santa Claus sensory bin.

This fun sensory activity is inspired by two Santa ornaments I was gifted this Christmas season. After receiving the ornaments, I realized I had enough supplies to make a no-fuss Santa bin. The bin is a great example of how just a few themed items can provide an interesting sensory invitation.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

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Here are the supplies I gathered for the festive bin:

Santa train engine cookie tin
Santa ornament
knitted Scandinavian multicultural dolls
fillable Santa ball ornament
jingle bell garland
peppermint candy erasers
Santa and Santa hat erasers
wooden ladle

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The Santa Claus Sensory Bin

This easy Santa sensory bin is filled with many economical dollar store supplies. It's a sure-to-please bin that can be set up in minutes.

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This jovial sensory bin has a dyed chickpea base. The chickpeas are colored with various amounts of red acrylic craft paint. You can find out how to dye chickpeas in my blog post “Chinese New Year Sensory Play.”

Note: As an alternative to using chickpeas for the base, white rice works well too.

The chickpeas are spread out in a white bus/utility tub. This size bin works well for one to three children to use.

The Santa train engine cookie tin was a happy find last year. I previously featured it in a blog post titled “Plaid-Themed Christmas Rice Bin.”

The Santa ornament fits perfectly in the train engine. I checked to make sure it has no rough edges before offering it in the bin. A small plush Santa is a good fit too.

A fillable Santa Claus ornament and other dollar store supplies make for an inviting chickpea-based sensory bin.

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The fillable Santa ball comes apart, and each half holds lots of chickpeas and loose parts.

The Scandinavian knitted dolls are cut from a Christmas garland. They make fun helpers for Santa!

Dollar stores carry metallic jingle bell garlands. Cut into strips, the garland becomes musical loose parts for the bin.

Peppermint and Santa-themed erasers add interest. They are great for counting and sorting practice.

A wooden ladle is useful for filling the Santa train and ball ornament with chickpeas, erasers, and garland. When using one, early learners get practice with eye-hand coordination.

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Making Your Own Santa Claus Sensory Bin

Would you like to make a Santa Claus-themed sensory bin? You probably have a few interesting supplies already on hand to include. Then add a few dollar store finds. It’s that simple!

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Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Santa’s Beard Scissor Activity

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More Christmas Activities

Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin

Christmas Village Tuff Tray

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

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Santa Claus Sensory Bin

Chocolate Mint Playdough

Plaid-themed Christmas Rice Bin

Lemon-scented Christmas Playdough

Easy S’mores Bars

Make this easy, three-ingredient s'mores bars recipe that takes a classic campfire treat indoors. Serve surrounded by festive decor at Christmas time.

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Christmas Tree Decorating Center

Christmas Sensory Play

Handprint Angel Christmas Keepsake

Llama Christmas Sensory Bin

Llama themed sensory bin inspired by the picture book 'Llama, Llama Holiday Drama' by Anna Dewdney.

[Read more…]

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

December 22, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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For so long I have admired art projects that involve brown paper bags or doilies. This Christmas I was determined to use both of these supplies to make paper bag Christmas ornaments. The resulting ornaments are simple but beautiful… a perfect combination.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Supplies to make vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments. Download the free templates for these six different designs.

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To craft these vintage-themed ornaments, gather the following easy-to-find supplies:

large brown paper grocery bag
white paper doilies
thin white ribbon
white pearl bead garland
adhesive white pearl beads
white pencil crayon
pencil
scissors
glue stick
glue gun

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Make these beautiful vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments with lace paper doily accents. Free templates are available to use.

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Making The Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

First, cut out a star, gingerbread girl, angel, heart, and each tree ornament from a large brown paper bag. Feel free to download the templates below to help with the designs.

Note: The three printables in this post are for individual and one-classroom use only.

Download this gingerbread girl and ornament template to make beautiful vintage-inspired brown paper bag Christmas ornaments.

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Gingerbread Girl And Ornament PrintableDownload

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Download this angel and ornament template to make beautiful vintage-inspired brown paper bag Christmas ornaments.

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Angel And Ornament PrintableDownload

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Download this star and heart template to make beautiful vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments.

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Star And Heart PrintableDownload

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With a white pencil crayon, outline the border of each paper bag shape.

Make these vintage-inspired brown paper bag Christmas ornaments. Download the free templates to make six different designs.

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Next, cut out shapes from white paper doilies to accent the paper ornaments. Snipping around the designs in the doilies will give you pretty lace pieces to work with.

Afterward, use a glue stick to affix them to the brown paper backgrounds.

Then cut thin white ribbon into 15 cm strips. Tie them in bows, and trim the ends to your desired length. Glue one bow to each ornament.

Next, cut white pearl bead garland into 8 cm strips. Use a glue gun to affix one strip to the back of each ornament in a loop shape.

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As a finishing touch, accent the ornaments with a few adhesive white pearl beads.

Make these six different brown paper bag Christmas ornaments with lace paper doily accents. Free templates are included.

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Now the ornaments are ready to be displayed on a Christmas tree. Aren’t they gorgeous?

How to make six different paper bag Christmas ornaments. An all-ages, beautiful recycled craft. Free templates are included.

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Paper Bag Gift Wrap

Another easy, festive craft activity with paper bags is to make decorated gift wrap. A blog post by “A Pretty Fix” titled “Four Simple Brown Paper Bag Gift Wrap Ideas” will give you lots of ideas to try.

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Related: Handprint Christmas Crafts

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[Read more…]

Candy Cane Tree Experiment

December 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This candy cane tree experiment is easy to set up and is sure to be a conversation piece. It works well as a Christmas science activity, and also fits a forest theme.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

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For this simple science experiment, gather the following four supplies:

package of mini candy canes
one round striped candy
large flat white or cream-colored plate
flask of warm water

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The Candy Cane Tree Experiment

Design a tree on a plate with mini candy canes. Pour water into the plate and watch what happens. Your audience will be wowed!

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To perform this showy science experiment, start by arranging mini candy canes on a plate in a Christmas/coniferous tree design. The colorful and fruity candy canes above were a great find at a Dollar Store.

Next, set a round candy on top of the tree to be the tree topper.

Then fill a flask with warm water.

Carefully set the plate with the tree design on a table.

Now the experiment is ready to be performed. Invite participants to gather around the candy tree. Slowly pour water from the flask into the plate and invite everyone to watch what happens. It’s that simple!

Participants will be wowed at how the colors in the candy canes quickly spread through the water, making beautiful designs.

Watch the colors explode from the candy cane tree in this super simple science experiment everyone will love.

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Color changes will be instant. Over time the colors and their intensity will change.

Watch the colors move and change in this super simple science experiment everyone will love. The activity is a must-try.

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Note: This tree-shaped experiment can be done with standard-sized candy canes in a large ridged serving tray.

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The Science Behind The Candy Cane Tree Experiment

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

Water temperature is a variant in this experiment. Sugar dissolves more quickly in warm water, and food coloring moves at a faster pace.

Candy Cane Color Experiment Variations

Watch the stunning color changes in this super simple mini candy cane science experiment. Try it today!

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You can forgo making a tree shape with the candy canes, and spread a few around a plate instead. The color movement is just as interesting in this more basic version.

Watch beautiful colors emerge in this super simple science experiment with a serious WOW factor. Just thee supplies are needed to perform the experiment.

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And if you have been following my blog for a while, you may have discovered that I have done a few other candy/candy cane color experiments. Here are more variations:

Candy Cane Science Experiment

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

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This mini candy cane color experiment is a must-try. Just three supplies are needed for the simple science activity everyone will love.

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[Read more…]

Gingerbread Sensory Bin

December 19, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This gingerbread sensory bin is quick and easy to set up. Most of the supplies in the bin are dollar store finds, so the activity is low-cost. So why not set it up for your little learners this holiday season?

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Supplies To Collect

A super fun gingerbread sensory bin with a chickpea base. An economical bin with dollar store gingerbread accessories.

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The gingerbread-themed supplies gathered for the bin are:

cookie cutters
cookie tin
ice cube tray
gingerbread people ornaments and game pieces
gingerbread house and candy cane ornaments

Also in the bin are:

bell garland strips
peppermint erasers

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The Gingerbread Sensory Bin

An easy-to-put-together gingerbread sensory bin with a chickpea base. An economical bin with dollar store gingerbread accessories.

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This gingerbread-themed sensory bin has a dyed chickpea base. You can find out how to dye chickpeas in my blog post titled “Chinese New Year Sensory Play.”

Note: You can skip coloring the chickpeas and use undyed ones instead. They are the same color as gingerbread cookies!

The chickpeas are spread out in a white bus/utility tub. This size bin works well for one to three children to use at a time.

The cookie tin, ice cube tray, ornaments, garland, and erasers are from dollar stores. You would be able to find cookie cutters there too.

This sensory bin is a great follow-up activity to reading gingerbread character stories and doing songs and fingerplays about gingerbread people.

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Other Supplies For The Gingerbread Bin

There are endless supplies that work in this bin. Other supplies that could be added are:

large gingerbread cookie cutters
gingerbread people erasers
wiggly eyes
pompoms
buttons
rickrack strips
cookie jar

Whatever the supplies, this cheery gingerbread sensory bin is bound to be a huge hit with your little learners!

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Related:

Gingerbread Playdough

Scissor Skill Gingerbread Man Craft

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[Read more…]

Monochromatic Christmas Tree Art

December 17, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This simple monochromatic Christmas tree art is completed in four different color themes. The art activity is easy to implement at home or in a Christmas art program. Finished projects display beautifully on a bulletin board or feature wall.

The color theme chosen for this gorgeous art activity is inspired by the exquisite pastel-colored miniature Christmas tree ornaments spotted on shopping trips around town this holiday season.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few supplies are needed for this pretty craft:

12 x 18-inch sturdy paper
magenta, yellow, teal, green, and white tempera paints
glitter in magenta, teal, gold, and green colors
large magenta, gold, teal, and light green gift bows
paint palettes
paint pots
paintbrushes
spoons
ruler
pencil
scissors
hot glue gun or white glue
plastic tablecloth

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Preparing The Tree Art Project

This monochromatic Christmas tree art project is done in pastel shades of green, yellow, teal, and magenta. The trees look beautiful on display.

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First, select 12 x 18-inch sturdy paper for the art project. I used manila and manila tag and both kinds worked well.

With a ruler and pencil, draw a long, narrow triangle on each sheet of paper. The triangles should fill the whole page.

Next, cut the paper triangles out.

Then mix a variety of shades of magenta, yellow, teal, and green tempera paint in small pots by adding various amounts of white to each color. For each hue, the shades should range from light to dark.

Tips:

To warm up the yellow just a little, add a drop of red to the hues.
To make teal paint, mix a little yellow into blue paint. Or use teal tempera paint straight out of the bottle.

Afterward, spoon different shades of each color into paint palettes. Each palette should have shades of one hue only. Include a little white tempera.

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The Monochromatic Christmas Tree Art Process

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To offer this tree painting project, cover an art table with a plastic tablecloth.

Choose one monochromatic color scheme to work with.

Then set out a triangular-shaped paper tree, filled paint palette, and brush for each child participating.

Invite participants to paint their tree, using as many shades of the chosen color as they can.

When the trees are fully covered and the paint is still wet, let little artists sprinkle similarly toned glitter on their projects. They will love this part of the process.

After the paint has dried, use white glue or a hot glue gun to affix a matching gift bow to the top of each tree. As an alternative, glue silver or gold bows on the trees.

On another day, pick a different paint color and offer the Christmas tree painting project again.

If there is time, complete the tree art in all four colors.

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When finished, display the painted trees together on a wall. They are sure to be admired!

Note: The paint colors used for this art project also make awesome ombre Christmas trees.

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Related: Christmas Tree Art

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[Read more…]