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Putting the Pretty In Preschool

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preschool

Spring Bunny Canvas Art

April 20, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Spring bunny Art activities suitable for all ages.
Spring bunny canvas art with paint dabber technique. An easy to do all-ages art activity.

The birds are chirping, and there is excitement in the air. Everyone seems to have a skip in their step. I think it is because spring has come early to our city and… it’s the Easter long weekend!


Here’s an easy spring bunny art activity that will add some hop to the skip, and be sure to keep everyone’s good mood up.


Spring Bunny Canvas Art

A few simple supplies are all that’s needed for this activity:

White canvas panel (12-inch x 18-inch)

Non-toxic paint dot markers

Colored cardstock

Bunny template

Scissors


The “How To”

Trace a bunny on colored cardstock in a size that leaves room to paint dab around it on the canvas board. I sized the bunny to fit just inside the edges of an 8 x 11 ½ piece of paper.

Cut out the cardstock bunny and place it in the middle of the canvas board.

Choose your favorite dot marker colors.

Dab paint dots around the bunny template.

Let the canvas dry.

Dot markers used to paint around a bunny template on canvas. An easy art activity suitable for all ages.

[Read more…] about Spring Bunny Canvas Art

Filed Under: art, Easter, preschool, spring Tagged With: bunnies, canvas art

Saving Green Sea Turtles

April 10, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Green sea turtle activities for early learners. Sensory bin, small world, art and dramatic play for preschool and kindergarten children.
Green sea turtle activities for early learners. Sensory bin, small world, art and dramatic play for preschool and kindergarten children.

One in a thousand baby green sea turtles lives to become an adult. Sea turtles face many challenges in trying to survive. Here’s how they get their start in life.

At night, baby green sea turtles scurry to the ocean from the deep hole they dig out of. They hatch from eggs deposited by their mother (also at night) on a sandy beach above the high tide line. The small, white eggs are buried in a blanket of sand to keep them warm and hide them from predators. The eggs are left alone to incubate for 50 -70 days.

The temperature of the nest determines the sex of the turtles. Warmer eggs become males; cooler eggs become females. Both males and females can dig out of the same nest, because the temperature can vary in different parts of it.

The hatchlings hurry to the ocean in the dark when it is less likely that they will be eaten by crabs or shore birds like gulls or herons. Most babies do not make it to the ocean. Even if they safely make it to the water, they could be eaten by birds hovering above the waves or predatory fish lingering close to shore.

Sea turtle hatchlings scurry to the ocean at night.

Green Sea Turtle Life Stages

Young green sea turtles spend the first three to five years of their lives in deeper waters. They are carnivores, eating fish eggs, molluscs, jellyfish, worms, sponges, algae, crustaceans and small invertebrates.

Adults green sea turtles spend most of their time in shallow coastal waters with lush seagrass beds. They are herbivores, relying on food such as sea grasses and algae. Adults are at home in coral reefs, salt marshes and near shore grass beds. In these habitats they have lots of food and protection from predators and rough ocean waves.

Sea turtle life stages small world in a clear drawer tray.

Conservation of Green Sea Turtles

Green sea turtles are endangered. They face a high risk of extinction in the wild. The turtles are protected by law in most countries. Many countries also protect their nesting areas.

Some threats green sea turtles face:

  • Loss of nesting areas due to real estate development in coastal areas.
  • Poaching: There is illegal trade of eggs, meat, and shells.  The skin is used for shoes, belts, and bags.  The meat is used to make exotic dishes like turtle soup.  Turtle oil is used for cosmetics.
  • Plastic and other marine debris

Help Keep Green Sea Turtles Alive

We can help green sea turtles stay alive!  We can:

  • read books about green sea turtles and how to help them survive.
  • limit the use of plastic and recycle the plastic we use.
  • buy sustainably harvested, ocean-friendly seafood.
  • support organizations that help protect green sea turtles and their habitats.
  • share social media posts about sea turtles and efforts to protect them.

People who live close to a sea turtle nesting area can:

  • join a beach clean up.
  • volunteer for a turtle watch night shift.
  • turn off porch lights at night.
  • refrain from using flashlights or making bonfires during nesting season.     

Porch lights, flashlights, and bonfires disorient hatchlings. They can head away from the ocean instead of towards it. 


Green Sea Turtle Activities

Green Sea Turtle Small World

Sea turtle seashore small world.

[Read more…] about Saving Green Sea Turtles

Filed Under: art, ocean, preschool, pretend play, science, sensory Tagged With: conservation, sea turtles

St. Patrick’s Day Activities

March 12, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

St. Patrick's Day activities for the early childhood classroom. Sensory tray, writing center, and dramatic play center ideas included.
St. Patrick's Day activities for the early childhood classroom. Sensory tray, writing center, and dramatic play center ideas included.

It’s March, but there is still lots of snow outside in Edmonton.  St. Patrick’s Day activities and the green color they surround us with are so welcome.  Here are three centers my class is currently playing in.


St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tray

Items included in this sensory tray:

spinach rice vermicelli noodles (broken up)
green bowls, sieves, and scoops
green buttons, beads and bead garland
shamrock and leprechaun shaped erasers
green coins
leprechaun mini hats
shamrock ice cubes

St. Patrick's Day rice noodle tray with leprechaun hats, green sieves, utensils and loose parts.

The green vermicelli noodles are a great find, as they are “ready-made” for this activity.

Green rice vermicelli noodles for sensory play.

St. Patrick’s Day Play Kitchen

Pretend play is hands down one of children’s favorite activities to do.  When effort is put into adding details to a play kitchen, children respond with delight.

St. Patrick's Day house center dramatic play accessories. Tableware, play food, jewelry, coins, and decorations are included.

[Read more…] about St. Patrick’s Day Activities

Filed Under: literacy, preschool, pretend play, sensory, St. Patrick's Day Tagged With: holiday, prewriting, sensory bin

Igloo “Glamping” Pretend Play

March 10, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

Igloo camping center with fur, sequins, fishing gear, and polar animals. Pretend play winter theme.

Igloo camping center with fur, sequins, fishing gear, and polar animals.


It’s been said that you should buy beautiful things you are drawn to, even if you are not sure how they will fit into your decorating color scheme or wardrobe collection.

When I purchased a narwhal themed sequin pillow, I wasn’t sure how I would use it in preschool play. I loved seeing color and shape change sequins in children’s clothing, and thought a sensory item like this would be nice to explore in the classroom.

Then I saw some “Glamping” pretend play posts on social media and knew this pillow would be perfect for an igloo “glamping” pretend play center.


Arctic dramatic play center with polar animals and glam accessories.

Igloo “Glamping” Center Accessories

To set up a glammed up igloo pretend play center, collect the following:

  • Pop up igloo
  • Fur rabbit skin
  • Narwhal themed sequin pillow
  • Bird puppet
  • Toy flashlight
  • Water bottle
  • Drinking glasses
  • Food bowl and spoon
  • Fishing box and reel
  • Paper fish
  • Camping chair
  • Stuffed snowy owl
  • Polar bear puppet
  • Toque, hat, and mittens

Glam igloo dramatic play center with polar themed accessories.

[Read more…] about Igloo “Glamping” Pretend Play

Filed Under: preschool, pretend play, winter Tagged With: Arctic, camping

World Book Day Story Book Feature: Just Itzy

March 6, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

World Book Day Just Itzy storybook theme. Spider sensory and small world activities for young children.
World Book Day Just Itzy storybook theme. Spider sensory and small world activities for young children.

World Book Day is held every year on the first Thursday in March. It is a celebration of authors, illustrators, and books.  And it is most of all a celebration of reading.

The impact of the picture book “Just Itzy” spanning my preschool storytime, a teacher aide’s home, and three children and their classrooms makes the story worthy of a shout out for World Book Day.


The “Just Itzy” Story


“Just Itzy” is written by Lana Krumwiede and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli. This story was one of the many books about spiders I chose last Fall in gathering resources for a Spider theme. It is an entertaining read about a spider named Itzy Bitzy and his first day of school. In the story, Itzy wants to catch his lunch instead of taking a lunch box that had been packed for him. In learning to make a spider web to trap food he becomes part of the nursery rhymes “Little Miss Muffet”, “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly”, and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” By the end of the tale, Itzy builds a successful spider web AND rescues his big brother Gutzy who had been teasing him about his “smallness.”


The Story’s Reach

My class enjoyed the story. The teacher aide liked “Just Itzy” so much she borrowed the book from a library for her three children. After numerous readings at home, the story was further enjoyed at her children’s school:

  • Both grade school children took the book to school to show it to their teachers and classmates.
  • One teacher had the teacher aide’s child read the book to the class.
  • The teacher in the kindergarten class ordered the book, and it fit in perfectly with the Fantasy Theme the students were working on.

The teacher aide said that for weeks afterward, their family would add humor to their day by chanting “Keep your eye on the fly,” a saying Itzy’s “spindergarten” teacher taught the class about never giving up.


“Just Itzy” Story Centers

Spider Small World

Spider themed small world with translucent pipe builders, spiders, a fly, flowers, and a spider web on a patch of grass.

[Read more…] about World Book Day Story Book Feature: Just Itzy

Filed Under: book theme, literacy, preschool, sensory Tagged With: construction, picture books, spiders

Hawaiian Party

March 3, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Hawaiian party ideas for an all-ages get together. Food, crafts, songs, and music for an easy to manage get together.
Hawaiian party ideas for an all-ages get together. Food, crafts, songs, and music for an easy to manage get together.

Here’s a Hawaiian Party that works for all ages. We did it with a group of seniors, preschool children and their parents. It was dreamed up because this school year our preschool classes were invited to visit a seniors home to socialize with the residents. February was a great month to show some kindness, so we planned our visit then.


Hawaiian Holiday Theme

Hawaiian Holiday was the theme of choice. Our city was in the middle of a cold-weather spell, so the thinking was “If we can’t be in Hawaii, (where we would ALL rather be), then let’s bring Hawaii to us.”

Our preschool brought food and activities for the visit.

As seniors, preschool children and preschool parents entered the social room at the home, music from the CD “Golden Hits Of Hawaii” wafted through the air. (This is a favorite CD of Hawaiian music, and we’ve played it at school on some of our coldest days. The music lifts our spirits every time.)


As everyone chose a spot to sit, they were invited to make a paper lei.

Paper Hawaiian lei party craft suitable for all ages.

Next, our school group performed some action songs for seniors and parents. Songs from Dr. Jean Sing Along Read Along books and CDs were our choice. (Dr. Jean has many singing and learning activities available on her website and her YouTube Channel.)


Hawaiian Party Food

Then refreshments were served. Hawaiian themed paper plates were passed out.

Little muffins with parasols for decoration were offered.

Muffins decorated with parasols for a Hawaiian party snack.

[Read more…] about Hawaiian Party

Filed Under: music, party, preschool Tagged With: Hawaii, multicultural

Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

September 11, 2018 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.
Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.

Paint Mixing

Preschoolers love, love, love to mix paint colors, and I like some unique art for memory albums and/or classroom display. The orange/fuchsia diptych art quilt entitled “Now” by textile artist Laurie Brainerd provides just the right inspiration for children to color mix and have an interesting finished project. The unique paper shapes add interest to the painting project.


[Read more…] about Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

Filed Under: art, preschool Tagged With: artists, color, painting

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you find inspiration and leave some for me! Feel free to stay awhile!

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puttingtheprettyin.preschool

The bright sun streaming through my office window The bright sun streaming through my office window belies the fact that it is -16  degrees C /  3.2 degrees F outside. So an icy ice drum post it is!  This activity can be done indoors or outside any time of the year. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ 🌞🌞🌞 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

How is the weather in your part of the world?

#drums #ice #musicalinstruments #musicforkids #musiceveryday #musicoutside #musicmaking #musical #preschoolmusic #kindergarten #homeschool #preschool #tots #eyfs #drumming
This post is inspired by the storybook “The Snow This post is inspired by the storybook “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. The book was published in 1962 and features an African-American boy as the main character. I read the story every winter to my preschoolers and they are spellbound each time. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#snowyday #bookinspired #blackhistorymonth #picturebook #readaloud #classicbooks #favoritebook #winterbooks #preschoolteacher #teacherofig #kindergarten #homeschooling #tots #eyfs #Canadianteacher #teachersfollowteachers #instateacher
A heart jewelry sensory tray that goes beyond Vale A heart jewelry sensory tray that goes beyond Valentine’s Day with its spring colors. The jewelry theme is inspired by a post by @littlelilacpreschool .

❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a last minute cr Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a last minute craft for dinosaur lovers. Link in profile to a free printable. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#dinosaurcraft #dinosaurvalentines #rawr #pompomcraft #ValentinesDay2021 #kidscrafts #crafter #craftersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #eyfs #papercraft #preschoolcrafts #homeschooling #totsschool #Sundayvibes #teacherofig #Canadianteacher
Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Day store! 😍

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#ValentinesDay #pretendplay #dramaticplay #hearts #playtolearn #prek #preteacher #teachersfollowteachers #playallday #playingislearning #playing #totsschool #eyfs #preschool #kindergarten #homeschooling #schoolathome
Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree. This Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree. This activity is inspired by an invitation to decorate a cherry tree by @rubberbootsandelfshoes .  Money tree facts and a free tree printable are #ontheblog .
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

#ChineseNewYear #lunarnewyear #trees #treeprintable #invitationtocreate #money #gold #sensorytray #waldorf #reggioinspired #playtray #prek #eyfs #moneytree #festiveplaylearn #trayfortheday
A woolly Valentine’s Day craft. The pattern for A woolly Valentine’s Day craft. The pattern for this craft is now on the blog...link in profile.

This craft was first featured last year and is inspired by a post from Agnes @hellowonderful_co . I’ve shared her adorable version in my stories.

❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑

#keepsake #valentinesdaycraft #kidscrafts #craftykids #artoftheday #heartart #celebratinglove #finemotorskills #artwithkids #craftswithkids #crafting #craftingwithkids #valentine #valentines #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities
Valentine’s Day playdough invitation. The dough Valentine’s Day playdough invitation. The dough in the middle is jello playdough. The dough on the right is my all time favourite basic playdough recipe.  The recipes for these three varieties are on the blog. Link in profile.

#playdough #ValentinesDay2021 #hearts #jelloplaydough #mainananak #montessori #playdoughfun #sensoryplay #toddleractivities #playbasedlearning #earlylearning #eyfs #playmatters #playtime #mainanmurah
Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers fo Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers for their original purpose. 😅😅😅

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Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the worl Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the world, even in cold, icy places like Alaska and Antarctica. But could dinosaurs have survived in polar regions? Link in profile to a blogpost that explores this topic with scientific views and sensory activities.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

 #polardinosaurs #dinosaurs #dinosaurfossils #earlylearning #paleontology #playdoughtray #prek #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #playdough #winterplay #sensory #tactile #handsonlearning #playandlearn #learningthroughplay #Canadianblogger
Sensory tray inspired by polar ornaments.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#sensorytray #sensorybin #trayforrheday #playtray #polaranimals #narwhal #seal #letsplay #playtolearn #earlylearning #itscoldoutthere #preschool #kindergarten #homeschool #iteachprek #teachersfollowteachers #Canadianteacher #Canadianblogger
Chickpea based Chinese New Year sensory tub. The c Chickpea based Chinese New Year sensory tub. The chickpeas are dyed with varying amounts of red acrylic paint, and some are left undyed. Read my latest blogpost  to find out more about the chickpea dying process. Link in profile.

#ChineseNewYear #yearoftheox #ChineseNewYearsensorybin #sensoryplay #colourful #redandgold #earlylearning #playtolearn #playing #handsonlearning #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #playsetup #iteachprek #tots #multicultural #Chineseholiday
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Recent Posts

  • Ice Drum Musical Instruments February 26, 2021
  • Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays February 25, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies February 18, 2021
  • Jewelry Sensory Tray February 15, 2021
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  • Dinosaur Valentine Craft February 13, 2021
  • Scissor Skill Heart Collage February 10, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities February 7, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes February 6, 2021
  • Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts February 6, 2021

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