Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

art

Space Loose Parts Play

by Leave a Comment

_______

Loose parts are a highlight in any play center, and they certainly shine in a space theme. Sorted in a tray, they are ready for all kinds of outer space loose parts play. The outer space-themed supplies can be added to a rice bin, water play bin, or playdough invitation. The out-of-this-world loose parts have other great uses as well.

_______

Space Loose Parts Supplies

_______

The following economical and easy-to-find supplies are in the space loose parts tray:

  • space-ship shaped bubble blowing containers
  • star-shaped buttons
  • thin bracelets
  • orange and white ping pong balls
  • glow in the dark stars, stones, and pebbles
  • space-themed erasers
  • marbles
  • rubber balls
  • sun and star-shaped acrylic gems
  • yellow pickleball balls
  • astronaut and spaceship toys

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Space Loose Parts Tray

_______

Repurposed spaceship-shaped bubble blowing containers with screw-top lids work well in sensory bin activities and are super fun to use.

Glow-in-the-dark stars and star-shaped buttons help create vivid night skies. The stones and pebbles serve as space rocks.

Yellow pickleball balls represent a lighted, crater-filled moon.

Various kinds and colors of small balls and marbles can be reimagined as planets or moons, and the bracelets make great planetary rings.

Iridescent sun and star-shaped acrylic gems add beauty to outer space play activities.

Mini astronaut and spaceship toys and erasers extend imaginative play.

_______

Space Loose Parts Play

The colorful rubber balls in the space loose parts play tray can be used in large motor activities.

The space-themed buttons, glow-in-the-dark stars, rocks, bracelets, erasers, and acrylic gems make great loose parts in outer space pretend play.

The supplies in the tray are perfect for a space-themed transient art invitation.

_______

The outer space supplies shine in a rice sensory bin or water play setup.

_______

And the supplies are tantalizing in a playdough invitation.

_______

_______

[Read more…] about Space Loose Parts Play

Watercolor Rainbows With Markers

by Leave a Comment

_______

Making watercolor rainbows with markers is one of the easiest and most fun art activities for early learners to do.  Preparation time is minimal, and the art project is stunning every time.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Only the following few supplies are needed for this gorgeous watercolor art project:

  • eye droppers or pipettes
  • paper towel roll
  • set of 10 water-based markers
  • paint pot with water
  • ice cream pail lid
  • reusable tablecover

_______

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Watercolor Rainbows With Markers Art Project

To offer this fun watercolor art project, set out a sample rainbow drawing, a paper towel roll sheet, and a set of water-based markers.

Discuss the colors of the rainbow, and the acronym ROYGBIV. Explain that this acronym stands for the order of colors in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Invite participants to draw a rainbow, starting with a red curved line near the edges of their paper towel sheet.

Tip: To make it easier for young children, draw a large red half circle on each paper towel sheet using an ice cream pail lid as a guide. Then ask participants to draw in the rest of the curved lines of the rainbow.

_______

After each child has finished their rainbow drawing, direct them to a table with eye droppers or pipettes and paint pots filled with water. Ask participants to drop water on their rainbow with the droppers. They will absolutely love this part of the art activity.

Let the beautiful rainbow art dry overnight and display it.

_______

Note: Children may draw their rainbows in a unique color pattern. That is just fine…the rainbows will look beautiful in any color order.

_______

More Eye Dropper Art

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Gorgeous Eye Dropper Art

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Eye Dropper Heart Art

_______

More Watercolor Art

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Pump Bottle Watercolor Art

Unicorn Watercolor Art

Watercolor Planets With Markers

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

_______

[Read more…] about Watercolor Rainbows With Markers

Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

by Leave a Comment

_______

April is Celebrate Diversity Month, and people are encouraged to participate in activities that celebrate people from different ethnic backgrounds. This easy Celebrate Diversity paper craft draws attention to the diversity in people by representing different skin colors.

_____

Supplies to Collect

_______

To create this eye-catching diversity craft, gather the following:

  • skin-colored construction paper
  • green, blue, and red construction paper
  • 18-inch x 18-inch sheet of white art paper
  • glue stick
  • scissors and pencil

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

To make this celebrate diversity paper craft, start by tracing each child’s hand and arm on a skin-toned piece of construction paper.

Next, cut out the traced arms and hands.

Then cut a circle from blue construction paper, a half circle from green construction paper, and a heart from red construction paper.

_______

Use a glue stick to affix the blue circle onto a large sheet of art paper that is a minimum of 18 inches x 18 inches in size. Glue the green half circle on top of the blue circle, and add on the red heart.

Afterward, arrange the skin-toned arms and hands around the paper earth and glue them on.

Finally, trim off pieces of paper arms that extend beyond the sides of the white art paper background. If desired, write the words “Celebrate Diversity” on the top section of the craft.

_______

Your diversity craft project is ready for display.

_______

Earth Day Paper Craft

_______

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and is now scheduled every year on April 22. Including an earth with a heart on it depicts the importance of caring for our earth, and allows this Celebrate Diversity paper craft to double up as an Earth Day activity.

_______

More Celebrate Diversity Arts and Crafts

Celebrate Diversity Heart Art

Three Black History Month Crafts

Five Black History Month Crafts

_______

More Earth Day Arts and Crafts

Earth Day Bead Craft

Earth Day Heart Art

_______

[Read more…] about Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

Squish Painting Shamrock Art

by Leave a Comment

_______

This March I needed to get new art up quickly, and decided to have my little learners participate in a squish painting shamrock art project. Squish painting is a quick and satisfying art activity that little children love to do. Using folded hearts for the art project, the shamrock art is effortless to create.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this seasonal squish art activity:

  • magenta, green, and white tempera paint
  • magenta and green cardstock paper
  • manila tag paper
  • ruler, pencil, and scissors
  • paint pots and spoons

_______

_______

The Squish Painting Art Project

To prepare this activity, start by tracing and cutting out hearts from sturdy paper. Manila tag paper works well for the project. It comes in 9 x 12-inch, 12 x 18-inch, or even 18 x 24-inch paper sizes. The larger-sized paper allows for cutting bigger hearts.

When finished with the cutting part, fold the hearts in half. 

Next, mix a little yellow into the green tempera paint to create a lighter brighter color.

Then set out green and white paint pots, and add a spoon to each one.

_______

Invite participants to spoon each paint color onto their hearts, then fold one side over the other.

Have children rub their hands over their heart halves to smooth out the paint.

Finally, ask them to open their hearts to see the new design created.

Shamrock Art Display

_______

To make a shamrock using the squish-painted hearts, group the hearts into three leaflets. Glue them to a large cardstock background or tape them to a wall. Then cut a long, thin petiole from green cardstock paper. Affix the petiole to the shamrock design.

_______

Variation of the Squish Painting Shamrock Art Project

_______

Introduce a new tempera paint color for an interesting way to vary this squish painting shamrock art project. Since shamrock plants also come in a purple variety called purple oxalis, using magenta paint instead of green is a natural fit for changing up the activity. 

_______

Related:

Shamrock Leaf Print Art

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Leprechaun Gnome Craft

_______

[Read more…] about Squish Painting Shamrock Art

St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Craft

by Leave a Comment

_______

Leprechaun activities are a fun part of St. Patrick’s Day for children, and this St. Patrick’s Day gnome craft is a fun one to include in the Irish-themed celebration. There is a free leprechaun gnome template to download to make the paper craft easy to prepare.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Craft Supplies

This cheeky craft is made primarily of cardstock paper, with a few additional supplies. Gather the following for the craft:

  • three shades of green cardstock paper
  • tan, orange, black, and white cardstock paper
  • 8 ½ x 11-inch white, yellow, or mint green cardstock
  • green glitter cardstock
  • shamrock confetti
  • tiny gold pom poms or craft buttons
  • glue stick and white glue
  • scissors and pencil

_______

_______

St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Craft Preparation

To prepare this March craft, cut a leprechaun body and hat from two different shades of green cardstock.

Next cut a round nose, two round hands, and two oval feet from tan cardstock paper. I used paper punches for the shapes but included circles and ovals in the downloadable template in this post.

Afterward, cut a heart-shaped beard from white or orange cardstock, and a money pot from black cardstock.

Cut the rim of the hat from green glitter cardstock.

_______

Click on this link to download the leprechaun template for this craft.

Leprechaun Gnome PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Then select mint green, white, or yellow 8 ½ inch x 11-inch cardstock to glue the leprechaun parts on.

Finally, pick tiny gold pom poms or small buttons to represent gold, and have available shamrock confetti.

_______

The St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Craft

_______

To make this leprechaun gnome craft, use a glue stick to affix an oval body onto a piece of 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock, and add the heart-shaped beard and leprechaun nose.

Next, glue on the hat and add a glitter green rim.

Then add two oval feet, the money pot, and two round hands.

Affix a confetti shamrock to the end of the hat and add one or more to the center of it for decoration.

Finally, glue tiny pom poms or small buttons on and above the money pot to represent gold.

_______

Instead of using shamrock confetti, pom poms, or buttons as finishing touches, you can cut apart St. Patrick’s Day necklaces to use for your craft. The tiny coins on the necklace can be used as treasure, and the necklace shamrocks can be used instead of confetti ones.

_______

Wouldn’t a group of paper-crafted gnomes look adorable in a St. Patrick’s Day display?

_______

Related:

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion Craft

Leprechaun Sensory Jar

Leprechaun Sensory Play

_______

[Read more…] about St. Patrick’s Day Gnome Craft