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Easter

Bunny Rice Bin

March 26, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Usher in spring in fashion with this bunny rice bin. A long-legged bunny and green and white eggs and loose parts are in the bin.
Usher in spring in fashion with this bunny rice bin. A long-legged bunny and green and white eggs and loose parts are in the bin.

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We’re ready for spring, and this bunny rice bin is definitely helping to usher it in. The green and white seasonal color scheme is inspired by beautiful bunny-themed eggs discovered on a shopping run.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

This spring bunny loose parts tray features green and white bunnies, eggs, and loose parts.

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For this calming rice bin, gather the following supplies:

  • stuffed Easter bunny
  • decorative Easter eggs
  • Easter basket
  • shredded Easter grass
  • bunny erasers
  • marbles
  • container caps
  • transparent triangles
  • bendable bunny figurine
  • Easter grass
  • glutinous rice
  • bus tub

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The Bunny Rice Bin

The bin of choice is a white bus tub. It is large enough to fit a variety of contents and is suitable for 2-3 children to use at once.

The base for this bin is white glutinous rice. It is my absolute favorite base because it showcases the supplies in a bin so well.

The sensory bin theme is inspired by decorative green and white eggs snapped up at a dollar store on a routine shopping run.

This green and white bunny-themed rice bin gives you all the feels. Loose parts coordinate with the bunnies and eggs in the bin.

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It took a little while to find a matching stuffed bunny, but eventually, I discovered a unique one at another dollar store. The sprawling bunny adds character to the bin.

Green paper Easter grass adds texture to the glutinous rice base.

An Easter basket, bendable bunny, and bunny erasers all in green come from my Easter theme storage tub.

And green transparent triangles, marbles, and container caps picked from my loose parts collection round out the supplies in the bin.

This green and white bunny-themed rice bin gives you all the feels. Loose parts coordinate with the bunnies and eggs in the bin.

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Any color scheme will work wonderfully for this bunny rice bin. Selecting two or three feature colors for the bin makes setting it up that much more fun.

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More Bunny Activities

Easter Bunny Sensory Bins

Silhouette Bunny Art

Spring Bunny Canvas Art

Bunny Rolling Pin Art

Bunny Candy Art

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[Read more…] about Bunny Rice Bin

Filed Under: Easter, preschool, sensory, spring Tagged With: bunnies, Easter, loose parts, sensory bin, sensory play, spring

Ombre Bunny Art

March 25, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Create ombre bunny art with shades of teal and blue paint. This is an easy-to-do, striking spring bunny art project.
Create ombre bunny art with shades of teal and blue paint. This is an easy-to-do, striking spring bunny art project.

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When doing a similar bunny art project year after year it’s nice to vary the color scheme. In this spring painting activity, shades of teal and blue are used to create ombre bunny art.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Shades of blue tempera paint are used to decorate this ombre bunny, This is an easy-to-do art project that you are sure to love.

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For this simple painting project, gather the following supplies:

  • teal and deep blue tempera paint
  • white tempera paint
  • paint pots
  • paintbrush
  • paint palette
  • bunny template
  • manilla tag paper
  • wiggly eyes
  • black pipe cleaner
  • blue button
  • cotton balls
  • spoons
  • scissors and pencil
  • white glue or glue gun

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The Ombre Bunny Art Project

Create ombre bunny art with shades of teal and blue paint. This is an easy-to-do, striking spring bunny art project.

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To start off, pick a bunny template to trace and cut out from manila tag paper, or another sturdy kind. My bunny design was traced from a dollar store wall plaque.

Then select a deep color of teal paint and add it to three paint pots. In two of the pots, stir in varying amounts of white paint. Pour dark blue paint into a fourth paint pot and mix in some white.

Afterward, spoon the blue paint shades and a little white into a paint palette.

Set the paint palette, bunny template, and paintbrush on an art table protected with newspapers or a disposable tablecloth.

Brushing on blue shades from dark to light or light to dark will create an ombre effect.

When the painting is dry, use a glue stick or glue gun to adhere two wiggly eyes, a button nose, and a bent pipe cleaner mouth to create a bunny face.

Wiggly eyes, a button nose, and a pipe cleaner mouth create a bunny face.

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Or glue one or more cotton balls to the bottom of the bunny to fashion a bunny tail.

A cotton ball tail accents this easy-to-do ombre-painted spring bunny art project you are sure to love.

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A pink, purple, or green color palette would also look pretty on this ombre bunny art project.

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More Bunny Art

Spring Bunny Canvas Art

Bunny Rolling Pin Art

Silhouette Bunny Art

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[Read more…] about Ombre Bunny Art

Filed Under: art, Easter, preschool, spring Tagged With: bunnies, Easter, painting, spring

Honeycomb Cereal Necklace Lacing

February 11, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A fun honeycomb cereal necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice. An all-ages craft.
A fun honeycomb cereal necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice. An all-ages craft.

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Honeycomb cereal is tasty to eat, but is also super fun to use in a craft activity. In this post, the craft idea is honeycomb cereal necklace lacing.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Honeycomb Cereal “Snowflake” Necklace

With its six sides, each honeycomb makes a nice “snowflake.” And having holes, the cereal is perfect for lacing a “snowflake” necklace.

A thin lacing cord works best for threading honeycomb. In fact, the thinner the cord the better.

Older children may enjoy the challenge of lacing each honeycomb down one side and up the other. And they can make a game of it by seeing who can string the most honeycomb cereal in the shortest amount of time.

For younger children, it’s best to suggest lacing through the center hole.

A fun and tasty lacing honeycomb cereal activity for little learners.

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Some honeycomb pieces have holes that are too small to thread lacing cord through, so they are perfect for snacking on.

Stretching the cord while working may break a few, but again, the honeycomb bits are just another excuse for snacking on the tasty morsels!

After some practice, this first string of honeycomb is ready to be tied as a necklace.

A fun honeycomb cereal "snowflake" necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice.

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More Honeycomb Cereal Necklace Lacing

Naturally, it’s hard to stop after lacing just one string of honeycomb cereal. Here’s a pink version for Valentine’s Day.

A fun honeycomb necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice.

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And below is a version for a bumblebee theme, the most natural fit for honeycomb cereal.

A fun honeycomb cereal necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice. An all-ages craft

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Finally, since the lacing cord comes in Easter colors and I have a few jube bunnies hanging around, the chewy treats are included in a necklace craft photo.

A fun honeycomb cereal necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice. An all-ages craft

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Lacing honeycomb cereal is a perfect opportunity to practice eye-hand coordination and fine motor control while casually snacking on the flavorful cereal.

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A fun bee theme honeycomb cereal necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice.

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Related:

Bunny Candy Art

Silhouette Easter Bunnies

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[Read more…] about Honeycomb Cereal Necklace Lacing

Filed Under: Easter, Food Art, preschool, sensory, Valentine's Day, winter Tagged With: fine motor activity, food art, jewelry

Easter Transient Art

April 17, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Set out these adorable, party-ready Easter transient art activities using easy-to-find supplies. The activities also work for a spring theme.

Here are three easy Easter transient art activities using egg, chick, and bunny designs as a base. They’ll add color and style to any Easter or spring theme.

Set out these adorable, party-ready Easter transient art activities using easy-to-find supplies. The activities also work for a spring theme.

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What Is Transient Art?

Transient art is non-permanent art using craft materials and/or loose parts. It is open-ended and process-oriented. The art can be designed and redesigned by the same child, or by different children. It allows children to be creative in a non-threatening environment.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following for these Easter transient art activities:

  • wood canvas boards
  • wall art frames
  • undecorated wood bunny, chick, and egg plaques
  • circle, flower, and butterfly paper punches
  • turquoise, green, yellow, orange, pink, and purple cardstock paper
  • 12-inch x 18-inch yellow, pink, and blue construction paper
  • glue stick
  • scissors
  • pencil

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The Easter Transient Art Process

Adorable, party-ready bunny and egg transient art activities using easy-to-find supplies. The activities also work for a spring theme.

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First, select inexpensive unfinished wood plaques with an Easter or spring theme. The bunny, egg, and chick plaques featured here were purchased at a Dollar store. I was originally looking for just a bunny, but was excited to happen upon all three designs!

Next, pick wooden canvas boards and/or wall art frames that are slightly bigger than the plaques.

Then cut 12-inch x 18-inch construction paper in colors of choice to fit inside the frames or canvas board backs.

Punch out flowers and butterflies from spring-colored cardstock. Punch circles and glue contrasting colored ones to the flower centers.

Lastly, set the plaques on a table in frames or canvases, and add the paper punched shapes.

Set up this Easter egg transient art invitation for your child today! An easy, non-threatening spring activity.

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Invite children to pick an egg, chick, or bunny design to decorate with paper shapes.

Oh, so pretty spring chick transient art activity using easy-to-find supplies. A permanent artwork can also be created.

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Oh, so pretty Easter bunny transient art activity using easy-to-find supplies. A permanent artwork can also be created.

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Oh, so pretty Easter egg transient art activity using easy-to-find supplies. A permanent artwork can also be created.

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Tips:

  • For an economical alternative, a homemade cardstock frame can be used instead of the canvas board or art frames.
  • And die cut, foam, and felt craft supply butterflies and flowers can be substituted for paper punched ones.

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Permanent Art Projects

After children have had a chance to create transient art projects, they may wish to complete a finished work. White glue could be used to adhere the flowers and butterflies to the plaques. Or you could offer cardstock bunnies, chicks, and eggs as templates.

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Oh, so pretty Easter chick transient art activity using easy-to-find supplies. A permanent artwork can also be created.

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Oh, so pretty spring bunny transient art activity using easy-to-find supplies. A permanent artwork can also be created.

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[Read more…] about Easter Transient Art

Filed Under: art, crafts, Easter, preschool, spring Tagged With: bunnies, chicks, Easter, eggs, flowers, spring, transient art

Jelly Bean Theme

April 16, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A few weeks ago, I set out to make an Easter display that would work for a wall art tree. I thought of incorporating the “Jelly Bean Prayer,” and wondered if there was such a thing as a jelly bean tree. To my delight, an online search revealed a variety of references to “jelly bean tree,” and provided inspiration for other activities. So in addition to changing up the display, I came up with this fun and tasty Jelly Bean Theme. The post includes free printables and a few facts about the colorful candy.

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10 Jelly Bean Facts

  • Jelly beans are bite-sized candies with hard, crunchy shells and soft, chewy centers.
  • These sweet candies are associated with Easter in Canada and the United States.
  • Part of the appeal is their egg shape and tiny size. This makes them terrific Easter egg fillers.
  • There are eight basic colors and flavors, which often have a fruity taste.
  • Over time, jelly beans were created in many different color schemes, often matching seasonal celebrations.
  • Jelly beans became popular in the 1960s.
  • The most common order for eating the candies is: red, purple, green, yellow, and black.
  • Jelly beans are used as an art medium, and there are mosaic art pieces made with them.
  • President Ronald Reagan liked them a lot, so artist Peter Rocha made a jelly bean portrait of the president.
  • There is a National Jelly Bean Day (in the US) on April 22.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Jelly Bean Theme Activities

There are a number of easy, educational jellybean activities to do at home or school.

Tasting Jelly Beans

Give participants jelly beans in the colors red, purple, green, yellow, and black. Chart the order each child eats the jellybeans.

What order would you eat these jelly beans in? Try this candy tasting activity and record the results.

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Incorporate language and math sequencing by describing color and taste, and using words such as first, next, and last.

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Jelly Bean Sorting

Invite children to sort jelly beans by color. This flower-shaped paint palette is perfect for individual color sorting.

A flower-shaped paint palette makes the perfect tray to sort jelly beans by color.

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Candies On Display

Jelly beans look attractive stored in mason jars. The filled jars could be part of a tablescape display or food table.

Store jelly beans in jars for a tablescape or food table display. Have a "Guess The Number Of Jelly Beans In The Jar" contest.

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How Many Jelly Beans Are In The Jar?

Fill a jar with jelly beans, and have participants guess the number of candies in the jar. Then count the jellybeans together. For early learners, a baby food jar or small bottle would be a good size to use.

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Cupcake Liner Easter Party Favors

Add pipe cleaner handles to sturdy Easter-themed cupcake liners. Fill the liners with Easter-colored jelly beans and hand them out as Easter basket party favors. Or fill plastic Easter eggs with jelly beans.

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Jelly Bean Prayer Wall Display

Over-sized paper jelly beans for a "Jelly Bean Prayer" tree display. Download the free printable for art, book-making, and display opportunities.

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Download this free template for a Jelly Bean Prayer tree display. I used it to cut out large jelly beans from different colors of cardstock paper. Then I wrote a line of the prayer on each one and added them to a tree theme wall display.

Download this oversized jelly bean template for art, book-making, and display use.

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Jelly Bean PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Jelly Bean Art

Use this same printable for children to paint or color and cut out gigantic paper jelly beans.

Or have children dictate or write a page for a jelly bean storybook, and then decorate the background.

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J Is For Jelly Bean Craft

Invite children to glue jelly beans onto a paper letter J. How fun!

"J Is For Jelly Beans" in this tasty craft. Reinforce the letter J sound with this fun and easy activity.

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Jelly Bean Tree Craft

Print copies of this tree template on white cardstock paper. Set them on an art table along with white glue and jelly beans. Invite children to glue jelly beans on the tree.

This could also be a transient art activity offered in a tray.

How fun! Decorate a tree template with jelly beans. Glue the tasty candies on for a finished project. Free tree printable available.

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Jelly Bean Artists

There are artists who work with jelly beans as a medium, or as a subject in their art. Who knew?

Peter Rocha and Kristen Cummings are two notable jelly bean artists. Their creations can be viewed on the Jelly Belly Company’s “The Jelly Belly Bean Art Gallery” web page. Their candy art can also be viewed on my Pinterest Board Jelly Bean Kids Activities/Jelly Bean Artists.

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Storybooks Incorporating Jelly Beans

The flavorful candies make an entertaining subject for storybooks. Here are a few books incorporating jelly beans:

Arthur’s Jelly Beans by Marc Brown 

Arthur and his friends participate in a “Spring Fling” party, which includes a jelly bean hunt of course!

Jellybean Mouse by Philip Roy

Happy the mouse isn’t excited to go on a laundromat errand but discovers a jellybean machine once there. The day’s adventure becomes just the excitement the spunky mouse is seeking.

The Jellybeans And The Big Dance by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans

A group of girls with different interests meet at a dance studio, and slowly become friends. They eventually discover that just as jellybeans come in different flavors but go well together, they get along great. They decide to call themselves “The Jellybeans.”

There are three more books in this friendship and team-building series:

  • The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza
  • The Jellybeans and the Big Camp Kickoff
  • The Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure

Jelly Bean Tree by Toni Yuli

This story isn’t about jelly beans, but the main character, a giraffe, is called Jelly Bean. It’s reason enough to include the colorfully illustrated, endearing story in the theme.

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[Read more…] about Jelly Bean Theme

Filed Under: art, crafts, display, Easter, literacy, Math, party, preschool, sensory, spring, themes, trees Tagged With: art, crafts, jelly beans, sensory tray

Spring Bunny Wreath Craft

April 14, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Make this adorable spring bunny wreath craft with easy-to-find supplies. A jelly bean necklace is a finishing touch.
Make this adorable spring bunny paper plate craft with easy-to-find supplies. A jelly bean necklace is a finishing touch.

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Here’s a simple spring bunny wreath craft that’s perfect for the Easter season, but also celebrates spring. Along with a bunny, flowers, and butterflies, it incorporates jelly beans, fitting for National Jelly Bean Day!

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Supplies To Collect

Easy to gather supplies to make an adorable spring bunny wreath craft.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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For this sweet, floral craft project, gather the following:

  • white paper plate
  • cardstock in spring colors
  • flower, butterfly, and circle paper punches
  • white or tan cardstock
  • pink pompom
  • wiggly eyes
  • needle and thread
  • jelly beans
  • glue stick
  • white glue or glue gun
  • scissors
  • thin black felt pen

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Making The Spring Bunny Wreath Craft

Craft this adorable spring bunny wreath with easy-to-find supplies.

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First, cut the center from a paper plate.

Next, punch flowers, butterflies, and circles from spring-colored cardstock. Using a glue stick, adhere contrasting circle centers to some of the flowers.

Then glue butterflies and flowers around the paper plate rim.

Trace and cut a bunny head from white or tan cardstock. (A white bunny is perfect for Easter, but a grey or brown one will take the craft into spring.) Download this free template if desired.

Download this bunny head template to make a spring bunny wreath craft.

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Bunny Head PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Then draw two curved lines for the bunny mouth, and add whiskers.

Afterward, glue on the wiggly eyes and a pink pompom nose.

Lastly, adhere the paper bunny to the bottom back of the wreath using white glue or a glue gun.

Make this adorable spring bunny paper plate craft with easy-to-find supplies. A jelly bean necklace is a finishing touch.

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Adding The Jelly Bean Necklace

For a unique crafting experience, make a colorful and tasty jelly bean necklace for the bunny:

  • Pull a long piece of thread through a sturdy sewing needle.
  • Thread on jelly beans in a pattern of choice, or add them randomly.
  • Tie off the ends of the thread when the necklace is the desired length.
  • String the necklace around the bunny’s neck.
String a jelly bean necklace to wear or use in a craft. A super fun activity with pattern-making possibilities.

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Tip: For young children, the necklace could be prepared in advance. Or little learners could dictate which color jellybeans to thread on a necklace as you make one for them.

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Making this jelly bean necklace was easier than I thought it would be. I was sure that I would poke my fingers more than once. But thankfully I didn’t!

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This paper plate bunny wreath will brighten up any space, The jelly bean necklace is the highlight of the craft.

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This paper plate bunny wreath will brighten up any space, The jelly bean necklace is the highlight of the craft.

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Craft this adorable spring bunny wreath with easy-to-find supplies. A jelly bean necklace is a finishing touch.

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Related: Jelly Bean Theme

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The spring colors in the wreath are so welcome at a time of year when some days are bright and sunny, but others are grey and overcast. And I’m so ready for flowers and butterflies since we’ve had more than our share of snow this year!

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[Read more…] about Spring Bunny Wreath Craft

Filed Under: art, crafts, Easter, preschool, spring Tagged With: bunnies, Easter, flowers, paper crafts, paper plate crafts, spring

Easter Playdough Tray

April 12, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A colorful Easter playdough tray filled with spring-themed loose parts your little learners will love to explore.
A colorful Easter playdough tray filled with spring-themed loose parts your little learners will love to explore.

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After a long winter season, the pastel colors of the Easter/spring season are so welcome. And there’s plenty of them in this inviting Easter playdough tray.

For seasonal celebrations, I usually resort to making homemade playdough. I’ve got plenty of favorite recipes, and the doughs can be made in big batches. This makes it easy for a group of children to play with playdough at the same time.

But the ready-made playdough available in stores around Easter comes in so many beautiful pastel shades. The packages I found have six vibrant colors! Aside from being attractive, they offer a huge savings in preparation time. And so it’s totally worth it to purchase a few sets to accommodate a class of students or party gathering.

Pretty spring-themed playdough colors early learners will love.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Easter Playdough Tray

Colorful bunnies in all shapes and sizes are the highlight of this super fun Easter/Spring playdough tray.

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A large circular party tray makes a great base for this playdough invitation, as it looks festive and can hold plenty of loose parts. On this tray are:

  • playdough in spring colors
  • plastic Easter eggs
  • bendable bunnies
  • hanging bunnies (think “Barrel Of Monkeys” game)
  • egg-shaped gems
  • bunny, lamb, chick, carrot, and egg cookie cutters
  • rubber Easter egg and bunny rings
  • mini duck and bunny erasers
  • spring stir sticks
Colorful bunnies in all shapes and sizes are the highlight of this super fun Easter playdough tray.

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A compartment tray also makes a handy container for the playdough and accessories.

This compartment tray is perfect for holding Easter-themed playdough and loose parts.

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Extending The Play Experience

After participants have had a chance to explore the playdough and loose parts, invite them to add spring sprinkles to their creations. This is an easy way to extend the sensory experience and add an additional seasonal touch.

Spring-themed candy sprinkles add the perfect finishing touch to this cheery playdough invitation.

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Note: If your little charges want to taste a few sprinkles, make sure the playdough offered is taste-safe.

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Do you have a favorite spring playdough recipe? Share in a comment below.

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A colorful Easter playdough tray filled with spring-themed loose parts your little learners will love to explore.

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Related: Edible Playdough Pumpkins

              Winter Playdough Recipe

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[Read more…] about Easter Playdough Tray

Filed Under: Easter, party, playdough, preschool, sensory, spring Tagged With: bunnies, playdough, spring

Ocean Sensory Activities

March 31, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Three fun ocean-themed sensory activities to captivate your little learner. An aquatic rice bin, water tub, and playdough tray are featured.
Three fun ocean-themed sensory activities to captivate your little learner. An aquatic rice bin, water tub, and playdough tray are featured.

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Ocean sensory activities are among the most attractive and calming play invitations one could offer. The serene blue water, neutral sand, crisp shells, and fish that add pops of color are eye-appealing and offer many tactile opportunities.

The inspiration for the sensory activities featured in this post is aquatic Easter eggs, repurposed for three learning through play invitations. I was excited to spot the eggs at a local dollar store.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Ocean Sensory Activity Supplies

The following supplies will work well in all three sensory activities.

  • rocks in various sizes
  • shells
  • marbles
  • set of miniature ocean creature figures
  • set of aquatic plastic Easter eggs

If it is difficult to find ocean creatures or aquatic plastic eggs, using just one of these ocean sets is fine too. An economical alternative to offer is creatures from toy fishing or dive toy sets. Paper fish could also be substituted.

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Ocean Rice Bin

Set up this easy and fun rice-based ocean sensory bin. Aquatic Easter eggs are the highlight of the play invitation.

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The base for this ocean bin is white glutinous rice. Its light neutral color is a good contrast for loose parts, so it’s often my go-to choice for a rice bin. The bin for this activity is a round serving tray.

Spread the rice in the bin, and set in the rocks, shells, marbles, ocean creatures, and aquatic eggs.

Little learners will enjoy scooping up and pouring the rice, and putting marble “eggs” and mini ocean creatures inside the eggs. They may discover that the fillable eggs become shakers that make soft sounds when rice is added, or loud sounds when marbles or small rocks are inserted.

Take the opportunity to discuss the names of the ocean creatures, and model them in speech.

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Set up this easy and fun rice-based ocean sensory bin. Aquatic Easter eggs are the highlight of the play invitation.

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Ocean Water Tub

Set up this easy and fun water-based ocean sensory tub. Aquatic Easter eggs are the highlight of the play invitation.

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The bin for this activity is a kitchen tub, commonly used in the foodservice industry. I keep a stack of them around for organizing my current theme supplies, and for sensory activities. When offering a sensory invitation for two or three children to explore at the same time, a bin this size works well.

Water with blue food coloring added is the base. But little learners would be more than happy to explore the supplies in clear water.

Add the same supplies to the tub as used in the rice bin. I added marbles here, but also could have included them in the rice.

This water-based activity offers the same learning through play opportunities as the rice bin does, and little learners can experiment with floating and sinking objects.

Set up this easy and fun water-based ocean sensory tub. Aquatic Easter eggs are the highlight of the play invitation.

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Ocean Playdough Tray

Your little learners will love this inviting ocean-themed playdough tray. Good playdough recipes are included in the post.

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For another sensory opportunity, the ocean-themed loose parts can be offered in a playdough tray. Set them out in a large party tray, along with turquoise, marbled or plain dough. Add a few ocean-themed cookie cutters and the playdough invitation is ready to go.

Your little learners will love this inviting ocean-themed playdough tray. Aquatic Easter eggs are the highlight of the tray.

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Playdough Recipes

The marbled playdough was repurposed from a winter playdough recipe,

A scented jello playdough recipe makes lovely turquoise dough.

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Your little learners will love this inviting ocean-themed playdough tray. Aquatic Easter eggs are the highlight of the tray.

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The aquatic Easter eggs are the latest addition to my plastic egg collection. If you spot them, you may want to purchase two sets – one for ocean sensory activities, and another to fill with Easter treats.

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[Read more…] about Ocean Sensory Activities

Filed Under: Easter, ocean, playdough, preschool, pretend play, sensory Tagged With: eggs, fish, playdough, rice bin, sensory bin, sensory play, sensory tray, water play

Floating Egg Science Experiment

March 25, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

How to perform a simple floating egg science experiment with easy-to-gather supplies. Decorated eggs add artistic flare to this activity.
How to perform a simple floating egg science experiment with easy-to-gather supplies. Decorated eggs add artistic flare to this activity.

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In a whole range of egg colors with expressive faces drawn on, this floating egg science experiment includes a dose of art and drama. The experiment is simple to do and promises to be a huge hit with your little learners.

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Supplies To Collect

The supplies for this dramatic science experiment are easy to procure, as you probably already have them in your home. Gather the following:

  • eggs
  • salt
  • pitcher of water
  • egg carton
  • two 500 ml glass jars
  • tablespoons
  • egg dipper
  • store-bought egg dying kit
  • black permanent felt pen

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Performing The Floating Egg Science Experiment

Steps to perform a simple floating egg science experiment with easy-to-gather supplies. Drawing and egg coloring are included in this activity.

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With a permanent felt pen, carefully draw chick feet and a worried face on one side of the eggs selected for the experiment. Draw feet and a happy face on the other side of each egg.

Note: Crayons can be used instead to decorate the eggs.

Then dye the eggs in different colors. I use color tablets from a store-bought kit for the eggs, but you could use a home recipe.

Carefully drop the color-dyed eggs back in the egg carton, using an egg dipper if available. Let the eggs dry.

Pour 1½ cups water into two jars.

Add 3 tablespoons salt to one jar, and stir it into the liquid. Add no salt to the other.

Pick a decorated egg to gently drop into the unsalted jar of water. Observe if it floats or sinks. Then scoop the egg out of the liquid and have participants pick the feeling the “chick egg” might be experiencing: (worried, scared.)

Simple and fun floating egg science experiment with easy-to-gather supplies. Egg decorating adds an artistic element to this activity.

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Carefully drop the same egg into the saltwater jar. Observe if the egg now floats or sinks again. Have participants pick the feeling the “chick egg” is probably experiencing: (relief, happiness.)

Simple and fun floating egg science experiment with easy-to-gather supplies. Egg decorating adds an artistic element to this activity.

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Try this science experiment with other colored eggs. Participants may enjoy picking an egg in their favorite color to drop in the jars.

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Related: Reptile Egg Science Experiment

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The Science Behind This Experiment

An egg is denser than water, so it sinks. But when salt is added to water, it increases the density of the liquid. When enough salt is added, a raw egg will float.

How to perform a simple floating egg science experiment with easy-to-gather supplies. Decorated eggs add artistic flare to this activity.

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Floating Egg Experiment Extensions

This floating egg experiment could be extended by:

  • using large and small-sized eggs, and recording how much salt needs to be added to a jar for each one to float.
  • dying the eggs in different methods.
  • reading a picture book about feelings before or after performing the experiment.

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[Read more…] about Floating Egg Science Experiment

Filed Under: art, Easter, literacy, preschool, science, sensory Tagged With: eggs, feelings, science experiment, sensory play

Spring Basket Cupcakes

April 4, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Adorable chocolate animal-topped spring basket cupcakes. Festive and fun party cupcakes that are easy to create and sure to please.
Adorable chocolate animal-topped spring basket cupcakes. Festive and fun party cupcakes that are easy to create and sure to please.

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These spring basket cupcakes are a fancier version of treats served at my preschool Easter parties at the end of March.

This Easter I was short on time to fit in all the activities, which needed to be completed before schools were off for spring break. Putting together ready-made treats to make our Easter party snack feel a little more festive and fun felt like a good choice.

The children loved the fancied-up cupcake snacks, and I know these will go over well in any group.

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Supplies To Collect

Supplies to gather in order to make festive and fun spring basket cupcakes.

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  • cupcakes with icing and sprinkles
  • chocolate bunnies and other animal characters
  • candy eggs
  • jelly beans
  • festive candies

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Making The Spring Basket Cupcakes

Delicious chocolate animal-topped Easter basket cupcakes.

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The featured cupcakes are store-bought. If you have time to bake your own, you could use them for this snack idea.

When you’ve bought or made the cupcakes, just add chocolate bunnies or other spring animal figurines as decorations. We ate all our bunny-topped treats at our parties, so I went looking for more decorative sweets for this post. I lucked out to find bunnies and a set of confectioneries with hens, ducks, and lambs.

Add a pipe cleaner basket handle to each cupcake.

Set the cupcakes on a plate with a few candies and other sweets sprinkled around. Featured are candy-covered chocolate eggs, colorful licorice candies, and spring-colored jellybeans.

Delicious chocolate animal-topped spring basket cupcakes.

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View as a Spring Basket Cupcake Video Tutorial.

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The eye-catching cupcake treats are fun to put together. And the exquisite chocolate animal characters take the party snack beyond Easter into the rest of the Spring season.

Sweet chocolate bunny-topped spring basket cupcake.

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Adorable chocolate lamb-topped sping basket cupcake.

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Tasty chocolate hen-topped spring basket cupcake.

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[Read more…] about Spring Basket Cupcakes

Filed Under: Easter, party, preschool, spring Tagged With: cupcakes, snacks

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. I am a preschool teacher who loves to share easy and fun early learning activities. Thanks for visiting my blog. Feel free to stay awhile!

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