preschool

Valentine’s Day Light Table Play

February 24, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A Valentine's Day light table activity with transparent loose parts to use for math, games, and transient art.

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This Valentine’s Day light table activity adds illumination and intrigue to a Valentine’s Day theme. It features transparent pieces, some of which are repurposed in a fun way.

As a teacher with a light table in my classroom, I collect transparent objects for as many educational themes as I can. Thankfully, it’s super easy to collect Valentine’s Day loose parts.

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Supplies To Collect

Heart-themed transparent loose parts for intriguing light table play.

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Here are a few transparent items that work well on the light table for Valentine’s Day:

letters that spell the word “LOVE”
flat plastic hearts in different sizes and colors
acrylic gem hearts
ice cube hearts
large heart outlines
tic tac toe games

All of these items come from Dollar stores, so are economical to purchase. They are versatile, and can also be used for other sensory activities.

Set this Valentine's Day loose parts tray on the light table to inspire creative play.

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Valentine’s Day Light Table Play

On the light table, my preschoolers enjoy building with construction toys and arranging loose parts. It’s always fun to glance over and see new creations there.

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In this featured center, early learners can:

play tic tac toe
sort and match shapes
make patterns
order hearts from smallest to largest
layer shapes to make new colors
create transient art

The light table is one of my favorite centers in the classroom. It can be purchased in various sizes, and DIY light box can even be made from a clear plastic covered bin with portable lights inserted.

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Valentine’s Day Treasure Blocks

February 22, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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To add interest to block play activities, treasure blocks are always a good choice. Their contents can be changed to match the current theme you are doing as well as your child’s interests. Since we are in the month of February, Valentine’s Day treasure blocks blend in perfectly and can be used in a variety of creative ways.

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Supplies To Collect

There’s no shortage of items to gather for valentine treasure blocks. You can go entirely with recycled loose parts or use economical purchased items. Or you can use a few of both.

The supplies I feature are red, pink, purple, and white – traditional Valentine’s Day colors. Gathered and added to the blocks are:

cut straws
beads cut from garland and necklaces
buttons
heart and rainbow erasers
acrylic hearts
gem craft hearts
hair ties

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Valentine’s Day Treasure Block Activities

At first, the filled treasure blocks can be set out on their own on a table or in a carpeted area for children to explore.

The blocks can be used as musical shakers, and children can be challenged to order them from quietest to loudest. With my blocks, the one with the hair ties hardly makes a sound, and the ones with bead garland balls and acrylic hearts tie for making the loudest sound.

These Valentine's Day treasure block shakers can be ordered by softest to loudest sounds.

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Another day, introduce new items to the treasure block play area. Featured here are little monsters, inspired by the endearingly illustrated storybook “Love Monster” by Rachel Bright, and Valentine’s Day loose parts. The monsters are actually repurposed dog toys, so they stand up superbly to block play! And they are squeaky, adding another element of sound to the play experience. Pairing the blocks, monster figurines, and loose parts together encourages children to think creatively in new ways.

These Valentine's Day treasure blocks offer a host of learning opportunities paired with monsters and loose parts.

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Asking the question “What can you build for the monsters?” will foster even more creativity. When I asked my preschoolers this question some of the answers were:

“I’m building a monster lair.”
“I am going to make a monster hiding place.”
“I made a house for the monsters.”

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More Block Play Possibilities

Pairing treasure blocks with mirror blocks is always a hit. The blocks are similar in size and shape and combine well for building large structures.

Pair Valentine's Day treasure blocks with mirror blocks and monsters for creative and imaginative play.

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And counting monster teeth and eyes, and discussing block shapes are ways to incorporate math into the play.

On their own, or combined with loose parts and other blocks, Valentine’s Day treasure blocks offer many opportunities for learning.

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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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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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