art

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

October 27, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Fall is well underway in our area of the world, and the leaves on the trees have turned bright shades of red, orange, and yellow in the past few weeks. The colorful leaves provide wonderful inspiration for art projects, and this fall leaf salad spinner art activity is one of my favorites.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies to Collect

For this fun and easy art project, gather the following supplies:

salad spinner
white cardstock paper
red, yellow, green, and orange tempera paint
paint pots
teaspoons
leaf tracer
pencil
scissors

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A beautiful painted leaf made with a salad spinner painting technique. This process art project is bound to be a hit with your little learners.

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The Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art Project

To do this art project, pick a leaf to trace and cut from white cardstock. I feature a maple leaf, as it fits nicely in a salad spinner and has an interesting shape. Cut out a few paper leaves for each child participating.

Next, pour red, yellow, orange, and green paint into small containers, and add a teaspoon to each paint pot.

Then have participants take turns placing a paper leaf in the spinner, dripping paint colors on top, and spinning the salad spinner as fast as they can.

How to make beautiful fall leaves with a salad spinner painting technique. An easy and fun all-ages art project.

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The resulting paint patterns are always a delightful surprise, and the arty leaves are display-worthy. And they make a great addition to year-end school memory albums.

A beautiful way to create painted fall leaves using a salad spinner technique. And it's so easy and fun.

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Note: I previously featured maple leaf salad spinner art in a Canada Day post. You can download a leaf template (available in that post) to use for this art activity if you wish.

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Beautiful fall leaves created with a salad spinner painting technique. The arty leaves are display-worthy and would be a great additions to year-end school memory albums.

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The salad spinner cleans up surprisingly well with soap and water at the end of the art session.

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Related: Maple Leaf Theme Activities

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Glow In The Dark Pumpkin Art

October 26, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This glow-in-the-dark pumpkin art is easy and fun to do. It’s an all-ages art activity the whole family can participate in, and looks stunning displayed in a dark room with a black light. Mounted on a neon-colored paper background, the pumpkin art project displays nicely in daylight too.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Supplies To Collect

Supplies for making neon pumpkin art to use with a black light and take home afterward.

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Just a few supplies make this arty activity come to life. To get it ready, gather the following:

highlighter markers in a variety of colors
white cardstock paper
pumpkin template
pencil
scissors
neon green pipe cleaners
masking tape
small table
black light

Glow-in-the-dark pumpkin art with white cardstock paper, highlighter markers, and neon pipe cleaners. A stunning art project the whole family can do.

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The Glow in the Dark Pumpkin Art Activity

To prepare this activity, cut out pumpkins and leaves from white cardstock. Feel free to download the template below.

A free pumpkin template to download for glow-in-the-dark art activities.

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Pumpkin PatternDownload

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Then, set out a container with highlighter markers along with a paper pumpkin and leaf for each participant.

Next, invite everyone to color their pumpkin and leaf. Leaving some parts white is fine because it glows in the dark too.

Afterward, wrap neon green pipe cleaners around a pencil, and fasten one around the stem of each pumpkin.

Then set a small table against a wall in a room that can be made totally dark and place a black light on it.

Next, tape the pumpkins and leaves to the wall above the table.

This highlighter marker pumpkin art enhanced with a black light looks stunning in daylight too.

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Finally, invite artists into the room to admire their displayed art in daylight with the black light turned on. Then turn off the room lights. Participants are sure to be wowed by how beautiful their highlighter-decorated pumpkins look under ultraviolet light.

Quick and easy black light pumpkin art with highlighter markers, paper, and a black light. Free printable to download on the blog.

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Note: For an explanation of how black light and highlighters interact with each other, view my blog post “Glow Art Words Of Affirmation.”

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Black light pumpkin art with white cardstock paper, highlighter markers, and neon pipe cleaners. A stunning art project the whole family can do.

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When this art project is ready to send home, mount it on a complementary-colored neon paper background.

Neon pumpkin art for use with a black light, Afterward, mount it on neon paper to take home and display.

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More Pumpkin Activities

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Pumpkin Painting Process Art

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Edible Playdough Pumpkins

Pumpkin Color Activities

Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Pumpkin Collage Art

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Neon Finger Paint Tree Art

October 19, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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After reading the poetic book “The Tree In Me” by Corinna Luyken, I especially fell in love with the exquisite, gorgeous illustrations. The beautiful artwork is the inspiration for this neon finger paint tree art activity.

Neon colors, especially pink, balanced by soft yellow hues and touches of grey, are used often in the story. Author/illustrator Luyken states that she picked these radiant colors because she has a soft spot for neon, and wanted to give the story a more universal feel. I know that little learners will love using neon colors in tree art too.

A beautiful, picture-book-inspired neon fingerpaint tree art project the whole family can do. A free tree template is available to download.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this cheery tree art activity, only a few supplies need to be gathered:

neon pink, red, orange, and purple finger paint or tempera paint
yellow finger paint or tempera paint
paint tray
white or cream 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock
tree template

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The Neon Finger Paint Tree Process

Steps to create beautiful neon finger paint tree art. A picture-book-inspired art project that is easy to do. A free template is included.

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This painting activity is easy to set up and do, and early learners will get excited about having the chance to finger paint.

Before starting the art project, read the storybook “The Tree In Me,” or view a video version of the story. Discuss the colors used for the illustrations, along with the many tree-related activities the children in the story participate in.

Next, set out a paint tray with neon finger paints or tempera paints. I feature neon pink, red, and orange tempera paints in this art project. I didn’t have neon yellow paint, but bright yellow paint works fine with neon colors.

Afterward, select a tree template to use for the art. Feel free to download this template for the painting activity.

A free tree template to download for art and craft activities.

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Tree Printable

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Invite early learners to dip a fingertip into the paint colors and finger paint their tree template. While they are working, talk about the colors of paint available and the ones they choose to use.

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Finger Paint Tree Art Benefits

Aside from facilitating language development, this finger paint tree art improves eye-hand coordination and develops fine motor skills. And it offers children a chance to create with unique, dynamic paint colors.

The artwork in “The Tree In Me” is joyful and whimsical, and complements the heartwarming text. Neon finger paint tree art is a terrific follow-up activity to reading the story.

Gorgeous neon finger paint tree art inspired by the picture book "The Tree In Me" by Corinna Luyken. An all-ages, easy-to-do art activity. A free template is included.

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Related: Book-inspired Tree Art

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Glow Art Words Of Affirmation

September 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This black light "Words Of Affirmation" Glow Art activity is a must-try. It is a science, art, and language self-esteem-building project.

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Words are powerful, and they can be super uplifting to early learners. At the beginning of the school year, supportive, self-esteem-building words help students get off to a good start. A creative and oh-so-easy way to introduce them is by inviting little learners to use highlighters to color around positive ones printed in heart shapes. Afterward, the fancied-up words can be viewed and discussed in a “Glow Art Words Of Affirmation” language and science activity.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this confidence-boosting glow art activity, gather the following supplies:

chisel-tipped highlighters in a variety of colors
white cardstock paper
black felt marker
scissors
tape
portable black light fluorescent tube and holder
small coffee table

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Glow Word Art

First, draw heart shapes on white cardstock paper with a black felt marker, and add a word of affirmation to each one. Or design the project digitally. The words chosen for my art project are:

creative
friendly
kind
brave
helpful
teachable
awesome
unique
cherished

Steps to perform a black light "words of affirmation" glow art activity. The art project is perfect for the beginning of the year, the end of the year, or anytime in between.

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Next, invite little learners to decorate a word heart with highlighter markers, and then cut their hearts out. Leaving some parts of the designs uncolored is fine, as white will glow too.

Note: Highlighter ink is a tiny bit toxic, but using it is not considered a health risk. If your little charges are prone to sticking things in their mouths and/or coloring on themselves, it is advisable to choose another art medium for this activity.

When decorated, tape the embellished hearts to a wall in a room that can be made totally dark.

Afterward, place a fluorescent tube black light on a small table next to the art wall, and turn it on.

Then invite everyone to the room to view the art with all lights on. Discuss how the words apply to your little learners.

This "positive words" glow art activity incorporates language and science. It is a confidence-boosting art project perfect for any time of the year.

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Lastly, make the room dark and leave just the black light on. Students will be wowed by the glowing, worded hearts.

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Safety Tip: Tell children that they should only be near a black light for a short period of time. Prolonged exposure may lead to eye and skin damage.

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Discussing The Glow Art Words Of Affirmation

Here are some ideas for discussing decorated word hearts with the children:

Assure early learners that they are brave in coming to school and meeting new friends.
Affirm the specialness of each child by saying they are “unique, awesome, and cherished.”
Compliment students for being creative and teachable.
Highlight that being “friendly, helpful, and kind” are ways to work as a team and get along with each other.

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The Science Behind Black Light

Black lights are designed to block out visible light and emit invisible, ultraviolet (UV-A) light. They illuminate natural and man-made materials that contain phosphors. Phosphors convert the energy in UV radiation to visible light by re-emitting it at a different wavelength, one that our eyes can see.

The dyes from highlighter pens contain phosphors. When highlighter art is positioned in a dark room near a black light, it glows.

This black light character trait art activity incorporates language and science. It is a confidence-boosting art project perfect for any time of the year.

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Glowing Names

Instead of focussing on words of affirmation, invite your little learners to color around their names with highlighters. This is also a terrific beginning of the year activity. And it works well at the end of the school term to remind children that they have been valued members of the class.

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Related: Scented Moon Playdough

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Skull And Crossbones Art

September 15, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Most years a pirate theme finds its way into our curriculum offerings. The theme involves action figures, boats, and lots of treasure, so what’s not to love? This year we included skull and crossbones art, which led to interesting discussions!

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Oh, so easy skull and crossbones art project your little learners will love. Two free printables are included for the scissor skill activity.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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What I like most of all about a pirate theme is the way it enhances children’s language. Near the beginning of the school year, dramatic pirate language (demonstrated in storybooks) helps draw children out of their shells as they practice it in pretend play. Later on, it presents opportunities to work on sounds children may still be having difficulty with (think letter R / “arrr”.)

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International Talk Like A Pirate Day

An International Talk Like A Pirate Day is held every year on September 19. Celebrating it in the classroom fits in well with the benefits of imitating pirate talk at the beginning of the school term (which is in September where I live.}

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The Skull And Crossbones Art Project

Near the end of my latest pirate theme, I offered a little skull and crossbones art activity. (A skull and crossbones symbol was one of the designs used on pirate ships.) Although the main goals were to discuss symmetry and practice scissor skills, the activity also inspired lively group conversation.

Oh, so easy skull and crossbones "creepy art" activity your little learners will love. Two free printables are included for the scissor skill ainvitation.

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Children cut out a skull and crossbones from a printable and then used felt markers to decorate it.

Invitation to create "creepy art" with two free skull and crossbones printables. Scissor skill practice is also a goal.

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My preschoolers loved the decorating phase. And they called their designs “creepy art.” That term (which rolled off their tongues numerous times) was the inspiration for drawing spiders and dripping blood. (There were a few hearts to soften the look.)

This led me to tell them that there is such a thing as creepy art and that it is perfectly legitimate. Skull and crossbones art fits the label, and some of it is even described as “gorgeous” and “pretty” online.

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Skull And Crossbones Printables

The simple pirate-themed art activity was so well-received that I thought it was worth sharing in a blog post. It’s easy to pull out on International Talk Like A Pirate Day, or any time of the year.

Here are two free printables to download so your little learners can make creepy art too.

This first printable can be cut out and decorated. Or you can skip the cutting phase.

Skull and crossbones template to download for scissor skill practice and art.

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Skull And Crossbones PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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The second printable is designed to be folded in half lengthwise and then cut. It’s a good activity to discuss symmetry.

Skull and crossbones template to download for scissor skill practice and art. Learning about symmetry is also a possibility.

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Skull And Crossbones Scissor Skill PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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The work of Salvador Dali is an example of exquisite creepy art. An artist theme on Dali would be a great follow-up to this skull and crossbones art activity.

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And for more pirate-themed fun, try this “Exploding Treasure Chests” science experiment by FUN-A-DAY.

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Related: Pirate Treasure Bin

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