Annette Kaminsky

Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes

February 6, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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With so many Valentine’s Day bits and baubles available to purchase or collect, it is easy to gather little pieces for sensory tubes. And Valentine’s Day sensory tubes are fun to put together.

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Sensory Tube Loose Parts

Valentine's day loose parts tray with pieces for sensory tubes.

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Here’s a few supplies that would work well in the sensory tubes:

X and O game pieces
rainbow and heart erasers
heart and jewel-shaped gems
small buttons
heart garland strips
bead garland strips
rubber hearts
foam hearts

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Assembling The Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes

Pick a few things from the loose parts list to drop in wide-mouthed water bottles with lids that secure on tightly. Then add water to each one. Set the tubes out on a table for little learners to investigate.

Valentine's Day sensory tubes with red, pink, and purple loose parts.

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Float and sink experimenting works well with these sensory tubes. In the one on the left, X and O game pieces float to the top. Foam hearts float and erasers and gems sink in the middle tube. And in the one on the right, heart-shaped gems sink to the bottom.

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Sensory tubes with Valentine's Day themed loose parts.

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Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

February 6, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 3 Comments

Soft and dreamy woolly sheep Valentine's Day crafts decked with hearts and pompoms. The crafts make heart-tugging keepsakes.

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Here are two, oh-so-cute woolly Valentine’s Day crafts your little learners will be excited to make, and loved ones will be elated to receive.

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Supplies To Collect

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purple, pink, red, and white pompoms
white glue and glue paddle
paper, foam, or sticker hearts
8 ½ x 11-inch white or cream cardstock paper
12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper
sheep template
glue stick
scissors
hot glue gun

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Making The Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

Print the sheep template onto 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock.

Cute sheep template for farm or holiday crafts.

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Sheep PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Set the template on a table and invite your early learners to add sticker, paper, or foam hearts to the sheep’s body. Then invite them to glue pompoms to the head. Your little charges will love the chance to use soft and showy pompoms in art.

Cute woolly sheep craft for Valentine's Day. Free printable included.

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Print this version to include the header “I Woolly Think You’re Special.”

Cute woolly sheep template for a Valentine's Day craft.

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Woolly Sheep PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Or cut the sheep out and have your little learners decorate one. Afterward, mount the sheep onto complementary pieces of 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper using a glue gun. Add a “woolly” Valentine’s Day saying of choice.

Soft and dreamy woolly sheep Valentine's Day craft.

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Chinese Money Tree Activities

February 2, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Chinese money trees have been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the 1980s and are a symbol of luck and wealth. People buy money trees for their homes and place them in strategic places. They also purchase and display shiny, metallic tree ornaments laden with gold coins. Here are art and sensory Chinese money tree activities your early learners will enjoy.

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Chinese Money Tree Tray

Set a tree-drawing inside a wooden tray. Add containers with Chinese coins and green and gold gems.

Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree with gold coins and acrylic gems.

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Feel free to download this template for the project.

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Tree PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Invite your little learners to decorate the tree.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Tray

February 1, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Year of the Ox Chinese New Year rice-based sensory tray with a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

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Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) will be celebrated on February 12 in 2021. It is the most important holiday in China and is celebrated by Chinese people and interested others all over the world. The holiday marks the end of the coldest winter days and the beginning of spring. Since it is the year of the ox, why not join in the festivities this February with an ox-themed Chinese New Year sensory tray.

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Ox Facts

Domesticated oxen are often castrated adult male cows, as this makes them easier to handle.
Ox horns are very long.
Being very strong animals, they can pull heavy loads.
As dependable work animals, oxen transport people and supplies, help with fieldwork, and power machines.
Oxen used to roam in herds in the wild.

Chinese New Year "Year of The Ox" rice-based tray featuring a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

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Character Qualities Of The Ox

The ox is a cherished animal in Chinese culture, as it is hardworking and reliable, and was used in agriculture by peasants to plow fields. Positive character qualities are attributed to the ox. And people born in the year of the ox are considered to be logical, disciplined, diligent, trustworthy, and talented. And who wouldn’t want to emulate these qualities!

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Related:

Year Of The Pig Sensory Bin (Chinese New Year 2019)

Year Of The Rat Noodle Bin (Chinese New Year 2020)

Year Of The Tiger Chickpea Bin (Chinese New Year 2022)

Year Of The Rabbit Sensory Bin (Chinese New Year 2023)

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Chinese New Year Sensory Tray

This Chinese New Year sensory tray gives a glimpse into Chinese culture and acknowledges the importance the ox has played in Chinese agriculture and life.

Chinese New Year loose parts tray featuring a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

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The base for the tray is super white glutinous rice. Loose parts included are:

bull figurine
gold coins
red beads
red diamond-shaped gems
gold and red buttons
gold bows, bells, and bead garland strips
red bowls
chopsticks
Chinese calligraphy cups

Year of the Ox Chinese New Year rice tray featuring a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

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People all over the world celebrate Chinese New Year. This traditional holiday is filled with drama and color, especially welcome in northern, winter white countries like mine!

Year of the Ox tray featuring a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

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Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

Add a festive, cultural touch to your Lunar New Year celebration or Chinese New Year classroom theme in minutes with this beautiful Lunar New Year Lantern craft!

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“Year of the Horse” Wall Art

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This “Year of the Horse” wall art is perfect for an entryway, classroom, or office. Download it at Skills N Smiles on Etsy for Lunar New Year or Zodiac-themed decor, or a cultural celebration display.

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The “Year of the Horse” art print will elevate your Lunar New Year decor, and is available as an instant download on Etsy. It comes in four print sizes, and PDF and PNG formats.

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Get this “Year of the Horse” Chinese Zodiac-themed wall art today!

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Recycled Card Mitten Matching

January 31, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Mitten and snowflake matching math activity using recycled cards.

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Christmas is one of the best times to collect recycled cards for classroom activities. I ask people to save their cards for me and then file them away for future use. Cards are beautiful and add an arty flair to any project. And winter-themed cards are perfect for this recycled card mitten matching challenge.

For this activity, select cards with a snowy, winter theme. Christmas cards frequently have this. Cut mitten shapes from the cards. Use one of these templates if you wish. I made the mittens in two sizes!

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Large Mitten PrintableDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.

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Mitten PrintableDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.

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Punch shapes from the center of the mittens. I used a snowflake paper punch, but any shape could be punched or cut out. Then set the mittens and punched shapes out on a table. Invite early learners to match the cutouts to the mittens.

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More Paper Mitten Activities

Aside from this recycled card mitten matching challenge, mittens cut from different colors of cardstock paper could be used for matching. Or use the mitten template for a painting, coloring, or scissor skill activity.

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Snowflake and mitten matching challenge.

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Mitten and snowflake matching challenge.

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