dinosaurs

Fall Drip Ice Cake

November 9, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This fall drip ice cake sensory bin combines fall colors with ice and dinosaurs. It is suitable for a winter theme about ice or could be incorporated into a fall or dinosaur theme. It would be an inviting activity outside on a hot summer day.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following easy-to-find, inexpensive supplies for this super fun sensory bin:

ice cube molds
empty round food storage containers
small bottles
tempera paints
stir sticks
sensory tray
dinosaur figurines

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Preparing the Fall Drip Ice Cake Sensory Bin

To prepare this autumn drip ice cake sensory play experience first freeze water into ice shapes. Use molds such as Ice cube trays, margarine and yogurt containers, and an ice cream pail. Allow one or two days for the freezing to be complete.

Next, pick a sensory bin to use. A large active world tray is up to the task and provides ample room to explore accessories. A round saucer sled is smaller but also works well as a sensory bin.

Then add tempera paints in fall colors to small bottles. Leave a little room in the bottles to stir in water. This slightly thins the paints and makes them easier to pour.

When the ice shapes are thoroughly frozen stack the large ones on top of each other to create a three or four-tier cake.

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Afterward, spread ice cubes in various sizes around the cake in the bin. Then set dinosaur figurines among the cubes.

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The Fall Drip Ice Cake Sensory Invitation

To offer the fall drip ice cake sensory invitation gather participants around the bin.

Invite them to take turns pouring paint over the ice cake.

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When the bottles are empty, allow everyone to explore the paint-covered ice cake, frozen cubes, and dinosaurs in the bin.

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This icy sensory invitation incorporating fall colors and dinosaur figurines is bound to be a favorite.

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More Fall Activities

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Fall Scissor Skills Activities

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[Read more…]

Lighted Dinosaur Small World

August 16, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If there’s one thing I know, young children love playing with animal figurines. And in the realm of animals, dinosaurs are among their favorite. Setting up these fascinating creatures in a lighted dinosaur small world adds interest to their play.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

The following easy-to-find supplies are in the dinosaur small world setup:

dinosaur figurines
artificial grass panels
artificial palm branches
wood slabs
small logs
small rocks
fillable eggs
marbles
blue placemat
sturdy blue paper
table cover
stage light

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The Lighted Dinosaur Small World

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This dinosaur-themed setup works perfectly on a table, or in an active world tray. I chose to decorate the table with a gold table cover. It fits the natural color scheme and works well with a professional stage light.

Artificial grass panels and palm branches provide ample ground cover for the dinosaur figurines.

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Small rocks, logs, and wood slices add nature pieces to the play invitation.

Fillable eggs and marbles are the dinosaur eggs, from which babies can hatch from.

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Curved lines cut from around the edge of a blue placemat or sturdy piece of paper provide a pond and add a dose of color to the scene.

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Shining a professional stage light on the display adds interest and beauty to the play invitation. The idea was inspired a stunning dinosaur display at a local museum.

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More Dinosaur Activities

Dinosaur and Sweet Potato Vine Activities

Dinosaur and Sunflower Sensory Bin

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Play

Dinosaur Valentine Craft

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More Small Worlds

Reptile Active World Tray

Cherry Blossom Tree Small World

Hockey Game Small World

Polar Bear Small World

Christmas Small World on the Light Table

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[Read more…]

Paint Pour Ice Cake Sensory Play

January 31, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Drip cakes are a popular trend at the moment. After seeing a fascinating drip cake-decorating video online, I thought it would be fun to try a similar technique with tempera paint and a three-tier ice cake. It turned out to be a paint pour ice cake sensory play invitation, and the icy activity was a huge success. I highly recommend giving it a try.

It is winter in my part of the world right now, and this paint pour sensory activity fits the season. But it would work any time of the year indoors or outdoors using of-the-moment seasonal colors.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

To set up a paint pour ice cake sensory activity, gather the following supplies:

sensory tub
small square coffee table
waterproof tablecloth
tarp
round food storage containers in various sizes
a variety of ice cube trays
tempera paints in turquoise, pink, light purple, and white hues
small soda or water bottles
shovels
toy dinosaurs

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Setting Up The Paint Pour Ice Cake Activity

This sensory invitation is easy from start to finish. The first thing to do is collect round food storage containers and gather all the ice cube trays you can find. Freeze water in them outdoors on a cold day or in a freezer to make ice. This will take about 24 to 48 hours.

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Next, pour tempera paint in turquoise, pink, light purple, and white hues into clear bottles with narrow spouts. Small milk or soda bottles are perfect for this activity. Mix a little water into the paint colors to make them easy to pour.

Then cover an area of the floor with a tarp or large round waterproof tablecloth and set down a small coffee table.

Cover the table with a waterproof tablecloth and place a sensory tub on it. For the featured activity, I used an inexpensive saucer sled. It is just the right size to fit four to six little learners around it. An active world tray would be a fine alternative.

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When the ice shapes are frozen, stack the large cylindrical ones into a three-tier cake in the middle of the tub. Spread ice cubes in various sizes and shapes around the ice cake.

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Paint Pour Ice Cake Sensory Play

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When the ice cake sensory play invitation is all set up, invite little learners to gather around.

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Have your little charges take turns pouring paint from a bottle on top of the cake. The children will be enthralled by the dripping hues.

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After all the paint has been poured, include shovels and dinosaurs in the tub for added sensory play opportunities.

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The paint colors will eventually tone down and blend, allowing little learners to experience a color-changing science experiment.

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More Winter Sensory Play Activities

Polar Animal Sensory Play

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Winter Playdough Recipe

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Tablescape

LLama-Inspired Winter Sensory Bin

Snowy Owl Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]

Dinosaur Valentine Craft

February 13, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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It was just a couple of days before Valentine’s Day when one of my preschoolers said “Remember, Mrs. Kaminsky…you promised to make a dinosaur valentine craft for us to do.” And yes, I had!

We were just finishing up a polar dinosaur theme when I had come across super cute dinosaur Valentine’s Day window clings. They served as perfect transition décor from that winter-wrapped dinosaur theme to a Valentine’s Day topic. And they provided lots of craft inspiration, which led me to tell my preschoolers we would do a dinosaur valentine craft.

So this is a very last-minute dinosaur-themed Valentine’s Day craft project!

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Supplies To Collect

dinosaur printable
12-inch x 12-inch cardstock
8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock
pompoms
wiggly eyes
thin felt pen
paper or foam hearts
thin ribbon strip
white glue
glue paddle
glue stick

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Making The Dinosaur Valentine

Download one of these two dinosaur templates and print it on 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper in the color of your choice.

Dinosaur template to use for a dinosaur-themed craft.

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Dinosaur PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Rawr-y dinosaur template to use for a valentine craft.

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Rawr-y Dinosaur PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Fashion a bow from a small strip of thin ribbon.

Cut out the dinosaur, and invite your early learner to use a glue stick to paste it on a 12-inch x 12-inch piece of complementary cardstock.

Then have your little one use white glue to add pompoms to the dinosaur back, wiggly eyes to the head, and a bow to the neck.

Next, have your little learner use the glue stick to add paper or foam hearts to the body, and use a thin felt pen to draw a smile on the head.

Cut out the “I Rawr-y Love You” greeting to add to the craft if desired.

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[Read more…]

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Play

January 30, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Three engaging sensory activities to explore whether dinosaurs could have survived in polar regions of the world.

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Could dinosaurs have survived in polar areas of the world? Since fossils of many kinds of dinosaurs have been discovered in cold, icy regions, this question has been carefully pondered. Early learners can explore this idea through polar dinosaur sensory play.

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Polar Dinosaur Discoveries

Northern Alaska is the best polar location to find dinosaur fossils, as fossils of many uniquely different dinosaurs have been unearthed there.

Fossils from at least eight types of dinosaurs have been discovered in Antarctica.

Dinosaur fossils have also been found in Siberia, Canada, southern Australia, New Zealand, and the southern tip of South America.

There have been discoveries of dinosaur trackways, footprints, teeth, skin impressions, and bones.

Collecting dinosaur fossils in polar regions is challenging because of the extreme weather conditions, rugged, hard to access places and difficulty in removing fossils.

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Polar Dinosaur Sensory Tray

A simple way to incorporate the idea of polar animals living in cold parts of the world is to set up a polar dinosaur sensory tray.

Polar dinosaur sensory play with dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts.

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Items in the tray:

dinosaur figurines and skulls
acrylic ice cubes
turquoise acrylic gems
white, cream, and blue gems
stones
cotton balls
snowflake confetti
dinosaur confetti

Loose parts tray featuring dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts, perfect for exploring a polar dinosaur theme.

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This is an eye-pleasing tray that is bound to draw children in. It works well for individual sensory play.

Sensory tray with dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts, perfect for exploring a polar dinosaur theme.

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Polar Dinosaur Playdough Tray

You can use most of the above items for a polar dinosaur playdough tray. I exchanged the dinosaurs for miniature ones and took out the cotton balls.

For the oh, so soft playdough recipe, click here.

Playdough tray featuring dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts, perfect for exploring a polar dinosaur theme.

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Dinosaur cookie cutters add to the play possibilities.

Oh, so soft playdough used with dinosaur and winter-themed accessories.

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Tube

After using snowflake and dinosaur confetti in sensory trays, sprinkle some in a large clear plastic water bottle. Then add mini dinosaur figurines and water. Set the bottle out as a sensory tube for little learners to explore.

Polar dinosaur exploration sensory tube with snowflake confetti and miniature dinosaurs. An easy to prepare sensory experience for early learners.

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What Scientists Think About Dinosaurs and Polar Regions

Some dinosaurs could have lived in dark, chilly places, and may have hibernated in winter. Others could have adapted to the colder weather.

Still others may have migrated to polar regions in spring/summer because food was plentiful like many animals do today.

When dinosaurs roamed the earth the climate around the world was much warmer than today. Although polar lands had freezing temperatures and some snow, the weather was milder.

Fossils of leaves, pine needles, and trees show evidence that many polar areas were covered with forests when dinosaurs lived.

Polar dinosaur sensory tray with dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts.

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Sensory tube for polar dinosaur exploration with snowflake confetti and miniature dinosaurs. An easy to prepare sensory experience for early learners.

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[Read more…]

Sunflower Seed Sensory Bin Activities

November 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Three sunflower seed sensory bins. Dinosaurs, sunflowers, pumpkins, sand toys, and loose parts are highlights of the bins.

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A sunflower seed sensory bin is a fantastic way for early learners to explore these edible seeds, and use them in play. The seed base is a natural fit for fall and pumpkin-themed accessories. Here are three sensory bin suggestions brimming with these dramatic seeds.

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Sunflower And Sand Toy Bin

Sand toys, sunflowers, and fall-themed gems in a sunflower seed sensory bin.

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Add shovels. pails, sieves, watering cans, leaf gems, round fall-themed gems, and craft sunflowers in different sizes and colors to a sunflower seed base. This bin works well as a spring gardening center. Or extend summer into fall by offering the bin to your little learners in September.

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Pumpkin And Sunflower Seed Sensory Bin

Pumpkin-themed loose parts and sunflowers shine in this sunflower seed sensory bin. Spiders and mice add fun to the tray.

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Rubber mice and spider gems liven up this pumpkin and sunflower seed sensory bin. Other items in this sure to delight bin are:

craft sunflowers in different sizes and colors
pumpkin gems
pumpkin ice cubes
leaf gems
orange, black, and clear gems
black and orange cups
pumpkin-shaped dish
pumpkin cookie cutters
orange spoon

Fall-themed tinker tray with sunflowers, mice, spiders, gems, and pumpkin loose parts.

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Dinosaur And Sunflower Sensory Bin

Dinosaurs and sunflowers may seem like an unlikely combination. The inspiration for this bin came from viewing Lewis Lavoie’s stunning works of art entitled “Sunflower Beast”, and “Sunflower Bed.”

Easy to put together sunflower seed sensory bin with sunflowers and dinosaurs.

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The bin was introduced to my preschoolers a few years back. I made sure there was a stegosaurus or two in the mix. The children had a blast playing with dinosaurs, sunflowers, and loose parts in the seedy base. Your early learners would embrace this bin too.

Below, a volcanic mountain adds interest to the play.

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Note: For these sunflower seed sensory bin activities, I used striped sunflower seeds. I purchased two 7.5 lb bags at a local pet store, which filled a large sensory table. For a smaller bin, one 7.5 lb bag would be enough.

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Which bin is your favorite? Share below in a comment.

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Pumpkin Playdough Activities

November 13, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Pumpkin playdough recipe and activities. Pumpkin, squirrel, and dinosaur themed playdough activities.

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Pumpkin playdough will send an oh, so pleasing pumpkin spice aroma around the room while your early learners have loads of fun playing with it. It is soft and rubbery, and won’t easily crumble. Here is the recipe, and a few engaging pumpkin playdough activities.

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Playdough Ingredients

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
red food coloring (a little)
yellow food coloring (lots)
a few drops of oil

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Making The Playdough

Combine all ingredients but the oil in a sturdy pot.

Mix the ingredients together well.

With the stove on medium heat, continue stirring while the dough heats up.

When the playdough thickens into a lump, remove it from the stove.

Place the dough on a cutting board and let it cool.

Knead in a few drops of oil.

Store the playdough in a resealable plastic bag.

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Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Set the playdough on a tray with pumpkin cookie cutters, ice cubes, and gems. Include fall-themed gems.

Fall-themed loose parts and pumpkin playdough.

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Sprinkle orange glitter on the playdough to extend the play.

Pumpkin playdough with pumpkin-themed loose parts.

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Acorns and squirrel gems add to the fun.

Fall-themed playdough tray with pumpkin playdough.

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Dinosaurs are the theme for the tray below.

Dinosaur-themed playdough tray with pumpkin playdough.

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This pumpkin playdough recipe stores well and can be reused over and over again. Instead of food coloring, orange icing color could be added. And pumpkin seeds would introduce an interesting texture to the dough.

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More Pumpkin Activities

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Pumpkin Painting Process Art

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Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Edible Playdough Pumpkins

Pumpkin Color Activities

Pumpkin Collage Art

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[Read more…]

Dinosaur And Sweet Potato Vine Activities

July 26, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Preschool dinosaur and sweet potato vine sensory, art and nature activities.

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One Spring I was greenhouse shopping, and a ledge of sweet potato vines caught my attention. The sales clerk suggested that the leaves looked like dinosaur footprints.

That thought stuck with me, and soon after I picked two uniquely colored sweet potato vines to add contrast to the flowering plants on my deck. I was also eager to use some leaves in dinosaur-themed nature play.

When the sweet potato vines had grown and poured over their pots, I snipped a few leaves off the plants to feature the activities below.

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Dinosaur Themed Small World

Sweet potato vine leaves in a dinosaur-themed sensory tub. Rocks, twigs, plastic and marble eggs, and blue water complete the scene.

Small world scene with dinosaurs, rocks, twig, plastic eggs, marbles, blue water, and sweet potato vine leaves.

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Painted Leaf T-Rex Footprints

An invitation to make leaf prints shaped like dinosaur footprints with silver and bronze paints and sweet potato vine leaves.

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One side of cut leaves are painted with tempera paints. Next the leaves are carefully pressed on paper to make T-Rex dinosaur footprints. Bronze and silver paints make the art project extra special!

Printmaking project. Sweet potato vine leaves are painted with bronze and gold metallic paints. The leaves are pressed on paper to look like dinosaur footprints.

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Sorting T-Rex Footprint Shaped Leaves

An invitation to sort different sizes and colors of “dinosaur footprint” shaped leaves into “alike and different”. Large passionflower leaves add variety to this activity.

An iInvitation to sort sweet potato vine and passionflower leaves. A Math activity using nature materials.

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Activities with leaves are a welcome opportunity to include nature in art and play centers. Do you have a favorite activity to do with leaves or leafy plant you treasure? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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