fall

Glam Skeleton Sensory Bin

October 28, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Fall is such a great time to spot seasonal home décor in stores, as it is very plentiful. And one of my favorite things to do is to translate a seasonal trend into an “of the moment” sensory bin. This fall I’m particularly drawn to the beautifully adorned skeletons in wall art, decorations, and tableware. And this theme works well in a glam skeleton sensory bin guaranteed to catch the attention of little learners.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Skeleton-themed loose parts tray for early learners to explore. Gold and silver accessories add glamour to the tray.

_______

The color scheme for this elegant sensory bin is silver, gold, cream, and white. Loose parts gathered for the bin are:

skeletons
skulls
bones
spider figurines
pearl beads
gem leaves
bead jewelry strands
crown hair combs
mini pumpkins
bells

_______

The Glam Skeleton Sensory Bin

A large square metal serving tray is a good fit for this sensory activity. Brown, white, or gold rice provides a good base. My bin features glutinous rice… I love its super white hue.

To prepare this glamorous sensory invitation, pour a layer of rice into a tub or tray. Then spread gem diamonds and leaves, bead strands and pearl beads, bells, bones, and pumpkins over the rice. Add skeletons. spiders and crown-adorned skulls as a finishing touch.

An oh-so-glam skeleton-themed rice bin featuring gold and silver loose parts. A non-threatening way for little learners to explore the skeleton.

_______

Setting the loose parts in a smaller metal tray without adding rice is a no-fuss alternate way to offer this sensory activity.

An easy-to-set-up glamourous sensory tub for early learners featuring skulls and skeletons, and gold and silver loose parts.

_______

And placing a mirror on a stand at the back of the bin adds a double dose of glam.

An ornate mirror adds a double dose of glam to a skeleton-themed rice sensory bin your little learners are sure to love.

_______

Offering skulls, skeletons, and bones in a sensory bin filled with pretty loose parts is a non-threatening and inviting way for little learners to explore the human skeleton.

Glam up a skeleton-themed rice bin with gold and silver loose parts. Miniature pumpkins and pearl beads complete the bin.

_______

Black Light Skeleton Sensory Bin

Since there are many white or cream-colored pieces in this bin, it’s fun to extend sensory learning by observing if any of them light up under a black light. Surprisingly, a few gem leaves glow the most when the bin is placed in a dark room under a black light.

Find out what loose parts glow under a black light with this fun glam skeleton rice bin.

_______

Note: To find out more about what glows under a black light, view my blog post “Glow Art Words Of Affirmation.“

_______

[Read more…]

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

October 27, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

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.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

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

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

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

_______

Related: Maple Leaf Theme Activities

_______

[Read more…]

Glow In The Dark Pumpkin Art

October 26, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

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.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

_______

Supplies To Collect

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

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

Pumpkin PatternDownload

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

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

_______

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

_______

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.

_______

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

_______

[Read more…]

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

October 21, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This bright and cheery pumpkin tablescape pretend play setup has a host of loose parts that make it super fun to explore.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Pumpkin-themed loose parts are the highlight of this hands-on dramatic play center your early learners will be eager to explore.

_______

Pumpkins are a huge part of fall décor, so it is easy to find accessories for this inviting, seasonal dramatic play activity. Here’s a list of items gathered:

white tablecloth
vase with artificial flowers
a string of pumpkin lights
pumpkin-themed disposable plates and serving trays
non-breakable cutlery and drinking glasses
acrylic gem pumpkins
artificial mini pumpkins
wooden pumpkin beads
pumpkin cookie cutters
pumpkin seeds
reusable pumpkin ice cubes
pumpkin-themed ice cube tray
felt pumpkins
fall-themed mini spatula
wooden harvest/pumpkin plaque
plastic jars and serving bowls
cookie tray
serving utensils

_______

Setting Up The Pumpkin Tablescape

Set up this colorful pumpkin-themed pretend play center your early learners will love. Loose parts are the highlight of this hands-on dramatic play activity.

_______

It’s so quick and easy to set up this play tablescape. I keep a large storage container with pumpkin-themed accessories and take out the tableware and loose parts that work for the center.

To get this activity ready, first cover a child-sized table with a white tablecloth. Then, set an unbreakable vase with pumpkin-themed artificial flowers in the center. Add a string of pumpkin lights around the vase.

Next, arrange place settings with fall-themed disposable plates and cutlery on the table.

Then, drop artificial mini pumpkins into clear drinking glasses and include them in the place settings.

After this, set out the rest of the supplies in the open spaces:

tray of felt pumpkin “cookies”
jar of artificial mini pumpkins
bowl of pumpkin/turkey bead “candies”
ice cube tray with reusable pumpkin-themed ice cubes
bowl of pumpkin seeds
jar of acrylic pumpkin gems
fall-themed spatula

Finally, add serving spoons to the play tablescape.

_______

Your little learners will be excited to discover this pumpkin tablescape pretend play center, and I’m sure a lot of imaginative, quality play will take place.

Pumpkins in all shapes and forms are the highlights in this easy-to-set-up pumpkin tablescape dramatic play center little learners will love.

_______

View this Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play Center as a video.

_______

More Pumpkin Activities

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Pumpkin Painting Process Art

Glow In The Dark Pumpkin Art

Edible Playdough Pumpkins

Pumpkin Color Activities

Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Pumpkin Collage Art

_______

[Read more…]

Neon Finger Paint Tree Art

October 19, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

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.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

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

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

Tree Printable

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

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.

_______

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.

_______

Related: Book-inspired Tree Art

_______

[Read more…]