preschool

Heart-Shaped Dissolving Candy Science

February 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Valentine’s Day has passed, but it is Heart Month in Canada and the United States. So I am squeezing in this heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment before I put all the valentine items away for the season. It’s an easy and fun experiment for all ages, so be sure to give it a try.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

There are just four items to gather for this fascinating color experiment that I cannot get enough of:

round, square, or rectangular tray (white or clear)
striped red and white candies
plastic or wooden heart outline
measuring cup with a spout

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The Heart-Shaped Dissolving Candy Science Experiment

Easy steps to perform a heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment.

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First, pick a large heart outline. A wooden or plastic heart would work, or you could cut one from a generous piece of red craft foam. I used one that was previously part of a heart-themed wall hanging.

Place the outline in a white or clear tray that is slightly bigger than the heart.

Next, lay candies around the inside of the heart outline. Featured here are Starlight Mints purchased at a Dollar Store. They have flat sides, so seem destined for this experiment!

Then fill a 500 ml cup with a spout with warm water. Or use a large cup or water bottle.

Slowly pour the water into the bin. Add just enough liquid so the bottom is covered.

Watch what happens! And have your camera ready to snap some stunning pictures.

An easy to perform heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment. A simple experiment with amazing results.

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Try this heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment today! It is simple and brings the WOW factor.

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For the science behind this experiment, visit my blogpost Candy Cane Science Experiment.

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Side Note: I wasn’t sure what to call the heart shape I feature in this science experiment. One of the search words for suggestions I used was heart rims. Who knew that you could get heart-patterned rims for car tires!

If you give this heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment a try, tag me on Instagram and I will share your post in my stories.

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Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bin

February 19, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A dreamy, taste-safe strawberry hot chocolate sensory bin to let your little learners explore. This activity is perfect for a party day or any day!

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This taste safe strawberry hot chocolate bin is sure to excite your little learner. It incorporates marshmallows, lollipops, and pouring with a miniature tea set, all mega-hits with young children.

For this activity I originally planned to try a classic hot chocolate sensory bin, using chocolate-flavored candies or lollipops. But I didn’t have any luck finding hard chocolate candy. So, a dreamy strawberry hot chocolate-themed bin it is.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this taste safe sensory bin:

red and pink heart-shaped lollipops
mini marshmallows
miniature toy tea set
small white tub
cool water

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Introducing The Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bin

First, thoroughly sanitize the tub and toy tea set.

Note: If more than one child is participating in this activity, give them their own bin.

Then set the tea set in the bin, and add an inch of cool water. Invite your little learner to play with the cups and saucers and pot in the bin.

A dreamy, taste-safe strawberry hot chocolate sensory tub to let your little learners explore.

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Next, drop in two lollipops. Suggest that a little tasting is allowed, but that the lollipops should go back in the bin afterward. Draw attention to the gradual color change in the water: the liquid slowly changes to light pink. And observe that the lollipops shrink over time.

A lollipop and tea set sensory bin your little learner will love to explore. This sensory bin is toatally taste-safe.

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Then sprinkle a few mini marshmallows into the bin. Encourage your little learner to include the marshmallows in pouring activities.

Tip: Staggering the addition of marshmallows and lollipops extends the time the children will spend in the sensory activity.

This sensory bin is totally taste safe, and part of the experience is to be able to taste the lollipops, marshmallows, and flavored water. The colored water will likely have a light, fruity taste.

Make sure hands are washed very carefully after playing in the bin, as they will be a little sticky.

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Benefits Of This Sensory Bin

There are many benefits of this tasty sensory bin:

exercising eye-hand coordination in pouring “hot chocolate” and sipping from tiny cups.
experiencing a color change science experiment when lollipops are added to the bin.
encouraging language development by describing the look and feel of the bin and the taste of the lollipops, marshmallows and water.
discussing that sweet treats should be eaten in moderation.
experiencing joy by participating in an unexpected, new, super fun sensory activity.

This strawberry hot chocolate bin is perfect for a party day such as Valentine’s Day. It would also work wonderfully for a Mother’s Day celebration.

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Strawberry Hot Chocolate Recipes

If you would like to try or serve authentic strawberry hot chocolate, here’s a couple of blogs with delicious recipe posts:

Sprinkle Bakes features an instant strawberry hot cocoa mix.

My Heavenly Recipes showcases a strawberry hot chocolate recipe.

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Related: Candy Cane Science Experiment

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Ladybug Wand Craft

February 13, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Last month my preschoolers made simple snowflake wands to coordinate with winter and “Frozen” activities. The crafted wands generated lots of enthusiasm, and children were excited to use them in play. Because of their exuberant response, I decided to offer similar projects in the future. This ladybug wand craft is the next one we will do. I’m sure my little learners will enjoy making it, and I think yours will too!

With wings cut from a heart, this cute craft fits in perfectly with Valentine’s Day but could be offered in spring or any other time of the year.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this buggy craft, gather the following:

red and black cardstock
black adhesive gems
red and white thin ribbon
wiggly eyes
straws
glue stick
glue gun
scissors

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Making The Ladybug Wand Craft

Steps to make a cute ladybug wand craft early learners will love to help create and play with.

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First, cut large circular ladybug bodies from black cardstock, and similar-sized hearts from red. Then cut the red hearts in half to become wings.

Snip a few kinds of ribbon into strands about the length of a straw. Hot glue the ribbon strands to the top of the straws.

Then invite children to add black adhesive gem spots to a pair of red wings, and adhere them to their circle with a glue stick.

Afterward, they can add a pair of wiggly eyes.

Finally, glue the ladybugs to the top of the straws and invite crafters to play with their wands.

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Ladybug Facts

Ladybugs are well-loved by children. Even when they don’t especially like other insects, little learners are usually excited to hold a dainty ladybug and study it closely. Here are facts to share with little ones when they spot ladybugs while playing.

Ladybugs are a kind of beetle and can be found in a variety of habitats.
There are more than 5000 kinds of ladybugs.
Although shiny, red and black spotted dome shaped ladybugs are most familiar in North America, these adored creatures come in a variety of bright colors.
Ladybugs have from five to twenty spots, which can fade over time.
Their colors and spots help warn predators that they are not pleasant to eat.
With their six feet and two antennae, ladybugs smell and look for food. They use their front legs to clean their heads and antennae.
Their two eyes can distinguish between dark and light, but ladybugs don’t see well.
A pair of colorful hard, top wings protect two transparent, veined inner flying wings.
Ladybugs help the environment by eating pesky bugs such as aphids and mites, and spreading pollen.

A host of ladybug facts to share with early learners.

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Birds are huge predators. Other animals that like to eat ladybugs are frogs, lizards, wasps, spiders, and dragonflies.
In addition to flashing their spots and bright colors, ladybugs secrete oily, stinky, bad tasting, yellow drops of fluid from joints in their legs to discourage predators. They can also play dead.
Ladybugs are either male or female.
Over a period of about seven weeks, ladybugs develop in four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults.
Tiny yellow eggs are laid in batches on the underside of leaves near aphid colonies.
Colonies of ladybugs hibernate over the winter in warm spots such as in rotting logs or ground cover, or under rocks and snowdrifts. Thousands of these little bugs may gather together.
Ladybugs commonly live for about one year, but some live two to three years.

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It’ll soon be spring, and all kinds of bugs will be crawling around. You’ll want to include this captivating ladybug wand craft in your insect theme activities. You could also offer it for Valentine’s Day along with the love bug headband craft featured below.

Pair a ladybug wand craft with a love bug headband for a session of buggy dramatic play.

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Gorgeous Eye Dropper Art

Spider Theme Activities

Spin Painting Butterflies

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Dragon Necklace Craft

February 12, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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The first few weeks of this year have gone by so fast! Between winter, Chinese New Year, and Valentine’s Day, there have been so many activities to choose from. This dragon necklace craft was meant to be completed in early February for Chinese New Year, but time didn’t permit. And so my little learners will be making it next week.

Dragons are seen as positive creatures in Chinese culture. They symbolize wisdom, power, and prosperity, as well as fertility, long life, and good luck. Dragon dances are a big part of Chinese New Year celebrations. And since the new year festivities happen around the same time as Valentine’s Day, hearts are the perfect embellishment to be included in the dragon jewelry craft.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Craft supplies to make a dragon necklace craft your children will love to do.

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For these colorful dragon necklaces, gather the following supplies:

thick craft foam in colors of choice
wiggly eyes
adhesive round and heart-shaped gems
lacing string
small paper clips
scissors
hot glue gun

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Making The Dragon Necklace Craft

To start the project off, cut small dragons from craft foam colors of choice.

Steps to make a dragon necklace craft your children will love. An all-ages dragon-themed jewelry craft project.

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If desired, you can download this free template.

Free template to make a dragon necklace craft your children will love to do.

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Dragon Necklace Craft PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Invite little learners to decorate a dragon with sticker gem hearts and circles.

Next, use a hot glue gun to add a wiggly eye and tongue to each dragon, and a paper clip to the back.

Then cut lacing string into 26-inch lengths. Loop the cut string through the paperclips, and tie the ends together. Make sure to adjust the length of the strings so the necklaces fit properly.

Allow your little charges to wear their creations. Have a camera ready to snap some pictures.

Note: You can choose red or gold craft foam for the dragons in this craft, as they are traditional Chinese New Year colors. Or you could offer foam dragons in a variety of colors.

Easy and fun dragon necklace children's jewelry craft suitable for all ages.

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Color Meanings In Chinese Culture

The dragon necklace craft in this post is featured in red, yellow, green, blue, and orange colors. Here’s what these colors mean in Chinese culture.

Red symbolizes excitement, good fortune, and happiness.
Yellow stands for royalty and prosperity.
Green represents harmony, health, and spring.
Blue symbolizes growth, optimism, and peace.
Orange represents harvest, happiness, and celebrations.

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Whether children perceive dragons to be scaly, scary, and fire-breathing, or friendly and helpful, they’ll be super excited to make and wear this craft.

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Related: Bat Necklace Craft

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Valentine’s Day Water Play

February 7, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A Valentine’s Day water play activity is quick and easy to set up, and supplies are low cost. The activity helps create a festive ambiance on a party day or any day!

The weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are a good time to visit stores to collect Valentine-themed supplies for all kinds of learning opportunities, including water play. No store is off-limits for gathering hands-on materials.

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Supplies To Collect

Here’s a list of supplies that work well in a Valentine-themed water table or tub. Pick the ones you have handy, or can easily and economically find in a store.

alphabet letters that spell the word “LOVE”
heart ice cube trays
red and pink buttons
heart-shaped gems
bendy heart people
red and pink ducklings
valentine erasers
pink and red rainbow erasers
styrofoam hearts
cut striped red and white straws
red coins
wiggly eye rings
heart-shaped measuring cups
treat baskets and boxes

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The Valentine’s Day Water Play Activity

Add warm water to a large water table for group sharing, or set out a small white washtub with water for each child. Throw in Valentine’s Day loose parts that you have available.

The tub below has clear water, and the colors and shapes of the supplies can be easily seen and admired in the white bin.

Valentine's Day loose parts that work well in a water play activity, or a tub with a rice or chickpea base.

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After a little while, you could add red food coloring to the water to extend interest.

A fun and friendly Valentine's Day water play activity your early learners will love to participate in. A quick and easy sensory bin to set up.

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Or you could add dish detergent to create bubbles, so fitting for Valentine’s Day activity.

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Benefits Of Water Play

Here are some benefits of this water play activity:

sorting shapes (math – set making; language development – color recognition)
counting shapes (math – counting)
comparing shapes to those of other children (language development; paying attention to detail)
filling and emptying treat boxes (eye-hand coordination; math/language development – empty/full)
noticing how some shapes stick to others (science)
recognizing letters of the alphabet (language development – letter recognition)
discovering beautiful themed items (creativity)

Water play is an embraced activity any day. For another time, the Valentine-themed supplies could be included in a rice or chickpea sensory tub.

Can you think of supplies to add to my list? Share in a comment below.

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