sensory

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

March 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Leprechauns add an element of fun to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. And a leprechaun is the star sighting in these St. Patrick’s Day treasure blocks that are sure to appeal to little learners.

St. Patrick's Day treasure blocks featuring a leprechaun and shamrock themed craft supplies and coins.

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Ten Things To Know About Leprechauns

In Irish stories passed down through oral tradition, leprechauns …

are tiny, imaginary men.
are older in age and have rust-colored beards.
make shoes for a living.
are good craftsmen and musicians.
collect gold for their work. Some stories say they keep it in a pot at the end of a rainbow for safekeeping.
are smart with a quick sense of humor.
are mischievous tricksters. They can easily distract people from getting their gold, or from having three wishes granted.
are hard to catch. Listening for the faint tapping sound of their little shoe hammers is a tip to track them down.
live in remote places and like to be by themselves.
No one has ever seen one!

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St. Patrick's Day loose parts with gold coins, foil shamrocks, rainbows, pots of gold, and a leprechaun.

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20^th Century photos and figurines usually show leprechauns as well dressed, wearing green coats, buckled shoes, and top hats. In earlier years they were dressed in dark red.

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Check out these two St. Patrick’s Day printable products in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop:

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St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

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There is plenty of gold to keep a leprechaun happy in these St. Patrick’s Day-themed treasure blocks.

Items in the treasure blocks:

leprechaun
gold and green beads
rainbow, pot of gold, and top hat erasers
rainbow and pot of gold stickers on felt backing
green, gold, black, and white pom poms
gold and green coins
pot of gold confetti
shamrock confetti

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Leprechaun themed loose parts to use in treasure blocks or sensory jars.

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Follow up this engaging St. Patrick’s Day block play activity by constructing a leprechaun trap with your little learner. Creative DIY traps are featured in the blog post: A Fun Idea For St. Patrick’s Day: Leprechaun Traps.

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St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub

March 3, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

St. Patrick's Day sensory table inspired by the city of Chicago, USA. Green and shamrock themed loose parts invite sensory play opportunities.

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This St. Patrick’s Day water play sensory table is inspired by the city of Chicago’s tradition of turning the river water green as part of their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The tradition of coloring the water vibrant green in Chicago became an annual event in 1962, but the origins of this practice started much earlier. A green substance was used to test the river water for pollution in the early 1900s and continued in the following years. People liked seeing the change in color, and in 1962 the practice was implemented for St. Patrick’s Day. In 1966 the powder used became a more environmentally friendly vegetable dye.

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How The Water Turns Green

Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union 130 members turn the water bright green. The recipe is secret: an orange powder is spread on the water and mysteriously turns green when mixed in. The river water becomes fluorescent green for a stretch in the center of the city. Plumbers using a few boats carry out the procedure. One or more boats spread the powder on the water. Another boat mixes the powder in.

Bottles of orange powder, clear water and green water. It is a mystery how Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union 130 use orange powder to turn the water green at the annual St. Patrick's Day festivities..

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Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Activities

The river water in Chicago is turned green to coincide with a large St. Patrick’s Day parade that is held on the Saturday closest to the holiday. Irish dancers and kilted musicians playing bagpipes are feature performers in the parade. Many spectators gather around the shore or on one of the downtown bridges to watch the parade and view the brilliant green water.

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Other events held in Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day:

Iconic buildings, monuments, and streets are lit in green.
Cruises are offered near the green river water.
Irish bands give performances.
Events are held featuring Irish music, dance, and storytelling.
Irish refreshments are served.
Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as an opportunity for people to get together to have a good time and to recognize what the Irish have done for their city.

For current St. Patrick’s Day activities in Chicago, click here.

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St. Patrick’s Day Water Table

Water table filled with green and gold St. Patrick's Day-themed loose parts.

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This St. Patrick’s Day-themed water table has plenty of green items and a few gold ones and will offer your early learner a variety of sensory and sorting experiences.

Items in the sensory table include:

green and gold coins
marbles and buttons
ping pong balls
large plastic shamrocks
foam shamrocks
ice cube shamrocks
bracelets
small drinking glasses
leprechaun hats
cut necklace pieces
foam dice
storage containers
trays
scoops

Some of the above items can be exchanged for sailors and boats.

Toy boats on green water filled with St. Patrick's Day-themed loose parts offer a rich sensory play experience.

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As an alternative, skip the green food coloring and add bubbles for your early learner to experience some foamy play.

St. Patrick's day themed water table featuring green and gold items with bubbles added.

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Painting With Chocolate

February 8, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

You read it correctly: this blog post is about painting with chocolate. It’s easy, it’s fun, and your workspace will smell divine. The activities featured have a process art focus. A few embellishments will make the art display worthy or ready to give away.

Fingerpainting, ice cube painting, and brush painting with chocolate. The process art hearts can be turned into valentines to give away. Art and Science activities for all ages.

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Supplies To Collect

hot chocolate powder
cocoa powder
chocolate sprinkles
bowls and spoons
sturdy white paper
waterproof felt pen
ice cubes
tray for ice cubes
paintbrush
container of water
doily heart
decorative 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock
ribbon
plastic (or real) rose
small plastic pouch
chocolates

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Activity One: Painting With Chocolate And Ice Cubes

Freeze different sizes of ice cubes.

Cut a piece of sturdy paper into a large heart shape. Optional: Write the words “You and Me + Chocolate” on the heart with a waterproof felt pen.

Scoop hot chocolate powder and cocoa into bowls. Add spoons.

Set out a tray of slightly melted, very wet ice cubes along with the paper heart and bowls of chocolate ingredients.

Invitation to paint with ice cubes, cocoa, chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles. An all-ages art and science activity.

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Start the activity off by saying that the powders are “mystery paints.” Ask your child to guess what the paints might be. Smelling the powders will give the answer away pretty quickly.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate powder and cocoa on the heart-shaped paper. (Chocolate sprinkles can be added later.)

Painting activity using ice cubes to swish around cocoa, hot chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles.

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Cocoa and hot chocolate added to a heart shape. Ice cubes can be used to swish the powders around.

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Ask your child to swish the powders around the heart with ice cubes, which will make spreadable chocolaty paint.

Offer a paper towel to dab on wet spots if desired. The pattern on the paper towel will add texture to the heart painting.

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Heart painting made by swishing ice cubes through cocoa and hot chocolate powder.

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Optional: Near the end, your child can add chocolate sprinkles to the heart. This will lead to a discovery that they make it harder to move the ice cubes around.

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Activity Two: Brush Painting With Chocolate

Painting with cocoa and hot chocolate powder. The powders are moved around with a paintbrush dipped in water.

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Brush painting is a less messy option if there isn’t much time for cleanup.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate and cocoa on a paper heart.

Offer a container of water and a paintbrush. Encourage your child to add water to the dry ingredients and paint the heart.

A paper towel can be used to soak up excess liquid.

Gorgeous chocolate heart paintings made with water and hot chocolate and cocoa. — Swoon-worthy hearts painted by preschoolers.

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Activity Three: Fingerpainting With Chocolate

The ice cube painting project and brush painting activity can both be turned into fingerpainting experiences. Mixing a higher concentration of cocoa and a little less water results in a fingerpaint-friendly paste that is luscious to spread around. Chocolate sprinkles can be added to enhance the sensory experience.

Fingerpainting with water added to hot chocolate powder and cocoa. Chocolate sprinkles can be included in the mix.

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Painted Heart Valentine

Adding a few embellishments will turn a chocolaty heart into a valentine to give away or art piece for display.

The brush-painted version is my favorite for turning into a keepsake. Any extra dry powder can be scraped off with a kitchen scrubber before the heart is added to a craft valentine.

Write the words: You And Me + Chocolate on a doily heart.

Use a glue gun to attach the doily to the painted heart.

Mount the heart on a 12-inch x 12-inch piece of decorative paper.

Add a bow and a real or crafted rose.

Chocolate heart painting added to a valentine to give away.

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Or add a bow and small pouch with chocolates.

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Art, Science, and sensory learning come together in these easy-to-do painting with chocolate activities. Your early learner will certainly be excited to try them.

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Frozen Inspired Shadow Box

February 5, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This Frozen-inspired shadow box scene features neutral and cool colors and textures. The color palette is gorgeous and is relatable to my experience of winter. Your child will enjoy using similar hued loose parts to create unique shadow box scenes.

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Although I live in an area with a long snowy season, it hasn’t always been easy to find winter-themed play accessories. I learned that if you haven’t bought your snowmen crafts and toys before Christmas, you’ve missed your chance. And it’s hard to find snowmen décor that isn’t adorned in green and red and draped in holly.

The same goes for fake snow or any winter-themed crafts. They often go hand in hand with Christmas. And that’s in a city with a winter season that lasts through March.

So, I especially embrace the winter setting and turquoises, pinks, and purples in Frozen I. These are colors I can relate to when my city is covered in ice and snow. And the hues take center stage in this invitation to create a Frozen-inspired shadow box scene.

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Supplies To Collect

Frozen inspired loose parts tray. Invitation for children to create a scene and engage in pretend play.

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cotton balls
pom poms in white and shades of turquoise
gold, turquoise, pink and purple necklaces
purple, pink, and turquoise beads
strips of white ribbon, lace, and bead garland
clear gems and ice blocks
foam bath sticker Frozen characters
tray with compartments
shadow box or wooden canvas paint board
12-inch x 18-inch piece of blue fade-resistant construction paper

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Frozen Inspired Shadow Box Set Up

Sort craft supplies in a tray with compartments. Add necklaces that are whole, and others cut into strips. Include Frozen bath stickers.

Cut a 12-inch x 18-inch piece of construction paper to fit snugly in the back of the wooden canvas paint board. If you are using a shadow box, cut paper to fit its size.

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A wooden canvas paint board to be used as a shadow box.

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A wooden canvas paint board with a blue piece of fade-resistant paper tucked inside.

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Set the canvas board or shadow box and tray with compartments on a table.

Encourage your child to create scenes and engage in pretend play.

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Offer this activity as a reusable center. Or craft supplies can be glued down and the Frozen-inspired shadow box displayed.

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Chinese Valentine’s Day Activities

February 2, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Chinese Valentine's Day celebration activities. Art, reading, math, light table and block play. These activities are perfect for a Chinese multicultural theme.

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On the weekend of August 25 and 26, 2017, Chinese Valentine’s Day was celebrated at the Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Center, located in downtown Edmonton. This traditional Valentine’s Day celebration dates back to the 1800s in China and is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, in late August.

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The Legend Of Zhi Nu And Niu Lang

The celebration is based on a story of a Chinese heavenly being named Zhi Nu, the seventh daughter of The Queen of Heaven, and a mortal cow herder named Niu Lang. Zhi Nu comes down to earth and admires how hardworking Niu Lang is. They marry and have two children, a boy and a girl. Zhi Nu is a skilled weaver and Niu Lang continues to work in the fields.

The Queen of Heaven soon notices that Zhi Nu is missing, and commands the army to bring her back up to heaven. Niu Lang and the children try to follow, but the Queen of Heaven creates a silver river (called the Milky Way) to keep them apart. Afterward, Niu Lang and his children live on the star Altair, and Zhi Nu lives on the star Vega. They are extremely sad to be parted from one another. A flock of magpies notices and decide to help by creating a bridge over the Milky Way with their bodies. This allows Zhi Nu and Nui Lang to spend time together. The Queen of Heaven sees how happy they are to be reunited, and decides that Zhi Nu and Nui Lang can meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

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A display featuring characters inspired by The Legend Of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang. Chinese Valentine's Day celebrations are based on this story. — A display featuring Zhi Nu and Niu Lang.

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Chinese Festival Resources

This story is based on a selection found in the book Celebrating Chinese Festivals, a Collection of Holiday Tales, Poems, and Activities by Sanmu Tang. There are a few different versions of the story and they vary slightly.

For more history, facts, and ideas about Chinese Valentine’s Day view the post by chinahighlights.com: “How To Celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day.“

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My Visit To The Chinese Valentine’s Day Weekend Celebration

Elaborate Chinese Valentine's Day display at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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My visit to the cultural center was on Sunday afternoon, August 27. I saw an elaborate display showing figures and objects that had meaning to the story of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang. When the tale was shared with me, I was impressed with values such as being hardworking (in fieldwork), being skilled and creative (in weaving), and showing loyalty (to family). The inclusion of astronomy, art, and great character traits made this a rich story.

The afternoon event saw a mingling of seniors, parents, and children. Children were invited to decorate an umbrella and a fan. Intricate beadwork completed by seniors was on display. Everyone was served refreshments.

Bead work projects on display at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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Lanterns and decorated umbrellas at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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Activities Inspired By Chinese Valentine’s Day

Umbrella Decorating

Purchase an economical umbrella and sticker gems and jewel rhinestones. Invite early learners to decorate the umbrella. The stickers may need to be secured with hot glue later so they stay on longer.

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Umbrella decorating. Sticker gems and rhinestones adorn the umbrella. This project is inspired by an activity at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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Oriental Block Play

Offer preschoolers Oriental blocks and game pieces. The play center can include a Great Wall of China picture backdrop.

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Fruit Matching And Sorting

Set out transparent ice cube fruit shapes and sorting trays on a light table for children to organize. Clear egg cartons are the trays used here.

Fruit sorting at a light table. Math and sensory activity inspired by a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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In addition to being part of a Chinese Valentine’s Day Celebration, the Legend Of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang and these activities can be included in a Chinese multicultural theme.

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