preschool

Fall Leaf Crown Paper Crafts

November 23, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall is a beautiful time of year, and in many parts of the world, the leaves on trees turn brilliant red, orange, and yellow colors. If you’re looking for a simple, hands-on way to bring fall hues into your home or classroom, completing one or more of these Fall Leaf Crown Paper Crafts is the perfect project!

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Not only are the leaf crown crafts easy to make and fun to use in pretend play, but they also give participants a self-esteem boost for completing them and offer valuable scissor skill practice.

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Rather than needing to collect leaves from outdoors or use artificial leaves, the paper leaf crowns require only scissors and glue or tape to assemble. This means the crafts take little time, are low-mess, and are super simple to do.

You can find printables for making these fall leaf paper crown crafts in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop. There are four designs to choose from for one low price. A BONUS is that the printable set includes a leaf wand paper craft.

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How to Make the Leaf Crown Paper Crafts

To assemble a fall leaf crown, cut out the front and back designs from the printable of choice. I recommend that children use child-safe scissors.

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Next, glue one end of the crown front to one end of the crown back.

Then fit the crown around a child’s head.

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Glue or tape the other ends together after the paper headband is fitted.

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Note: The leaf crown designs are for children aged three to nine. If a crown isn’t as wide as needed, add a small section of headband.

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How to Make the Leaf Wand Paper Craft

To assemble the leaf wand, cut out one of the designs.

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Then, using tape or a glue gun, affix a small chopstick-sized stick and two or more strips of thin ribbon to the paper leaf cut out.

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Wearing the crowns and selecting a wand to use transports children into a world of make-believe where they can become a forest king or queen, a mighty ruler, or a garden fairy. They engage in satisfying, meaningful, imaginative play.

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More Activities With Leaves

Zucchini Leaf Paint Prints

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Horse Chestnut Leaf Art Activities

Maple Leaf Activities

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[Read more…]

Colors of Fall Sensory Bin

October 13, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall is full of bright and bold hues, and so is this Colors of Fall sensory bin. Brilliant flowers and vibrant, plentiful leaves star in the gorgeous sensory invitation. The autumn sensory bin celebrates the end of our growing season, as the weather is about to become a lot colder, and leaves and flowers will soon dry out.

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Supplies in the Fall Sensory Bin

The following are the supplies used in this autumn-themed bin:

fall leaves
flowers
small rocks
twigs
squirt bottles
liquid watercolors
pitchers of water
mortar and pestle sets
eye droppers
bowls and spoons
cups

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The Colors of Fall Sensory Bin

As displayed in many of my other sensory invitations, the bin for this fall sensory activity is a large active world tray. It’s great for a group of children to explore together. The activity would work equally well in a smaller bin, with children taking turns to participate.

The many leaves in the octagonal bin come from the trees and plants in my yard. Lots have turned red, orange, yellow, or brown. Others remain green in the fall season.

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The flowers are also from my yard, picked just before the freezing nights that end their growing season.

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Clear squirt bottles hold water with a little orange, magenta, green, or blue liquid watercolors mixed in.

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Paired with the squirt bottles, pitchers filled with water offer many opportunities for color mixing and potion making in bowls and clear cups.

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Including eye droppers allows for more fub colored water squirting.

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Mortar and pestle sets are always a hit.

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Beautiful red and yellow Bergenia leaves are quickly set aside by some participants as treasures to keep.

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Magenta-hued water and bright flowers prove to be a highlight of the sensory experience.

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After a long time of engaging in sensory bin exploration, the colored water becomes a drawing tool for transient art on nearby pavement.

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A rock border adds a finishing touch to a heart-themed transient art creation.

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This Colors of Fall sensory bin is an awesome nature-themed activity, and is one of the most economical play-based learning ideas. The natural materials are a free filler. Most of the other supplies are reusable for other sensory play activities and are suitable for dramatic play setups.

What do you think?

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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More Fall Activities

Fall Drip Ice Cake

Fall Pom Pom Tree Craft

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Fall Scissor Skills Activities

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[Read more…]

Apple Theme Sensory Tray

October 11, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall is apple season, and there are so many apple-themed activities to choose from. This simple, super fun apple theme sensory tray with an oatmeal base is one that I’ve wanted to try for a long time. It is sure to be a hit with little learners.

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Supplies in the Tray

The following are the supplies in this gorgeous apple sensory tray:

apple-shaped strainers
measuring spoons
apple-shaped acrylic gems
gold apple ornaments
metal tins
apple cookie cutters
pompoms
apple ice cube tray molds
spoons

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The Apple Theme Sensory Tray

The base for this eye-catching apple sensory tray is rolled oats. This base fits the theme since it is an ingredient used in tasty fall treats such as apple crisp, apple bread, and apple cookies.

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The round cake pan, loaf pan, apple coolie cutters, and measuring cups encourage dessert baking activities.

Sparkling gold apple ornaments and apple-shaped acrylic gems add a major dose of glam and are baking ingredients along with the rolled oats.

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Bright green, yellow, red, and pink pompoms in various sizes are additional “apples”.

Apple ice cube tray molds encourage sorting activities.

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And apple-shaped strainers add interest to the bin.

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All supplies are set in a large, deep green active world tray, suitable for four to six children to explore. The accessories work equally well in a smaller bin if two to three children are participating in the sensory activity.

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Have you tried an apple theme sensory tray? Share in a comment below.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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More Apple Theme Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Art and Activities

Apple Toothpick Sculptures

Apple Fruit Stand

Apple Theme Activities

Scented Playdough Recipe and Activities

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[Read more…]

Castle Theme Light Table Activity

August 25, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A light table is one of my favorite classroom centers, as it adds a glowing ambience to the room. It’s a goal of mine to add one or more light table activities to every theme. A set of bubble bottles inspired a castle theme light table activity.

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Castle Light Table Supplies

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The following supplies are in this royal-themed light table set up:

castle-themed bubble bottles
metallic pompoms
metallic bead necklace strips
gold jingle bells
cube-shaped reusable ice cubes
interlocking necklace connectors
acrylic crystal ice rocks
ombre erasers
clear egg tray
clear bowls, trays, plates, and serving scoops

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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The Castle Theme Light Table Activity

A variety of interesting loose parts that complement the castle theme are featured in this light table play invitation.

A jewel-toned set of empty transparent bubble containers is the highlight. I was excited to spot the bubble containers while on a routine shopping trip one afternoon.

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Transparent castle-themed jewelry connectors in crown, flower, heart, and high-heeled shoe shapes add princessy fun.

Cube-shaped reusable ice cubes, ombre erasers, and acrylic crystal ice rocks are additional transparent loose parts to explore.

Although not transparent, metallic pompoms and bead necklace strips add glam, as do the gold jingle bells.

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Setting the supplies in clear bowls and on clear trays displays them attractively.

Sorting supplies in the clear egg tray and on clear plates allows them to shine.

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More Castle Theme Light Table Supplies

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A small cooking pot and stove elements drawn on an overhead transparency offer pretend cooking possibilities for interested children. So fun!

What would you add to this castle theme light table activity?

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More Light Table Activities

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Space Theme Light Table

Christmas Small World on the Light Table

Valentine’s Day Light Table Play

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table

Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

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[Read more…]

Castle Theme Playdough Tray

August 24, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

When planning a new theme, including a playdough tray is always a huge win. With its jewel-tone and glistening loose parts, this castle theme playdough tray is sure to attract eager participants in a flurry.

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Playdough activities are a favorite of preschoolers and children in early elementary grades. They encourage open-ended play and the chance to be creative in endless ways. Adding loose parts maximizes the learning potential, and there are plenty of them on the castle-themed tray.

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Feature Playdough Supplies

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The following castle-themed supplies are included in this eye-catching playdough tray:

playdough in turquoise, pink, and purple hues
large buttons
transparent pebbles
transparent jewelry connectors
castle-themed table confetti
metallic bead necklace strips
gold jingle bells
crown-themed rubber stamps
heart bracelets
star wand party favors
compartment serving tray

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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The Castle Theme Playdough Tray

The featured dough in this sensory tray play invitation is store-bought playdough in pink, purple, and turquoise colors. The vibrant playdough hues work well in this quick setup.

Transparent jewelry connectors in crown, heart, flower, and high-heeled shoe shapes, castle-themed table confetti, and crown rubber stamps are prized loose parts for the royal theme.

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Large gold, pink, and purple buttons, transparent light pink acrylic pebbles, gold jingle bells, and metallic bead necklace strips make sparkly treasures.

Star wand party favors and heart-shaped bracelets round out the supplies in the tray.

All supplies are presented on a white six-compartment serving tray, making it easy for children to choose loose parts for their playdough creations.

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Variation of the Castle Theme Playdough Tray

The above playdough tray uses store-bought playdough, which is a great alternative when preparation time is short. This next playdough tray houses the same accessories along with my favorite basic homemade playdough recipe.

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A few drops of neon pink or purple food coloring added to the dough recipe create a soft, pretty hue that coordinates well with the castle-themed loose parts. Pink and gold glitter sprinkled on the dough adds even more glam.

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Additional Castle Theme Playdough Supplies

Castle-themed cookie cutters would be a great addition to this glitzy playdough tray, along with rolling pins and disposable knives. What other supplies would you add?

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