pretend play

Paper Plate Turkey Craft

October 8, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Paper plate crafts are always a hit, and this paper plate turkey craft is a super cute one. Fit it during a farm animal theme or letter T mini-theme, or save it for a Thanksgiving Day celebration. Download the free turkey template to prepare this craft with ease.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this adorable farm animal craft, gather the following supplies:

large paper plate
red, yellow, orange, and brown construction paper or cardstock
red pipe cleaner
wiggly eyes
white glue and glue paddle
glue stick
glue gun

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Paper Plate Turkey Prep

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To prepare this animal craft, first cut a paper plate in half.

Next, cut a large circle from brown construction paper or cardstock, and two sizes of smaller circles from red, orange, and yellow sturdy paper.

Then cut a narrow diamond and two small hearts from orange paper.

The last thing to do is snip a three-inch strip from a red pipe cleaner.

To make things easier, download this free turkey craft template to use for cutting out the shapes.

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Paper Plate Turkey PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Tip: Paper punches are very helpful in preparing this craft.

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Making The Paper Plate Turkey Craft

To make this cute turkey craft, start by using white glue and a glue paddle to adhere red, orange, and yellow circles to the semi-circular plate.

Next, glue the brown circle to the bottom middle of the straight edge of the plate, allowing a little bit of the circle to fall below the edge. This will be the turkey head.

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Then glue two wiggly eyes to the large circle.

Afterward, fold the narrow diamond shape in half to make a beak. Glue the folded bottom half of the beak underneath the eyes.

Then fashion the red pipe cleaner strip into a narrow loop. Glue the loop to the beak so that it hangs down as a snood.

Finally, glue two heart-shaped feet to the bottom of the turkey head.

Let the crafted turkey dry overnight and it will be ready for display.

Note: A glue stick or glue gun will also work to adhere the shapes in this craft.

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This paper plate turkey is made entirely of geometric shapes, so the craft presents a great opportunity to discuss and review them.

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Paper Plate Turkey Headband

For a fun twist to this craft, turn the paper plate turkey into a headband.

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First, make sure to adhere the bottom edge of the turkey head to the straight edge of the semi circle.

Next, glue on the eyes, beak, and snood as in the first craft.

Then cut two 1 ½ x 11 inch strips from a piece of cardstock. Glue the two strips together on one side, and then adhere the paper plate turkey on top, lining it up with the bottom edge.

Measure the headband to fit the wearer, and glue the remaining two ends together.

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Thanksgiving Printables

Shop Thanksgiving printables in my Etsy shop “Skills N Smiles“:

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More Turkey Activities

Coffee Playdough Turkey

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

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[Read more…]

Paint Chip Watermelon Art

August 17, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Create beautiful watermelon art with paint chip samples. The colorful watermelon slices can be used in many different activities.

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Paint chip color samples with their gorgeous lined-up hues are truly something special. They come in every glorious color scheme you can imagine and make any kind of art activity extra beautiful. In this post, they shine in paint chip watermelon art that lends itself to a variety of fun activities for children.

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Not Just Red

The only color of watermelon I experienced as a child is red, but did you know that there are also yellow, orange, pink, and white watermelon varieties? All these hues are featured in this fruity art activity.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies to make paint chip watermelon art:

paint chip samples in hues of red, pink, orange, yellow, and green
black cardstock
hole punch
glue stick
scissors and pencil

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Paint Chip Watermelon Art Process

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To create this juicy art activity, trace and cut out half-circle shapes from paint chip swatches donated from hardware stores.

Note: Watermelon comes in at least five different hues, so multi-shade paint chip strips in yellow, orange, pink, red, and white all apply.

Next, trace and cut out thin half-circle watermelon rinds from green paint color samples.

Afterward, use a glue stick to affix the green rinds to the curved edge of the half circles to create watermelon slices.

Just add seeds to these fruity slices to create watermelon art. The juicy slices can be used in many differnt activities for litlle learners.

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Then punch dots from black construction paper for watermelon seeds, and glue a few onto each watermelon slice.

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Paint Chip Watermelon Activities

The created paint chip watermelon slices can be used in several ways with little learners:

Watermelon Slice Collage

Invite little learners to glue watermelon slices to a large sheet of paper for a pretty watermelon collage.

Craft watermelon slices with paint chip samples and use them in a pretty watermelon collage. A beautiful. all-ages art activity.

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Counting and Color Recognition Activities

Use the juicy slices as props for counting and color-recognition rhymes, songs, and charting activities.

Paint chip watermelon slices shine in this fruity math chart where little learners can count the seeds and add the corresponding number.

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Paint chip watermelon art used in a fruity color chart where little learners can practice matching color words to watermelon slices.

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Pretend Play Food

The crafted fruit slices make attractive pretend food for a play kitchen.

Paint chip watermelon slices make attractive play food for a pretend play kitchen.

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Watermelon Necklace

With a hot glue gun, affix small paper clips to the back top of three watermelon slices. String pony beads and paper watermelon slices onto a 24-inch piece of thin lacing cord and tie it off.

Supplies to make a beaded necklace with paint chip watermelon slices and green, red, pink, and clear pony beads.

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How to make a beaded necklace with paint chip watermelon slices and green, red, pink, and clear pony beads.

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Color Discussions

After little learners can recognize the basic colors, use the paint chip watermelon slices to discuss lighter and darker shades of color.

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Paint Chip Fruit Drink Art

It is easy to transition this paint chip watermelon art activity into a fruit drink craft. To do this, cut paper glasses from construction paper colors of choice. Then cut half circles from paint chip swatches in fruity hues. Offer each participant a paper glass, glue stick, and six or seven half-circle fruit wedges to create a lemon, lime, or orange paper drink. Add an additional fruit slice to the top of each glass.

Create a cute paper drink craft with orange, yellow, and green paint chip fruit slices glued onto drinking glass shapes.

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Watermelon Facts

Interested in finding out more about different kinds and colors of watermelon? Check out the post “Here’s the Difference Between Pink, Orange, and Yellow Watermelon” by myrecipes.com.

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Ideas to include paint chip watermelon slices in math, color recognition, art, dramatic play, and manipulative activities for early learners.

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Paint Chip Apple Craft

Watermelon Dramatic Play Center

Fun Ways To Serve Watermelon

Watermelon-Inspired Banner Craft

Watermelon Playdough Tray

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[Read more…]

Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

July 28, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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It’s all about the food in this circus pretend play tablescape that is sure to be popular with your little learners. And there is plenty of colorful loose parts to spark the imagination.

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Circus-Themed Tablescape Supplies

Bright and cheery loose parts add plenty of color to a super fun circus pretend play tablescape your little learners will absolutely love.

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Bright, colorful décor is a good fit for a circus play tablescape. Here are the featured supplies:

popcorn play food set
play food hot dog set
play food chips
cookie pan
metal bowl
clear storage containers
clown-themed cookie tin
heart-shaped mini storage containers
circus-themed party plates
play cutlery, cups, and serving utensils
flowers in a vase
container with blue, red, and yellow pompoms
nesting cookie cutters
magnetic toy spinners
gold bead garland
painted wooden beads
yellow tablecloth

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The Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

In any theme, having coordinating accessories in a dramatic play center facilitates interest in the topics introduced, and allows for many learning through play opportunities.

Circus party plates guide the color scheme for this tablescape. The hues of the other supplies chosen coordinate with the plates.

This circus pretend play tablescape adds a whole lotta color and fun to a circus theme. Many interesting loose inspire imaginative play.

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Note: Animals are not used in many circus shows anymore, something I highly support. These plates had been in my circus theme box for many years, so I decided to use them for this reason.

Hot dog and popcorn play sets, as well as chips are some of the play food choices on the table. Bead garland cut into strips makes good pretend spaghetti and red pompoms serve as the meatballs.

Magnetic toy spinners bring a whole lotta color and make great pretend cookies or pancakes.

Other multicolored loose parts are nesting cookie cutters, heart-shaped storage containers, painted wooden beads, and pompoms.

A clown-themed cookie tin, another prop I had saved for a long time, adds an element of fun to the table décor.

A sprig of orange artificial flowers set in a vase rounds out the cheery supplies on the tablescape.

Bright and cheery loose parts add plenty of color to this super fun circus pretend play tablescape your little learners will absolutely love.

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Variations Of This Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

Many of the supplies in this tablescape can be used in a circus food stand, another dramatic play center little learners would absolutely love.

The supplies can be set in appliances and on shelves in a pretend play kitchen center instead of being arranged in a tablescape display.

And … even adding just a few of the circus dramatic play supplies listed would add interest to an activity center and spark new play ideas.

What would you add to this circus pretend play tablescape? Share in a comment below.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Circus Playdough Tray

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

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[Read more…]

Space Restaurant Dramatic Play

July 18, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A space restaurant dramatic play center is one of the most fun pretend play activities you can offer your little learners. Loose parts shine in this center, offering a plethora of opportunities for creativity and imagining.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Break out all the metallic silver and gold loose parts you have for this shiny, inviting dramatic play center. The following are ideas for supplies to gather:

Gather a variety of metallic silver and gold loose parts to set up a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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aluminum foil pie pans, tart pans, and storage containers
silver muffin pans
metal pitcher, tongs, bowls, and trays
disposable clear stemware, forks, and spoons
reusable star-shaped ice cubes
gold and silver bead necklaces and garland
clear discs
gold star-shaped stickers
round silver and gold gem stickers
metallic silver pipe cleaners
juice lids
styrofoam balls
large silver or gold bells
foil alphabet letters and spray centerpiece
silver tablecloth
glue gun, scissors, and painter’s tape

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The Space Restaurant Dramatic Play Center

In this out-of-this-world pretend play center, the words “Space Restaurant” are tacked on a wall with painter’s tape, and aluminum foil pans and storage containers are displayed beneath it for decoration and ambiance.

SIlver foil letters and aluminum foil containers and pans taped on a wall add ambiance to a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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A space-themed dining table is set up by adding a metallic silver tablecloth and a foil spray centerpiece.

Table settings include aluminum pie pan plates and transparent cutlery. Clear, disposable stemware glasses are decorated with gold star stickers to fancy them up.

Gold star stickers positioned on clear stemware add flare to a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Dainty teacups are created by gluing metallic silver pipe cleaner handles to aluminum foil tart pans, and then affixing them to metal juice lids.

DIY aluminum foil teacups for a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Shiny, metal serving trays and star-shaped dessert cups add elegance.

Large silver or gold bells make great pretend muffins and add a musical element.

Large silver ingle bells are repurposed as muffins in a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Clear discs are repurposed as space pancakes.

Clear discs are repurposed as pancakes in a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Pretend play chocolate chip cookies are created by adding round silver and gold gem stickers to juice lids.

Round adhesive gem stickers added to juice lids make great chocolate chip cookies in a space restaurant pretend play center.

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Styrofoam balls are muffins or snowball-themed desserts. They can be painted with silver or gold acrylic paint to add glitz.

Gold and silver bead necklaces cut into strips are spaghetti noodles, and larger bead balls cut from bead garland are the meatballs. The play spaghetti can be stored in a big silver bowl and served with metal tongs.

Metallic silver and gold loose parts make great play food for a space restaurtant dramatic play center.

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More Space-Themed Play

For additional space-themed ambiance, a colored light can be positioned to illuminate the restaurant table.

A professional stage light adds flare in outer space pretend play tablescape set up.

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Early learners may be inspired to add loose parts from other activity centers to the space restaurant. Below, participants included crater-filled yellow “moons” and large diamond crystal gems to the spaghetti play food.

Bead necklace and garland spaghetti with added loose parts make great space restaurant play food.

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The supplies in this post can also be included in a space-themed play kitchen setup.

What would you add to this space restaurant dramatic play center? Share your ideas in a comment below.

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Space Father’s Day Craft

Scented Moon Playdough

Salt and Glue Moon Art

White Lilacs and Black Playdough

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[Read more…]

Unicorn Watercolor Art

July 11, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Tempera paint pucks are a great medium for decorating a unicorn template, as they have a whimsical watercolor look. They come in a variety of bright, vibrant hues, and an added bonus is that the paint dries quickly. In this unicorn watercolor art project, painted unicorns are included in a pretty paper craft scene.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Supplies to create a stinning unicorn scene with tempera paint pucks and fadeless construction paper. A free unicorn template is available to download.

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Gather the following supplies to complete the beautiful unicorn scene:

non-toxic tempera paint pucks in a variety of colors
paint cake trays or muffin tins
paintbrushes and pots
8 ½ inch x 11 inch white cardstock paper
8 ½ x 11 inch green and light blue cardstock paper
metallic cardstock
circle paper punch
pencil and scissors
glue stick or glue gun
waterproof tablecloth or newsprint

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The Unicorn Watercolor Art Project

To start this stunning mythical-themed art project, first trace and cut out unicorns from white cardstock paper. Download the free template below for the activity, or choose your own design.

Download this free unicorn template for art and craft projects.

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Unicorn PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Next, cover a table with a waterproof tablecloth or newsprint.

Then set up stations with a paper unicorn, paintbrush, paint pot filled with water, and tray with tempera paint pucks in bright hues.

Invite each participant to dip their paintbrush in water and generously wet a paint puck, and then begin painting their unicorn. Between colors, paintbrushes should be rinsed in a pot of water.

Tip: Prewetting tempera pucks with a paintbrush and water makes this activity easier for little learners and helps them get off to a good start.

When completed, set aside the decorated unicorns to dry. This will take under an hour.

If there is time, participants may enjoy more watercolor painting on a rectangular or square piece of cardstock or copy paper.

After everyone has finished, rinse off the paint trays, pat them with a paper towel to remove excess water, and let them dry.

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Creating A Unicorn Scene

To create a beautiful unicorn scene for each painted creature, cut a narrow, green strip from fadeless construction paper to represent grass.

Using a glue gun or glue stick. adhere the green strip to the bottom of a piece of light blue construction paper.

Then punch or cut a circular sun from metallic cardstock in a hue that complements the painted unicorn.

Finally, glue a sun and unicorn to the blue and green construction paper background, and pencil in a unicorn eye.

Note: Older children can complete these unicorn scene steps on their own.

A stunning unicorn art project with tempera paint pucks and fadeless construction paper. Download a free unicorn template for the activity.

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Watercolor-painted cardstock or copy paper would also work nicely as a backdrop for a painted unicorn.

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Non-Toxic Paint Pucks

Non-toxic tempera paint pucks are a nice resource to have in your collection of art supplies. Here is a little more information about them:

Tempera paint pucks are watercolor paints in a puck or cake form.
These easy-to-use paints come in many beautiful hues.
Color possibilities are limitless, as the paints can be mixed to make new hues.
The paint cakes sit nicely in art trays or standard muffin tins that stack easily and take very little room when stored.
The non-permanent paints can be used on paper, cardboard, fabric, and wood.
Adding differing amounts of water to the cakes results in different effects and lighter and darker shades.
Crayons and oil pastels work beautifully with the tempera paint pucks.
This art medium requires minimal preparation and clean-up time and is easy to use with a large group or classroom of students.
The tempera pucks and trays are inexpensive to buy and last a long time.

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Related:

Unicorn Playdough Tray

Unicorn Puppet Craft

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[Read more…]