sensory

Felt Marker Chromatography Experiment

October 30, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This felt marker chromatography experiment uses supplies from the kitchen, has quick results, and can be tailored to a variety of topics. Creativity and center play are easily incorporated. And the experiment is super family-friendly.

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Basic Felt Marker Chromatography Experiment

See what colors felt pens are really made up of with this felt pen chromatography experiment.

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The simplest version of this experiment is to draw three filled-in circles with nonpermanent felt pens near the bottom of a section of paper towel.

Add a thin layer of water with 2.5 ml salt stirred into a measuring cup or jar. Place the towel with the colored side down into the container. The water level should sit just below the felt pen colors.

Simply watch what happens!

After the color movement stops, remove the paper towel from the container and let it dry flat. Discuss the color changes/new color results.

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Felt Marker Chromatography Experiment Scary House

Scary house imaginative play with a felt pen experiment chromatogram.

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Although I am not into scary things and don’t do much frightening stuff with my preschool students, this version of the experiment produces a house that bats and spiders might like to inhabit. And here’s where the creative element kicks into high gear.

Draw the outline of a house on a paper towel section with a black nonpermanent felt marker. Trim the edges with scissors. Then add a thin line of black to the bottom of the house with the marker. Pour a little water with a bit of salt added into an ice cream pail. Position the paper towel so it reaches the bottom of the pail but does not slide in. Watch the immediate results. Then check back periodically to note more color changes.

This easy-to-do felt pen chromatography experiment has stunning results.

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When the colors have finished spreading, take the paper towel out of the pail, and dry it flat.

The color on my paper towel chromatogram stopped just short of the top of the house. I decided to wet the top a bit so the color filled in completely. That made the design ready to be a placemat for pumpkins, bats, and spiders.

Try this easy-to-do felt pen chromatography "scary house" experiment. It has possibilities for art and imaginaive play.

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Two Different Marker Chromatography Experiment

Try this easy felt pen chromatography experiment using a permanent and nonpermanent felt pen.

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Using both permanent and nonpermanent black felt markers produces nice results too. For this second version, draw the house on the paper towel with a black permanent marker. Then fill in the thin line of color at the bottom with a nonpermanent felt one. Finish the experiment with the same process as above.

As with the first project, the resulting colors did not spread to the very top of the paper towel house. So I wet the top of this chromatogram too. The color record looks like a house on fire to me, so adding people, pets, firefighters, and orange, black, and clear gems creates another imaginative play invitation.

Sensory and imaginative play with a felt pen experiment chromatogram.

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Firefighter diorama created with a felt pen experiment chromatogram.

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Interpreting The Felt Marker Chromatography Experiment

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines chromatography as “a process in which a chemical mixture carried by a liquid or gas is separated into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase.”

Although each felt marker appears to be just one color, the hues are actually made up of different chemicals called pigments. As saltwater seeps up stationary paper towels, the pigments move up with it. New colors appear because some pigments travel faster than others, and certain colors are less soluble and/or adhere to the paper towel more.

Each color-infused paper towel is called a chromatogram, a graphic record of the separation of colors into different pigments by chromatography.

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Green Huntsman Spider Activities

October 23, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Get to know the webless green huntsman spider through crafts and sensory play activities. Free printable included.

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Do all spiders spin webs? And are they all black and brown? Well, the Green Huntsman Spider doesn’t fit this typical mold at all. But its unique look and habits are fascinating and can be readily explored by early learners in spider activities involving sensory and art.

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10 Green Huntsman Spider Facts

Indigenous to northern and central parts of Europe, green huntsman spiders live in forest edges and damp woodlands.
A clutch of green huntsman spider eggs is protected in a few leaves stitched together.
40 – 50 spiderlings hatch in about four weeks after the eggs are laid.
The tiny spiderlings are yellowish-brown, and turn green in 18 months.
Eight eyes arranged in an oval shape help green huntsman spiders see.
These showy spiders eat small insects and other invertebrates.
To catch their food, they wait for their prey to come by, and then pounce on it!
Predators of this unique spider are geckoes, birds, wasps, flies, and nematode worms.
The green spiders are camouflaged against leaves, so predators and prey cannot see them.
Green huntsman spiders can live up to two years in age.

An oh-so-green spider sensory tray featuring green huntsman spiders.

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Spider Activities

Green Huntsman Spider Sensory Tray

Gather the following supplies for a spidery sensory tray with no web required.

green spider
green spider cupcake toppers
tiny black spiders
green leaves
small logs
wood slices
rocks
green marbles
spinach noodles
metal tray or plastic tub
gold acrylic paint

Loose parts to collect for a green huntsman spider sensory tray.

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Break up spinach noodles into small pieces and spread out on the bottom of the tray or tub. Add leaves, logs, wood slices, and rocks. Pick a spot to set the marble “eggs.” Put in the green spider and/or green spider cupcake toppers. If using cupcake toppers, snap off the toothpicks and make sure there are no sharp edges.

Paint the tiny black spiders with gold acrylic craft paint to represent the spiderlings. The acrylic paint will adhere quickly. When dry, add them to the sensory tray.

Green huntsman spider-inspired sensory tray using spinach noodles as a base.

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Tip: Split peas or shredded green paper can be used instead of spinach noodles for the base.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Playdough Green Huntsman Spider

Sculpt a green huntsman spider with the best playdough recipe.

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Make a batch of your favorite playdough and color it green. A basic playdough recipe with green food coloring added works well for this activity.

Invite your early learner to mold some dough into a squished circle or oval. Then your little one can add eight googly eyes to the dough.

Cut three green pipe cleaners into thirds. Invite your little learner to add eight pipe cleaner legs to the plump spider.

Sculpt a green huntsman spider including it's eight eyes!

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Green Huntsman Spider Craft

Craft a paper green huntsman spider. The spider won't need a web to be displayed!

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Download this template to make a green paper spider. Printing onto cardstock paper works best, but you can also use regular copy paper.

Spider template to cut out and assemble into a green huntsman spider, or to use as a pattern to craft spiders in colors of choice.

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Spider Template PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Invite your early learner to cut out all the circles. Then have your little one glue the smaller circles to the large green circle to make a cute face. Help your child glue or tape on pipe cleaner legs.

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Tip: Cutting pipe cleaners into thirds works well for this spider craft.

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Spiders In All Colors

After assembling a green spider, your little learner may have fun creating spiders in other colors. Download the template and use the pieces as a pattern for cutting shapes from cardstock paper shades of choice. Have your early learner cut and assemble the circles into bodies of spiders, and add matching or complementary hued pipe cleaner legs.

Craft cheery spiders in your favorite colors. Grab your free template.

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The spiders could be hung from strings to provide colorful room decorations.

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And finally, you could invite your little one to craft a black and grey spider. Print the above template in black and white. Use black pipe cleaner legs.

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Easter Bunny Sensory Bins

March 28, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

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These simple, no-fuss Easter bunny sensory bins feature the same accessories added to different bases. The result is two unique sensory play experiences your early learners will embrace.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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Split-Pea Based Easter Bunny Sensory Bin

This naturally colored split-pea-based bunny sensory bin means no dyeing ingredients are needed.

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Green split peas are the base for this first bin. Included in the bin are:

Easter baskets
bendable bunny
pink and orange plastic eggs
carrot eggs
Easter bunny eggs
carrot eraser
bunny erasers
bunny tongs

This naturally colored split-pea-based Easter bunny and egg sensory bin means no dyeing ingredients are needed.

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Head to your local Target or dollar store to gather accessories for this bin. Just a few items will give your early learners a delightful sensory play opportunity.

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Red Lentil-Based Sensory Bin

This naturally colored split-lentil-based bunny sensory bin means no dyeing ingredients are needed.

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One thing about preparing sensory bins is that you can create any color scheme you like. I wanted to combine pink, orange, and white hues for this one. The accessories in the bin are the same as above. The split red lentils making the base are actually orange-colored.

The split peas and split lentils used for the bases naturally come in rich, vibrant colors. And so a bonus in preparing these activities is that no dyeing ingredients are needed.

This naturally colored split-lentil-based Easter bunny sensory bin means no dyeing ingredients are needed

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The two different hues give each of the Easter bunny sensory bins a unique feel. Pick one base to add the accessories to and then set the bin out for play. After a few days, switch the accessories over to a bin with the other base. Your early learners will enjoy the new color scheme.

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Bunny Candy Art

March 20, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Along with Christmas and Valentine’s Day, Easter is a prime time for sweet treats. Chocolaty treats are popular, as are fruity and sugary ones. And bunnies in all shapes and sizes (and bunny ears) are frequent subjects.

Bunnies can also be created from a candy mix. Your little learners would enjoy this challenge, so why not make happy hoppy bunny candy art with them?

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

An assortment of candies for a colorful candy art project or a candy tasting activity.

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licorice in assorted shapes and sizes
Easter jelly beans
candy or chocolate sprinkle covered bunny ears
candy sprinkles
12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper
white glue

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Making The Bunny Candy Art

Happy hoppy bunny candy art collage project. An activity the whole family can participate in.

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Set out a sheet of 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper for each person participating. Give participants a plate of candy to create a bunny-themed collage with. In addition to incorporating the bunny ear treats, candy pieces can be bunny heads, bodies, arms, legs, eyes, and mouths. Jelly beans and sprinkles add color and additional shapes to the pictures.

Have everyone glue the candy designs down to make permanent pictures. Or save the sweet treats for a delectable candy tasting party.

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Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

March 16, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A fun rolling pin art project with three different looks. A process art painting activity on shamrocks the whole family can enjoy.

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This shamrock rolling pin art project is bound to get a little messy, and that means your little learner is sure to looove it! Shamrocks make an eye-pleasing subject for this process art activity.

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Supplies to Collect

green, yellow, and white tempera paint
rolling pins or paper towel rolls
large sheets of sturdy paper
paint containers and spoons
shamrock template

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Click here to download a shamrock template.

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Shamrock Rolling Pin Art Fun

Set out tempera paints in yellow, white, and shades of green. Invite your little learner to spoon dabs of paint over a paper shamrock.

Invitation to use a rolling pin as a painting tool.

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Then ask your little one to roll a rolling pin over the paint.

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A paper towel roll works well to move paint around too. On the shamrock below, a pattern of paint was spread vertically. Then a paper towel roll was rolled up and down to give the striped effect. There are diagonal lines left from the paper roll on the shamrock…I kind of like them!

Paper towel roll painting on a shamrock.

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The paint can also be splattered on diagonally, with the rolling pin to squish the paint around positioned the same way.

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Which shamrock art project do you like best? Leave a comment below.

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Rolling pin art with a diagonal stripe design.

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Related:

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub

Leprechaun Sensory Jar

St. Patrick’s Day Woodland Sensory Bin

St. Patrick’s Day Jewelry Bin

Leprechaun Sensory Play

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

St. Patrick’s Day Activities

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Leprechaun Sensory Play

March 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Leprechauns, shamrocks, pots of gold, and the color green are all associated with St. Patrick’s Day. And they make for super fun sensory play…especially the leprechauns! Here are two inexpensive, easy-to-put-together leprechaun sensory play activities.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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Leprechaun Facts

Leprechauns are tiny, mischievous, gold-loving characters in Irish folklore.
Shoemaking is how leprechauns spend most of their time.
These entertaining, energetic, miniature men love to participate in dance parties and expertly play the tin whistle, fiddle, Bodhran, and Irish harp.
Underground caves or hollow tree trunks in rural Ireland are where these solitary characters are said to live.
Leprechauns love to collect gold and store it in pots in the remote countryside (or at the end of the rainbow.)
The speedy tricksters can vanish quickly, so are difficult to capture.
But if a leprechaun is caught, he must grant three wishes.
Leprechauns are known all over the world.

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Leprechaun Sensory Play

Here are two easy to set up leprechaun sensory trays:

Leprechaun Rice Tray

Gold coins, shamrocks, a money pot, and an oh-so tricky leprechaun are the highlights of this rice-based tray.

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Glutinous rice is the base for this tray. I love it because it is super white, and showcases the loose parts. Included are:

leprechaun figurine
money pot
tiny gold coins
white, green, and gold beads (because leprechauns like all kinds of treasure)
glittery, green hats (to collect any coins or gems that don’t fit into the pot)
shamrocks
St. Patrick’s Day greeting

The leprechaun is a repurposed plant poke topper. The other loose parts are snipped from inexpensive St. Patrick’s Day necklaces.

Shamrocks, gold coins, a money pot, and an oh-so tricky leprechaun are the highlights of this rice-based tray.

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Shamrock Confetti Tray

Instead of rice, generously sprinkled shamrock confetti with metallic gold pots added in is the base. The tray also includes a leprechaun, money pot, gold coins, beads, hats, and shamrocks.

The leprechaun has plenty of gold to collect in this shamrock confetti-based St. Patrick's Day sensory tray.

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For more facts about leprechauns, view these blogposts:

The Legend Of The Leprechaun (CBC Kids)

Legend Of The Irish Leprechauns (Your Irish Culture)

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There is plenty of gold for the leprechaun to collect in this shamrock confetti-based St. Patrick's Day sensory tray.

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Follow up a leprechaun sensory play session with a scavenger hunt for pots of gold, a leprechaun race, or a game of Hide And Seek.

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Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays

February 25, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Arctic animal sensory trays featuring seals, narwhals, and a polar bear and igloo. Luxurious loose parts accent the trays.

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These Arctic animal sensory trays are inspired by a set of polar decorations spotted at a local hardware store. I saw them before Christmas and restrained myself from buying them. It was tough! I didn’t think of them again until just into the New Year, but then I just had to have them. Thankfully, one hardware store in the chain still had a full selection and I was able to buy the decorations for winter displays and sensory play.

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Polar Animal Sensory Tray Loose Parts

A large round tray, silver plastic table mat for water or ice, and the following loose parts work well with arctic animal figurines:

Polar loose part tray inspired by an igloo, seal, and narwhal figurine.

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pearl bead garland
large pearl beads
clear gems in various sizes
ice cube gems
silver bells
silver beads and bead garland
blue gems

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Seal and narwhal-inspired loose parts tray.

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Arctic Animal Sensory Trays

The polar decorations featured in these trays are breakable, so should be handled carefully. After discussing and exploring figurines such as these with your early learners, replace them with unbreakable Arctic animal and igloo toys for further learning and play.

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The first two sensory trays showcase seals and narwhals. Here are some facts about these aquatic polar creatures:

Narwhals are small whales nicknamed sea unicorns. Males have a tooth that grows through their lip to form a spiraling ivory tusk. The tusks grow throughout the whales’ lives. Narwhals live in groups in the cold icy waters of the Arctic. They have been overhunted for their sought-after tusks so are hard to spot.

A glittery seal and embellished narwhals are the highlights of this luxurious sensory tray.

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Six kinds of seals live in the Arctic. The seals spend much of their time in the frigid waters on or under the ice. When the ocean freezes each year, they chew breathing holes through the ice with their teeth. They come up for air every few minutes, trying to avoid predators in the process.

Glittery seals take center stage in this aquatic polar animal sensory tray.

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This next tray features a polar bear, seal, and narwhal.

Polar bears are large, creamy white bears that weigh up to 1100 pounds. They have black noses and eyes and can walk and swim long distances. Polar bears live on ice floes, rocky shores, and islands in the Arctic. Their tiny bear cubs are born in December in dens on land or ice. The cubs live with their mothers for about two years.

Polar bear and seal sensory tray with luxurious loose parts.

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Below is a narwhal, seal, and igloo sensory tray.

Igloos are dome-shaped snow houses that can be large or small. They are made with slanted rectangular blocks of packed snow cut by skilled carvers. In times past, igloos were used as a winter home or temporary hunting shelter. The igloos were super strong and able to withstand fierce winds and polar bear attacks. The snow homes were heated with oil lamps and could get pretty toasty. Furs lined sleeping areas and covered doorways.

Arctic sensory tray featuring a seal and narwhal, and an igloo.

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The penguin below adds a cuteness factor. Penguins live in the Antarctic on the opposite side of the world but are also polar animals.

Polar sensory tray with a penguin, seal, narwhal, and igloo. Luxurious loose parts accent the tray.

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Jewelry Sensory Tray

February 15, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If you have washable heart-themed children’s jewelry pieces lying around or found some in a post-Valentine’s Day sale, they can have a go in a jewelry sensory tray. Add a few complimentary colored loose parts, and your early learners will be eager to explore the tray.

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Loose Parts For The Tray

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heart bracelets
color block silicone bracelets
rainbow heart rings
wiggly eye rings
rainbow heart erasers
foam flowers and hearts
gem hearts
flower eraser
buttons

This tray has loose parts in a variety of cheery colors, taking it beyond Valentine’s Day.

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Making The Jewelry Sensory Tray

Heart-themed jewelry sensory tray that takes tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

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Pick a tray large enough for a few children to play in.

Add a layer of rice. I feature glutinous rice. I love it because it is super white.

Spread the heart jewelry and complimentary colored loose parts in the tray. Invite your early learners to explore the tactile center.

This sensory tray idea also works for individual play. Just divide the supplies into a portion for each child and add them to smaller trays.

Heart jewelry sensory tray with cheery colors that take tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

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Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments

February 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Valentine's Day containers with loose parts added make drum and shaker musical instruments perfect for sound exploration.

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Save those little containers that valentine treats and crafts come in! Empty chocolate boxes, plastic jars, heart-shaped bowls, and small containers make excellent sensory and art supplies. And when used with drumsticks and filled with loose parts, they can also be Valentine’s Day musical instruments.

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Valentine’s Day Loose Parts To Collect

Here’s a supply of loose parts that early learners could choose from for music-making:

Loose parts to add to Valentine's Day containers to make shaker and drum musical instruments.

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mini rubber balls
coins
erasers
heart necklaces
heart-shaped cookie cutters
red heart gems
pompoms
buttons
X and O game pieces

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This compartment tray holds the above items and the ones below:

Loose parts to add to Valentine's Day containers to make shaker and drum musical instruments, and a variety of drumsticks.

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pony beads
red and white round gems
large red beads
striped straws
wooden hearts

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Making Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments

Collect Valentine’s Day-themed containers and set them out on a table with a tray of loose parts. Encourage little learners to fill containers with one kind of loose part and add lids. Have them use the filled containers as shakers.

A collection of Valentine's Day-themed containers with loose parts and drumsticks for music-making.

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A heart-shaped bowl and small tin make excellent drums. Just add drumsticks!

An overturned plastic heart-shaped bowl and small tin make excellent drums.

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When covered with a lid and tipped from side to side, this pony bead-filled tin becomes an ocean drum.

A heart-shaped tin with pony beads added makes an ocean drum.

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Why not go big? This large chocolate box heart works wonderfully as an ocean drum too. A few beaded necklaces add the sound.

A heart-shaped empty chocolate box with necklaces or loose parts added makes an ocean drum.

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Your early learners will love making sounds and tapping beats with these recycled containers. To extend the investigative play, add the containers to a large tub filled with rice. Invite your little learners to add rice to them to create more Valentine’s Day musical instruments.

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Scissor Skill Heart Collage

February 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A simple but effective activity to plan is a scissor skill heart collage invitation. Early learners will be able to explore luxurious craft supplies with unique properties and textures and complete a display-worthy project.

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Craft Supplies To Collect

Gather craft supplies that can be cut and glued in the color scheme of your choice. I feature traditional Valentine’s Day hues, but any color scheme would work beautifully. Cut the materials a little smaller if desired, but keep them large enough for little ones to trim some more.

Luxurious craft supply tray for heart collage crafts.

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Included in this first compartment tray are:

pipe cleaners
crepe paper
tin foil
metallic purple paper
foam strips
heart patterned ribbon strips
thin and thick ribbon strips
lace
paper doily pieces
white and red bead garland
heart garland
scissors

Red, pink, and white craft supply tray for heart collage projects.

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This second craft supply tray holds:

pink and white crepe paper
rose petals
foam pieces
Valentine’s envelopes
white yarn
cream lace
paper strips
red, gold, and white ribbon
white bead garland

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Making The Heart Collage Projects

Cut large hearts from fadeless construction paper.

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Divide up the craft supplies into small trays.

Set up stations with a craft supply tray, pair of scissors, paper heart, white glue, and glue paddle.

Invitation to cut and glue luxurious craft supplies to make a heart collage.

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Invite early learners to cut the supplies and glue them onto their hearts.

After the embellished hearts dry, hot glue a bow onto each one. Add loops of thin ribbon for hanging the crafts.

Scissor skill heart collage made by cutting and glueing luxurious craft supplies.

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This scissor skill heart collage project gives little ones a chance to strengthen their finger muscles while learning how to cut and glue a variety of craft supplies. And the collaged hearts are sure to be treasured by loved ones.

Scissor skill heart collage projects made by cutting and glueing luxurious craft supplies.

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