preschool

Ombre Bunny Art

March 25, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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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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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

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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…]

Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

March 18, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A bright and cheery Easter dramatic play tablescape for your little learners. Loose parts add imaginative play possibilities.

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With every new theme, my preschoolers eagerly look forward to using new dramatic play accessories in the play kitchen center. As we are now in the month of March, this bright and cheery Easter pretend play tablescape is a great choice.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Easter-themed loose parts and decor are key supplies in a dramatic play tablescape your little learners will love to explore.

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Easter-themed loose parts add variety and spice to an Easter pretend play setup.

Gather the following supplies for the tablescape:

vase with artificial Easter flower sprig
Easter-themed cups and paper plates
matching play forks and spoons
egg cups and play eggs
baking sheet and Easter-themed cookie cutters
muffin tin and Easter pompom garland
egg platter with fillable Easter eggs
bunny-shaped tongs
fillable chicks
themed tea towel
oval spring-themed box
bunny and chick game pieces in a small oval box
bowl with Easter-themed erasers

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The Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

Set the above supplies on shelves in the pretend play kitchen center, or arrange them as an Easter-themed tablescape.

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Dollar and party stores are great places to find unique and economical loose parts for the tablescape.

Gigantic pompoms cut from garland make fluffy pretend play muffins or cupcakes.

Easter-themed erasers add variety and can be reimagined as candies or other treats.

Chick and bunny tic tac toe game pieces get a new use as Easter loose parts.

Bunny-themed tongs make picking up fillable eggs more fun.

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The themed paper plates and cups, egg platter, egg cups, fillable chicks, cookie cutters, tea towel, and artificial flower sprig are staples for the Easter pretend play tablescape.

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[Read more…]

St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

March 16, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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It’s nice to have a new clump of playdough for every theme, and this recipe is my pick for St. Patrick’s Day. It is an easy-to-make, no-cook playdough that keeps well. In this post, the dough is showcased in a St. Patrick’s Day playdough tray.

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St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Recipe

Shamrock leaves add interest to a St. Patrick's Day playdough invitation. Two homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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The white playdough in this post is a fantastic homemade no-cook variety. I discovered the recipe for it on The Artful Parent website. The green and yellow playdough varieties featured are a result of minor tweaks to the recipe.

For the deep green playdough, gather the following ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon green gel food color
1/4 teaspoon glycerin (optional)
1 cup boiling water

In a large metal bowl, measure the dry ingredients and mix them together.

Make a well in the center and add the oil, gel food color, and glycerin.

Boil water in a kettle and immediately add the liquid to the dry ingredients.

Stir the mixture well until all the ingredients are combined.

Let it sit for a bit until it firms up into a dough.

If the mixture is still a bit goopy after you have given it a few minutes to thicken, add a little more flour and stir again.

When cooled, knead the dough into a smooth ball and place it in a sealed bag.

Three different colors of playdough are featured in a St. Patrick's Day playdough tray for early learners to explore.

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To make the vivid yellow playdough, substitute yellow gel color for the green.

Glycerin is optional in the recipe but adds a little shine to the playdough.

Note: I’ve made the plain white no-cook playdough recipe several times, and never had to add more flour. But adding a little more flour at the end worked well for me this time when including gel food color in the recipe.

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The St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

Set out this fun St. Patrick's day playdough tray for your little learners to explore. Three different colors of playdough are featured.

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Collected for this fun playdough invitation are:

rainbow, shamrock, and leprechaun hat erasers
green buttons
metallic and wooden shamrocks
small shamrocks and gold coins
gold beads
green necklace garland
shamrock cookie cutters

These St. Patrick's Day-themed loose parts are perfect for a playdough tray or a sensory play experience.

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All the shiny loose parts, from the large shamrocks to the tiny coins, are cut from St. Patrick’s Day necklaces.

Themed erasers are always a great addition to a playdough tray, as are a variety of buttons.

Setting the playdough and loose parts on a party tray is an eye-appealing way to offer the St. Patrick’s Day playdough invitation.

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If you have a shamrock plant available, snip off a few leaves to add to each participant’s playdough experience.

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More St. Patrick’s Day Activities

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

Sweet sheep craft perfect for St. Patrick's Day or spring.

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St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub

Leprechaun Sensory Jar

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St. Patrick’s Day Woodland Sensory Bin

St. Patrick’s Day Jewelry Bin

Leprechaun Sensory Play

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

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St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

St. Patrick’s Day Activities

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This St. Patrick's Day playdough invitation will help children celebrate the special day. Two no-cook homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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More Playdough Recipes and Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

Edible Playdough Turkey

Scented Playdough Activities

Invitation to create apples with scented, two-ingredient playdough, toothpicks, and apple leaves.

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Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

Chocolate Mint Playdough

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Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities

St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

Easter Playdough Tray

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[Read more…]

St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play

March 15, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A play kitchen is a must-have center in an early learning classroom and is a favorite place for little learners to play. Adding seasonal items to a play kitchen keeps it interesting and inviting. In March, a St. Patrick’s Day pretend play center is a perfect fit.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies Collected

Green and St. Patrick's Day-themed accessories for a dramatic play kitchen center your little learners will love to explore.

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For this center, I gathered mostly green items, with a few yellow and gold items added in. Included are:

St. Patrick’s Day disposable plates
cutlery
play food
stir sticks
reusable shamrock ice cubes
clear glasses
baskets, serving bowls, and ice cube tray
felt “pretzel” shamrocks
sheet pan with felt shamrock “cookies”
wooden shamrock “candies”
shamrock-shaped serving tray with buns
ping pong ball “buns” in a muffin tin
St. Patrick’s Day erasers
jar with coins, beads, and garland strips
large gem pebbles
leprechaun and bear table decorations
artificial flowers in a vase

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The St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play Center

In this post, most of the supplies are set on a play kitchen table. These supplies can also be arranged in the appliances and on the shelves.

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There are a variety of green and St. Patrick’s Day-themed loose parts in the table display. Little learners will use their imagination to incorporate the loose parts in their own ways.

The themed supplies are set on a gold tablecloth. In an earlier post, I showcased similar supplies on an orange tablecloth. I also featured them on a green table-a natural fit!

Many of the play kitchen accessories seen here are useful in other centers as well. They can be used on a light table, in a water table, or on a rice sensory tray.

A super fun, easy-to-set-up St. Patrick's Day dramatic play activity. Themed loose parts are the highlights of the pretend play set up.

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More Pretend Play Tablescapes

Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

Lemon-Inspired Play Kitchen

Watermelon Dramatic Play Center

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Tablescape

Penguin Pretend Play Tablescape

Chinese New Year Tablescape

Valentine’s Day Pretend Play

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[Read more…]

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table

March 14, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Setting up activities for the light table is one of my favorite things to do, and the light table is a well-loved center in our classroom. A perfect center for March, this St. Patrick’s Day light table setup is full of captivating loose parts for early learners to explore.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies Collected

This oh-so-green St. Patrick's Day light table activity filled with transparent loose parts is super fun for early learners to explore.

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The following transparent loose parts are gathered for this very green light table center:

light-up rubber bear
bear figurine
shamrocks
numbers
stir sticks
tiny cups
gem animal figurines
reusable shamrock ice cubes
shamrock serving tray
pebble-shaped gems
light-up shamrock necklaces
pair of party eyeglasses
construction toy

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A vase with artificial flowers, a leprechaun figurine, and a pair of St. Patrick’s Day glasses round out the supplies on the table.

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The St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Center

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For this light-illuminated center, I started off by checking my St. Patrick’s Day supplies for green transparent objects. These have been collected over the years from Dollar stores and party supply stores.

Next, I scrounged through my tub of green loose parts for interesting things to add, selecting the light-up bear, transparent pebbles and stir sticks.

Then I looked through my light table supplies and gathered mostly green and a few yellow transparent objects, such as a bear figurine, transparent construction toys, numbers, and tiny animal figurines.

An opportunity to sort shamrocks on a St. Patrick's Day light table filled with green transparent loose parts.

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An opportunity to sort green loose parts on a St. Patrick's Day light table filled with transparent treasures to explore.

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Finally, on a recent trip to a dollar store I purchased two light-up necklaces. I included them after little learners had a week to explore the center, offering my little charges new items that continued their interest in this St. Patrick’s Day activity.

A green shamrock light-up necklace is a highlight in a St. Patrick's Day light table center.

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A green shamrock light-up necklace and pair of glasses are highlights in a St. Patrick's Day light table center.

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View this center as a St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Video.

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More Light Table Activities

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

Canada Day Light Table

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[Read more…]

Shamrock Leaf Print Art

March 12, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Shamrock leaf print art is an activity I’ve wanted to try for a few years now, and this spring I carved out time for it. The art project is easy and enjoyable to do, and I am sure you will like it too.

A good time to try this leaf print art activity is around St. Patrick’s Day, as shamrock plants are plentiful in stores then. The compound leaves on the plant look like the shamrock symbol that the country of Ireland is known for. Irish people think shamrocks represent good luck, and they are prominent in clothing, decorations, and tableware during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

An Oxalis Regnelli shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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The shamrock plant I found is called Oxalis Regnellii, which comes from Africa and some parts of the Americas. It has delicate leaves with three triangle-shaped leaflets. The leaves fold up neatly on overcast days and anytime it is dark, and open up when they are exposed to sunlight. The tiny, white, long-stemmed flowers have five petals.

A tiny white flower on an Oxalis Regnellii plant.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this nature-based art project:

shamrock plant
green and purple acrylic or tempera paint
paint pots
paintbrushes
purple and green pencil crayons
all-purpose art paper
green and purple construction paper
newspaper or manila paper
magnifying glasses

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Making The Shamrock Leaf Print Art

Before using the shamrock leaves for printmaking, give participants a chance to study the plant. Offer magnifying glasses to view the leaves and dainty flowers with yellow stamens. Set the plant out in a sunny place and then put it in a dark area to see how its leaves fold down and spread out depending on how much sunlight the plant is getting.

To prepare the art activity, snip a few leaves off the plant to use for making paint prints.

Steps to make beautiful shamrock leaf print art. This is an easy-to-do all-ages nature art project

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Next, lay down newspaper sheets or a large piece of manilla paper for participants to work on.

Then add an art station with a sheet of all-purpose art paper, leaf sprig, paintbrush, and green acrylic paint for each participant. My paper size is an 11-inch x 14-inch inch sheet cut in half, creating a 7-inch x 11-inch piece to work on.

Note: Non-toxic tempera paint is a good choice for young children taking part in the activity.

Afterward, invite participants to brush the tops of the leaflets on their sprig thoroughly with green paint, flip the leaf over, and carefully press the painted sides down on the paper. Have them gently rub their fingers over the leaflets and pat the edges down to transfer as much paint to the paper as possible.

Beautiful shamrock leaf print art with leaves from the Oxalis Regnelli plant. This is a nature art project that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

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Then ask everyone to slowly lift their leaf off the paper canvas and repaint it to make more leaf prints. The shamrock leaves are delicate, but when handled gently they can be used a few times. If someone’s leaf tears, offer a new sprig to use.

When the paint prints are dry, ask participants to use a pencil crayon to add stems to the leaves.

As a finishing touch, mount each shamrock leaf print art project on a similar-colored construction paper background.

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Making Purple Shamrock Leaf Print Art

A purple shamrock, called Oxalis Triangularis, has similarly shaped leaves and flowers as the Oxalis Regnallii. This purple shamrock showcases deep purple, dark-edged leaves that respond to darkness and light in the same way.

A purple shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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With purple acrylic or tempera paint, let participants create shamrock prints just as they were made in green.

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If there are any leaves left on the plant after the printmaking activity is done, add them to a playdough activity. Or have someone without pets take the plant home to care for.

Note: All Oxalis plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and grazing animals such as horses and must be kept out of their reach. These plants are slightly toxic to humans. Make sure to supervise all shamrock leaf activities closely so that no one ingests the leaves.

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More Shamrock-themed Activities:

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

[Read more…]

Squeegee Painting Heart Art

March 10, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This super fun squeegee painting heart art project is bound to be one of your children’s favorites. Using a squeegee instead of a paintbrush offers participants a new way to move paint around a canvas.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this abstract art project:

tempera paints in a variety of colors
paint pots and spoons
cardstock paper
squeegee
heart template
pencil and scissors
newspapers or a plastic tablecloth

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Preparing The Squeegee Painting Heart Art Activity

How to paint with a squeegee to create beautiful heart art. This is an all-ages process art activity with collaborative possibilities.

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To prepare this unique process art activity, trace and cut hearts from sturdy cardstock paper.

Then cover an art table with newspapers or a plastic tablecloth.

Next, set out a workstation for each participant with tempera-filled paint pots. Add a teaspoon to scoop paint into each one.

Note: I feature paints in red, pink, magenta, and white hues. Any color scheme would work wonderfully with this art project.

Afterward, add a paper heart canvas and squeegee to each workspace.

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The Squeegee Painting Heart Art Process

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Invite participants to spoon blobs of paint on different areas of their hearts. The blobs can be large or small. They can be dotted randomly or placed strategically around a heart.

Note: Paint can be squirted from paint bottles instead of spooned from paint pots. Smaller-sized bottles work best for this method.

Afterward, have them use a squeegee to move the paint around. You can suggest sliding the squeegee downward or from side to side. Using the squeegee in random motions is just fine too.

A super fun squeegee painting technique to create a hombre heart. This is an a;ll-ages process art project.

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Note: The longer the squeegee scrapes over the paper, the more the colors will blend.

An oh-so-fun squeegee painting activity that offers participants a new way to spread the paint. It is a top ten process art project.

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After participants have had a chance to paint one or more heart-shaped canvases, set out large sheets of sturdy paper for them to work on.

Squeegee painting on huge sheets of paper is a great process art project to take outdoors. The canvases can be set out on a flat ground surface or tacked to a fence. Large canvases also lend themselves to collaborative art projects.

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What do you think about this squeegee painting project? Do you think it is a top ten process art activity for children? Let me know in a comment below.

This super fun squeegee painting heart art activity offers participants a chance to spread paint with a squeegee instead of a paintbrush. This is an all-ages process art project.

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Related:

Salad Spinner Heart Art

Eye Dropper Heart Art

Valentine’s Day Process Art

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[Read more…]

Salad Spinner Heart Art

February 27, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This salad spinner heart art activity is so easy, and it’s super fun to do. From dripping paint into the basket to turning the spinner to taking the lid off to view the interesting heart designs, the project is fascinating for little learners from start to finish.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Salad Spinner Heart Art Supplies To Collect

A must-try easy and fun salad spinner heart art activity your little learners will love, This is process art at its best.

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Gather the following supplies for this exciting process art invitation.

salad spinner
tempera paints
paint pots
spoons
white cardstock paper
heart template
scissors
pencil
old newspapers or plastic tablecloth

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Preparing The Salad Spinner Heart Art Project

Super fun salad spinner heart art that results in unique process art projects every time. Pick your tempera paint colors and have fun spinning.

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To set up this art activity, first, select a salad spinner. It’s a good idea to have one set aside just for process art projects. I promise it will get well used.

Then draw heart shapes that just fit into the basket on white cardstock paper, and cut them out. Prepare enough paper hearts so that each participant can use at least two as a canvas.

Tip: Trace the bottom of the salad spinner basket on a piece of paper first to figure out the right size for the heart shape. Then save it for future activities.

Next, select tempera paint colors and pour them into paint pots. I feature turquoise, magenta, green, and pink hues, but the color possibilities are endless.

Then cover a table with old newspapers or a plastic tablecloth. Set out the salad spinner and paper hearts, as well as the paint pots with a spoon in each one.

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Creating Salad Spinner Painted Hearts

Gorgeous spin art heart created with a salad spinner and tempera paints. It's a process art activity your little learners will love.

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Invite a little learner to place a paper heart in the spinner and spoon a variety of paint colors on the heart.

Note: As an alternative, paint can be squeezed directly from paint bottles. Smaller tempera paint bottles are a good size for little ones to work with.

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Afterward, fit the lid snugly on the salad spinner and invite the little artist to turn the knob to spin the basket around. The faster the salad spinner spins, the better.

Now comes the most exciting part. Lift the lid off the spinner and view the painted heart together. You’ll discover a stunning and unique spin art project.

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Carefully take out the spun-painted heart and let it dry on a flat surface. The salad spinner is now ready to be used for more spin art heart paintings.

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Spin Painting Maple Leaf Art

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[Read more…]

Eye Dropper Heart Art

February 26, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This eye dropper heart art project is bound to put a smile on the face and joy in the heart of each of your little learners. It works well for a Valentine’s Day theme but would be a hit any time of the year.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Easy to set up eye dropper heart art that will bring a smile to the face and joy in the heart of each participant.

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There are just a few supplies to gather for this art project and you probably have them around your home. You will need:

eye droppers or pipettes
paint jars
neon pink and purple food coloring
red food coloring
paper towel roll
heart template
spoons
scissors
pencil
plastic tablecloth or newsprint paper

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The Eye Dropper Heart Art Project

Super pretty eye dropper heart art that will bring a smile to the face and joy in the heart of each participant.

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To prepare this art project, trace and cut out large hearts from a roll of paper towel. Make sure you have at least two paper towel hearts for each little learner participating.

Next, add water to small paint jars. Baby food jars work well for this art activity.

Mix a few drops of food coloring in each jar. I feature watercolor paints made with red and neon pink and purple food coloring.

A fabulous eye dropper painting process art activity with food coloring paint and paper towel hearts.

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Then stick an eye dropper or pipette in each jar of colored water.

Afterward, cover a table with newsprint paper or a plastic tablecloth and set up art stations.

Invite participants to use the eye droppers or pipettes to drop paint colors onto their paper towel hearts. They will absolutely love this process art invitation and will want to make a few eye dropper heart art projects.

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Note: It looks like turquoise paint was included on these hearts, a color I was thinking of adding to the mix. But the turquoise color appeared after neon purple bled into the paper towel shapes. This was a delightful surprise.

If little learners have had a chance to drop paint on a few paper towel hearts and there are paint colors left over, roll out long paper towel pieces across the table to allow them to paint large scale.

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More Eye Dropper Painting Art Activities

Earth Day Heart Art

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

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More Valentine’s Day Activities

Valentine’s Day Owl Craft

Origami Heart Valentines

Salad Spinner Heart Art

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[Read more…]

Polar Bear Small World

February 22, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Two of the most majestic things to see in the Arctic are polar bears and northern lights. It is not uncommon to spot them depicted together in far north artworks. A memory of an award-winning painting of polar bears trekking across a snowy landscape lit up by northern lights is what inspired this lighted polar bear small world.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

This polar bear small world is inspired by northern lights, which are often visible in Arctic skies at night.

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To set up a mesmerizing polar bear small world, gather together the following supplies:

polar bear figurines
LED stage light
white pompoms
acrylic snowflakes
clear acrylic ice cubes
silver placemat
turquoise placemat
toy igloo, ice floe, tent, and snow vehicle
white tablecloth
scissors

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The Polar Bear Small World

A professional stage light adds interest to this northern lights-inspired polar bear small world.

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To put together this polar bear-themed small world, start by covering a table with a white tablecloth to create a “snowy” base.

Next, add placemats to represent ice and water. A silver placemat suggests ice. A turquoise placemat trimmed with scissors becomes “a body of water.”

Then set up a LED stage light at one end of the table.

Afterward, add polar bear figurines, pompom “snowballs,” acrylic snowflakes, and clear ice cubes.

If available, include arctic toys such as an igloo, ice floe, research tent, and snow vehicle. These will add imaginary play possibilities to the small world.

Finally, turn on the LED stage light to illuminate the scene. You can set the stage light to one color, or have it project alternating colors such as green, blue, red, and purple.