Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

apples

Pumpkin Sensory Activities

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Pumpkin carving is a fun annual activity, and children love to get it on it. After the large fruits are carved or sliced, there are a few effortless, super-engaging pumpkin sensory activities children can do before saying goodbye to the showy gourds.

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Pumpkin Cross-Section Exploration

If you happen to have a very lop-sided pumpkin that wasn’t chosen for carving, use a sharp knife to carefully cut it from top to bottom into two cross-sections for everyone to view. This provides your little charges a novel way to investigate the inside of a pumpkin, and it is much easier for them to scoop out and feel the fibrous strands and pumpkin seeds this way.

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When the fruity exploration is over, store the pumpkin parts and slimy pumpkin seed mixture in the fridge for more sensory play at another time.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Pumpkin Sensory Bin

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To set up a tantalizing pumpkin sensory bin activity, first place two pumpkin halves into a generous-sized container. A large green active world tray is up to the task and color coordinates with the pumpkin parts perfectly.

Next, set tablespoons, serving bowls, and food storage containers in the bin.

Then add non-breakable or disposable plates with a slimy pumpkin seed and fibrous strand mixture to the sensory play center.

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Afterward, make a goopy, cornstarch and hair conditioner mixture for the bin. Green apple playdough thinned with a bit of water works well for the slimy mixture, and you can use older playdough which has been stored in the fridge for it.

An alternative is to mix a cup or two of cornstarch with half the amount of water to get a thick but flowing consistency, and then squirt and blend in about half a bottle of apple-scented hair conditioner to make it slippery and aromatic. Add more cornstarch or water if needed. Squirt in a generous amount of green food coloring to give the mixture a deeper green hue.

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Finally, scoop the cornstarch and green apple conditioner mixture into the pumpkin halves and invite your little learners to explore the bin.

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Note: Apples and pumpkins are commonly used together in pies, as their scents and tastes are complementary. The two scents also work nicely together in sensory play.

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Washing up afterward is part of the fun, as your little charges will love seeing the water turn green.

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Green Apple Goop Pumpkin Play

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In this tactile autumn activity, green apple playdough, often called cloud dough, is turned into a goopy mixture with the addition of a little water. Just scoop the thinned dough into a serving bowl and set it in a sensory table next to a carved and hollowed-out pumpkin for your little learners to use in hands-on play.

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Golf Tee Pumpkin Play

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This last pumpkin sensory activity is less messy than the above slimy, goopy versions. Simply set a carved or uncarved pumpkin out on a table along with small, child-sized hammers and a container of golf tees. Invite little learners to use a hammer to gently pound the golf tees into the pumpkin. This is a great activity for practicing eye-hand coordination. Two children can share in this activity at a time, providing an opportunity for cooperative, synergetic play.

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More Pumpkin Activities

Edible Playdough Pumpkins

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Pumpkin Painting Process Art

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Glow In The Dark Pumpkin Art

Pumpkin Color Activities

Pumpkin Playdough Activities

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[Read more…] about Pumpkin Sensory Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

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Tis the season of all things apple, and here’s a tantalizing apple playdough tray to add to your rotation of fall activities. It features playdough in three different scents and colors. The aromatic apple-themed sensory activity also works well for a nutrition or fruit and vegetable theme.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Apple-Scented Playdough Recipe

Gather the following easy-to-find supplies for this silky apple-scented playdough recipe:

  • apple-scented hair conditioner
  • cornstarch
  • large bowl
  • green food coloring
  • measuring cup
  • spoon for stirring

To make the simple no-cook recipe, first scoop 2 parts of cornstarch into a large bowl. Next, add one part apple-scented hair conditioner and mix it with the cornstarch using a stirring spoon. Then knead the scented dough ingredients together to make a smooth dough. If the dough is a bit crumbly, add a tad more hair conditioner. If it is a little slimy, add a bit more cornstarch. A playdough recipe couldn’t be any easier to make.

Apple themed playdough invitation with apple cutting board, ice cube tray, cookie cutters, leaves, and gems.

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Optional: Mix in a generous amount of green food coloring with the apple-scented hair conditioner before adding it to the cornstarch to get a light green color of playdough. You can also add the food coloring at the end. In this case, the playdough will look marbled with green at first and turn an even shade of light green after it has been used in a playdough invitation.

While you are making this recipe, it may not look like it will form a smooth playdough. Be assured that it will.

This dough becomes more mouldable as it is being handled. Round balls and other shapes are easy to form once it is warmed up a little with little human hands!

When using the dough for a second or third time, set it out and let learners add a tad more conditioner to their dough. If it gets a little mushy, have them work in a bit of cornstarch. They will love doing this.

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Apple-Scented Playdough Variations

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Since many apples come in varying combinations of red, green, and yellow hues, you can use other conditioner colors such as strawberry hair conditioner with red food coloring added to make red dough, and coconut hair conditioner with yellow food coloring added to make yellow dough.

Color mixing is a favorite activity for little learners, and they will relish the chance to mix all three colors of playdough together.

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Apple Playdough Tray

This apple playdough tray is easy to set up for little learners. Three colors of playdough are featured, but little learners would be more than happy to use only one scented playdough variety for the activity.

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In the tray are:

  • red, green, and yellow playdough
  • apple cookie cutters
  • alphabet letter wood stamps
  • leaf pie edgers
  • red, green, and yellow acrylic apple gems
  • green, red, and yellow apple counters
  • yellow, green, and red beads
  • brown pipe cleaners
  • drinking straws

Scented hair conditioner is an effortless ingredient to use in playdough, especially when only one or two other ingredients are required. Checking for it at dollar stores is an economical alternative.

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Having a bulk container of cornstarch ensures that there will be enough of this ingredient to make the playdough for a group of students. Using one cup of cornstarch to one-half cup of conditioner makes a recipe big enough for one or two children to share.

Loose parts such as yellow, green, and red apple counters, acrylic gems, and beads add interest to the tray.

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Pipe cleaners cut in half and wrapped around a pencil make curly caterpillars. Cut straws can be used to poke holes in the playdough and represent how caterpillars dig holes in apples and burrow inside.

Lowercase alphabet letter wood stamps offer an opportunity to spell the word apple.

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More Apple Activities

For more apple-themed activities, check out the following blog posts:

Apple Theme Activities

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Activities

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[Read more…] about Apple Playdough Tray

Watercolor Apples With Markers

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If you are looking for an easy art activity with a WOW factor, this watercolor apples with markers art project is for you. Just a few supplies are needed for this gorgeous art activity.

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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 super simple art activity:

  • paper towel sheets
  • watercolor markers
  • spray bottles with water
  • trays or small utility tubs
  • waterproof tablecloth
  • apple template

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Creating Watercolor Apples With Markers

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To offer this effortless art activity, first cut out apple shapes from sheets of paper towel. Choosing a thick paper towel brand is recommended, but any kind will do. Feel free to download this apple template for the art project.

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Apple PrintableDownload

This template is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Next, set up stations with a paper towel apple, and washable markers. Select hues such as red, pink, yellow, orange, and green to represent apple colors.

Invite participants to carefully color their apples.

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Then have the little artists place their arty apple in a tray or small utility tub and spray it with water. Afterward, carefully lift off each apple and set it to dry on a table covered with a waterproof tablecloth.

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Your little learners will likely wish to create a few watercolor apples using this technique. In this case, you may decide to offer the activity with apple-hued markers one or two times, and then all the markers (except black) another time.

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Coloring and spraying rectangular, uncut paper towel sheets is fun too.

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When the fruity art has dried, use a glue stick or mini glue gun to mount each project on a cardstock or construction paper background.

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Tip: Paper towel sheets are usually double-layered. If the paper apple layers come apart, use a glue stick to dab a little glue between them. Then gently press the layers together

Watercolor Apple Prints

When a paper towel apple is colored in with markers and thoroughly sprayed with water, it takes a while to dry. To speed up the drying process, lay a rectangular sheet of paper towel over the sprayed apple and press down gently. This will remove excess water and reveal a lovely print of the apple design.

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Interested in another watercolor activity with markers? Check out the blog post “Watercolor Planets With Markers.”

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More Apple Activities

Apple Theme Activities

Apple Print Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

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[Read more…] about Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Activities

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Apple print activities. Dip and paint apple halves and slices and press them onto art paper. Save some prints for fingerplays and counting.

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Apples are so plentiful in fall and come in many sizes and colors. Besides enjoying the crunchy, juicy fruits in pies, squares, and drinks, set aside some for apple print activities.

To start off, show early learners a selection of apples in contrasting colors. A green Granny Smith, a yellow golden delicious, and a red royal gala apple make good fruits to set out and discuss. They are also easy to find in stores.

Little learners would be excited to taste the apples. Cut some into chunks and invite children to taste apples in all three colors.

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

Pick an inexpensive apple to use for the craft. I picked a smaller-sized apple on sale at a local produce store. Cut some apples in half from top to bottom, and slice others horizontally. Have early learners notice the seeds, and count them. Highlight the star shape in the horizontally cut apples.

Then invite children to use the apples for printmaking.

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Supplies To Collect

  • green, red, and yellow tempera paints
  • 12-inch x 18-inch sturdy art paper
  • small plates or trays
  • paintbrushes
  • apple halves

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Making Apple Prints

Pour a little red, green, and yellow paint in small flat dessert dishes or disposable plates. Add a little yellow to the green paint to lighten and brighten the color.

Allow little ones to dip apples into the paints, and make prints on the paper.

Fun and easy printmaking with apples.

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Another way to do this activity is to have early learners paint the apple halves instead, and then press them on the paper. It is easier to control the amount of paint on the apples this way.

Apple printmaking with green, red, and yellow tempera paints.

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Tip: After each painting experience, apple pieces can be rinsed and used again by another child.

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More Apple Print Activities

Apples often come in two different colors, like red and green, or yellow and red. To extend the painting experience, invite children to paint each apple half in a different color, and make prints with them.

Add some fun by making apple prints in two different colors.

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Thin the paints. Invite little learners to make prints on sections of paper towel roll. The absorbency and texture of the towels give the prints a unique look.

Make two-colored apple prints on absorbant paper towel.

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Instead of using apple halves, set out apple slices for the children to use. They work well too!

Printmaking using apple slices on a section of absorbant paper towel.

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After the paintings are dry, cut out a few prints to use in fingerplays and counting activities.

Cut apple paint prints used in fingerplays and counting activities.

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And the apple prints would make great additions to an apple tree or a wreath craft.

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[Read more…] about Apple Print Activities

Frozen 2 Inspired Sensory Bin

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Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin with pumpkins, apples, leaves, rocks, and craft supplies. A reindeer, snowman, and people characters complete the bin.

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When I came across the Frozen II-based storybook “We’ll Always Have Each Other” earlier this year, I immediately fell in love with the fall color scheme. The rich red and orange forest colors, peppered with gold, green, and purple got me super excited about putting together a Frozen II-inspired sensory bin.

This endearing story written by John Edwards touches on pumpkins, the changing seasons, and the close friendship between Olaf and Anna. The line “life may get harder sometimes, but we’ll stay strong for each other” seems even more relevant today than when it was written more than a year ago.

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Sensory Bin Color Guide

These papers were my color guide for choosing craft supplies and loose parts for the vibrant sensory bin. I used leaf punches in two different sizes to turn cardstock into tiny leaves to sprinkle in the bin.

The color guide for a Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin.

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Loose Parts Tray

This tray shows the supplies collected.

Frozen 2 inspired loose parts tray.

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Included are:

  • paper leaves
  • foil leaves
  • leaf gems
  • round gems
  • feathers
  • pom poms
  • red apple gems
  • green rubber apples
  • craft pumpkins
  • rocks
  • a flower

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Here’s a close up of the base:

Close up photo of the Frozen 2 inspired sensory base.

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Frozen II-Inspired Sensory Bin

Olaf, Anna, Kristoff, and Sven would feel perfectly at home in this Frozen II-inspired sensory bin.

Fall sensory bin inspired by the Frozen 2 based storybook "We'll Always Have Each Other."

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Or add your little learner’s favorite characters for fall-themed sensory play.

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[Read more…] about Frozen 2 Inspired Sensory Bin

Scented Playdough Activities

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This two-ingredient playdough is super aromatic and has a unique consistency. It is easy and quick to make and inspires endless scented playdough activities.

Scented playdough activities with an easy to make, two-ingredient recipe. Three dough variations and six sensory play invitations are featured.

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Playdough Ingredients

The only ingredients needed are cornstarch and scented hair conditioner. Low-cost perfumed conditioners can be picked up at Dollar stores and local grocery stores. Food coloring is an optional third ingredient.

Dreamy, easy to make scented playdough ingredients.

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Below are the supplies to collect for three scented playdough variations.

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Green Apple Playdough

  • One cup of green apple scented conditioner
  • Two cups cornstarch
  • Green food coloring (optional)

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Strawberry Playdough

  • One cup of strawberry-scented conditioner
  • Two cups cornstarch
  • Red food coloring (optional)

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Coconut Playdough

  • One cup of coconut-scented conditioner
  • Two cups cornstarch
  • Yellow food coloring (optional)

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Making The Scented Playdough

Mix one kind of scented conditioner and cornstarch together in a bowl, and knead them for further blending. Add a squeeze more conditioner if the dough is dry, or a tad more cornstarch if the dough is mushy. The soft playdough responds superbly to human touch.

Green apple playdough batch using two ingredients and optional food coloring. A dreamy, soft playdough that responds well to human touch.

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The dough will be a light pastel color. To produce a deeper hue, add a generous amount of food coloring to the batch.

Two-ingredient scented playdough with food coloring ready to knead in.

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Dreamy, two-ingredient scented playdough in three varieties.

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If using this playdough recipe more than once, add a little more conditioner and cornstarch and knead till you get a workable dough again.

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Scented Playdough Activities

Apple Themed Playdough Invitations

Offer the scented playdoughs, toothpicks, and apple tree leaves for your little learner to create apples.

Invitation to create apples with scented, two-ingredient playdough, toothpicks, and apple leaves.

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Apples created with scented, two-ingredient playdough, toothpicks, and apple leaves.

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Set out green apple playdough for your little one to explore along with apple cookie cutters, gems, leaves, a cutting board, and an ice cube tray.

Apple themed playdough invitation with apple cutting board, ice cube tray, cookie cutters, leaves, and gems.

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Related: Apple Theme Activities

Coconut Playdough Sun

Offer coconut playdough on a tray with golf tees, buttons, and gems. Invite your early learner to create a sun.

Invitation to play with coconut-scented, two-ingredient playdough and buttons, gems, and golf tees.

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A playdough sun created with coconut-scented, two-ingredient playdough and buttons, gems, and golf tees.

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Coconut Playdough Beach Scene

Put together a tray with coconut playdough and beach-themed loose parts. Let your little one freely manipulate the playdough and add accessories.

Invitation to explore scented, two-ingredient playdough with tropical-themed accessories.

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Surprise accessory: You may notice the snowmen cookie cutters on this tray. They have a special purpose which will be revealed in a future post.

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Invitation to explore scented, two-ingredient playdough with tropical-themed accessories.

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Bonus: The tropical fruit toothpicks add color to the playdough.

Tropical fruit toothpicks leave color on the scented, two-ingredient playdough.

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Playdough Ice Cream Cones

Set out all three kinds of playdough along with a scoop and real or plastic ice cream cones. Invite your little learner to add “ice cream” to the cones.

Invitation to create ice cream cones with scented, two-ingredient playdough and accessories.

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Ice cream cones created with scented, two-ingredient playdough and accessories.

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Green Apple Slime

Add additional green apple conditioner to the apple perfumed playdough to transform it into slime. Scoop the sludge into a bowl and set it out with a pumpkin and buttons. Allow your little one to explore the new consistency, and embellish the pumpkin with slime and buttons.

Invitation to explore scented conditioner slime and use it with buttons to decorate a pumpkin.

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These dreamy scented playdough activities are sure to be a hit with your little learner. Which activity is your favorite? Share below in the comments section.

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[Read more…] about Scented Playdough Activities

Turkey Sensory Tubes

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"Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.

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Here are three quick and inviting turkey sensory tubes to put together for a Thanksgiving, fall, or farm theme.  I used large water bottles with wide mouths purchased at a dollar store for these activities. Offer the tubes to little learners and have them “spot the turkeys.”

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Three "Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.

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Split Pea And Lentil Based Sensory Tube

Split pea and lentil-based turkey sensory tube with turkey counters, and leaf, pumpkin, and apple gems.

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This calming turkey sensory tube features a red split lentil and yellow split pea base. Also included are:

  • red, orange, and yellow rubber turkey counters
  • pumpkin and apple gems
  • fall round and leaf gems

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Glitter Water Sensory Tube

Glitter water sensory tube with turkey counters, and leaf, pumpkin, and apple gems.

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Water sprinkled with a little orange glitter is the base for this glitzy sensory tube. Red, orange, and yellow turkey counters and apple, pumpkin, leaf, and round gems complete the tube.

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Craft Supply And Gem Sensory Tube

Cardstock paper in an array of fall hues is the color guide for this cheery turkey sensory tube.

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The color guide for a Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin.

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Added to the tube are:

  • purple turkey counters
  • red, orange, and purple feathers and pompoms
  • gold, red, and orange foil leaves
  • pumpkin, apple, leaf, and round gems
  • green apple counters
Glitter water sensory tube with turkey counters, and leaf, pumpkin, diamond, and apple gems.

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The turkeys can be exchanged for Frozen II figurines to go along with the heartwarming storybook “We’ll Always Have Each Other” by John Edwards. Read about a Frozen II inspired sensory bin here:

Frozen II Inspired Sensory Bin

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Fall-colored loose parts are featured in these three turkey sensory tubes. But the color theme can be changed to fit any season the tubes are offered in.

Turkey math counters and fall-themed loose parts.
Turkey Counters And Fall-Themed Loose Parts

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Three "Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.

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[Read more…] about Turkey Sensory Tubes

Apple Theme Activities

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Apple themed art, sensory and baking ideas for early learners.

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Apples are a handy educational resource. Whether these fruits are picked from a tree, given by a neighbor, or purchased from a store, they shine in early learning projects. Read on for engaging apple theme activities, and projects inspired by them.

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Apple Toothpick Sculptures

Slice up green, red, and yellow apples into small pieces. Dip the chunks in lemon juice to prevent browning, and pile them on a tray. Add toothpicks.

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Invitation to build an apple chunk and toothpick sculpture. Green, red, and yellow apples are used in this construction challenge.

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Early learners enjoy the challenge of creating a structure with toothpicks and apple pieces. They can work by themselves or collaborate with an adult or child.

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Apple chunk and toothpick sculpture. Yello, green, and red apples are used to make a colorful structure.

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Apple chunk and toothpick sculpture. Yello, green, and red apples are used to make a colorful structure.

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Paint Chip Apple Art

Cut apples, stems, and leaves from green, yellow, and red-themed paint chips. Invite your little learners to glue the shapes to a neutral background using a glue stick. The ombre color schemes in paint chips are so attractive in art.

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Paint chip apple collage art

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Rodin Inspired Painted Apples

Early learners love the opportunity to paint fruits or vegetables. The primary colors used for these crab apples are inspired by an Auguste Rodin painting. Gold glitter sprinkled on top adds glam.

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Apples painted in primary colors and sprinkled with glitter. This art activity is inspired by an apple painting by Auguste Rodin.

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Apple Prints

Slice apples in half in two different ways:

  • vertically from the stem down
  • horizontally in the middle of the apple

Children enjoy seeing the star-shaped center of the horizontally cut apples.

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Apple print set up with apple halves, black and metallic tempera paints, and gold glitter.

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Offer tempera paints on trays in traditional or unexpected colors. Ask your little learners to dip apple halves in each paint color and press them on a large piece of sturdy art paper. Featured below are black and metallic gold apple prints, with gold glitter sprinkled on for a finishing touch.

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Black and metallic gold apple prints with gold glitter for the finishing touch.

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Apple Fruit Stand

Keep a lookout for apple-themed play props at Dollar stores and art supply stores. Before long you will have a nice supply of accessories for an apple fruit stand.

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Apple Pie

Use ready-made pie crust dough and apple pie filling to make it easy for your little learners to help bake an apple pie.

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An early learner can easily help make this apple pie. It is made with a premade pie crust and apple pie filling.

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Bird And Apple Small World

Apples aren’t only tasty food for people. Many animals, including birds, love them too. This small world is an invitation for early learners to play with rocks, logs, leaves, apples, and bird figurines.

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Small world with apples, bird figurines, tree blocks, rocks, and leaves.

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There are so many apple theme activities available to choose from. And because they are plentiful in fall, they are a popular topic to introduce at the beginning of a new school term. For more apple exploration ideas, check my Pinterest board “Apple Activities For Kids.”

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What is your favorite apple activity? Share in a comment below.

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More Apple Activities

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

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[Read more…] about Apple Theme Activities