sensory

Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

July 1, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A few weeks ago, a coworker brought me a beautiful bouquet of irises, which I thought would be perfect for a flowery sensory tray. After getting out supplies to coordinate with the purple and white color scheme, I realized I’d forgotten one really important thing… to check if irises are toxic. It was super disappointing to discover that every part of them is, so the irises couldn’t be used for sensory play.

Since all my accompanying supplies were ready to go, I decided to hunt for a child-friendly flowering plant. Luckily, on a shopping trip soon after I discovered a totally non-toxic, bountiful pot of purple-hued petunias. The pot was overflowing with leggy petunia shoots begging for a trim. The cuttings are featured in this petunia flower sensory tray.

This showy starry sky petunia plant is the perfect addition to your patio. Trimmed sprigs are repurposed in a petunia flower sensory tray.

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Petunia Flower Sensory Tray Supplies

A nature-based sensory tray with petunia flower sprigs and pretty purple and white loose parts for tactile exploration.

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A few simple supplies bring this sensory tray to life. In addition to petunia sprigs, there are:

metal bowls and tablespoons
non-breakable measuring cups, jars, and dessert cups
violet craft foam insects
metallic purple pom poms
purple necklace strips
pearl beads
large white buttons
pebble-shaped acrylic gems
scissors

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Pretty purple and white loose parts are the perfect addition to a petunia flower sensory tray your little learners will love to explore.

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Preparing The Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

The bin for this tray is a green active world tray. It is large enough for four or more children to play in at a time.

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To set up this flower-themed sensory activity, cover a large, round table with a water-resistant tablecloth and place the tray on it.

Then set up four stations, each with a metal bowl, serving spoon, dessert cup, pair of scissors, and petunia sprig.

Next, fill the measuring cups with water and drop a little neon purple food coloring into each one.

Afterward, set a few jars with water in the tray.

Place a bouquet of petunias in a container in the middle.

Purple and white loose parts and similar colored petunias are the highlights of this petunia flower active world tray sensory play invitation.

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To complete the activity center, arrange bowls with loose parts such as craft foam insects, sparkly pom poms, necklace strips, buttons, pebble-shaped acrylic gems, and pearl beads around the vase.

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The Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

Your little learners will love to explore this petunia flower sensory tray. They’ll be excited to make flower and loose part soup, and to layer a jar with flowers and treasures. Scissor skill practice is a bonus in this play invitation.

Oh-so-fun sensory play with petunia flowers and pretty purple and white loose parts. A nature-based sensory activity.

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Petunias are plentiful in garden centers in spring and summer and come in many different colors and patterns. It is easy to snag a pot for a good price at this time of year. Picking a pot overflowing with petunias ensures that you can cut off sprigs for sensory play and still have the pot of flowers to enjoy afterward. And it is a relief to know that all parts of petunia flowers are safe for children to touch.

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Related:

White Lilacs And Black Playdough

Flower Theme Activities

Floral Decorated Skeleton

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[Read more…]

Magnet Science Tuff Tray

June 10, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Children love to explore magnets, and setting up this magnetic science tuff tray is an easy way to offer a variety of magnets and accessories for them to investigate. The tray allows little learners to get in on a low-maintenance, hands-on, intriguing science activity.

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Supplies To Collect

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Look for magnets of all kinds and in all places when setting up a magnet-themed tuff tray. Here’s what’s in my tray:

number and shape magnets
magnetic alphabet letter tiles
ball magnets
square magnets
horseshoe magnets
wand magnets
fridge magnets
magnetic tic tac toe game pieces
stick and ball magnet toy
magnetic gears
metal hearts
recycled juice can lids
baskets
round cake pan
cookie pans
easel display stands

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The Magnetic Science Tuff Tray

This magnetic tuff tray is filled with different kinds of magnets for early learners to explore. Aside from magnets purchased from learning supply stores, it includes unexpected items such as game pieces and fridge magnets.

A simple magnet science active world tuff tray for early learners to explore. An easy set up and clean up activity center.

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The number and shape magnets were borrowed from a game. They provide opportunities for counting and number and shape recognition.

The magnetic alphabet letter tiles give young children a chance to name letters, say letter sounds, and spell names and other words.

Set up this simple magnet exploration tuff tray in minutes to offer your little learners a hands-on magnet science activity to explore.

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Little learners love spinning objects, which makes the magnetic gears an excellent fit.

Cookie pans set in art stands allow for vertical surfaces to work on.

Introducing magnets such as horseshoe and bar magnets on different days encourages continued interest in the center.

It is a good idea to check local dollar stores for supplies to add. My fridge magnets and magnetic tic tac toe pieces were purchased at dollar stores.

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After early learners have had a chance to explore the tray, it will likely look something like the one below.

A fun magnet tuff tray to offer your little learners a hands-on magnet science activity to explore. Set up and cleanup for this activity is super easy.

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Many of the supplies for this magnetic science tuff tray are arranged in baskets. It is a terrific sorting and classifying activity to have the little learners arrange supplies back into the storage containers when they are finished exploring the tray.

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Magnet Science Tuff Tray Opportunities For Learning

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There are many opportunities for learning in this magnet science tuff tray. Aside from the educational benefits mentioned above, early learners can

make and test predictions
develop critical thinking
learn about magnetic poles
investigate magnetic strength
explore balance and weight
sort items into magnetic and non-magnetic categories
create unique structures
enhance fine motor control when handling supplies

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Variations Of This Magnetic Tuff Tray

For additional learning through play with magnets, fill a storage bin with a base such as rice, beans, or chickpeas and add magnetic accessories. Hiding items in the sensory base makes for an exciting search-and-find activity.

And you can include non-magnetic items for further exploration.

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[Read more…]

Circus Playdough Tray

May 21, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Let the circus come to town with this colorful circus playdough tray. It includes a variety of bright and shiny loose parts that will spark the imagination of your little learners.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Bright and cheery circus-themed loose parts tray for playdough or small world play.

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The following supplies work well in this circus-themed playdough tray:

round nesting cookie cutter set
train engine, star, and heart cookie cutters
bottle corks
popsicle sticks
thread spools
juice lids
geometric shape pattern blocks
large buttons
reusable ice cube stars
rings
rubber balls
clown figurines and accessories
people figurine stackers
metallic gold and silver spray paint
compartment serving tray

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The Circus Playdough Invitation To Play

Set out this cheerful circus playdough invitation for your little learners to explore. A playdough recipe is included.

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Before offering this inviting playdough tray, read a storybook about circus performers. One of my favorite picture books on this topic is “Circus” by Lois Ehlert.

Next, spray recyclable supplies such as bottle corks, popsicle sticks, and thread spools with metallic gold and silver paint and let them dry. These make great props for circus performer figurines.

Afterward, set all of the supplies in the compartments of a serving tray.

Then pick a playdough to use. I feature my favorite basic playdough recipe, which is soft, pliable, and stores well.

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Playdough Recipe

My go-to basic playdough recipe (featured in this post) has the following ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water
3 tablespoons oil

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Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Stir two tablespoons of oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Place the dough on a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding one more tablespoon of oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

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Your little learners will be excited to explore this cheery circus playdough tray with plenty of loose parts to use.

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More Playdough Activities:

Scented Moon Playdough

White Lilacs And Black Playdough

Pet-Themed Playdough Tray

Scented Playdough Activities

Watermelon Playdough Tray

Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Edible Playdough Pumpkins

Glam Skeleton Playdough Tray

Silver and gold loose parts complement the neutral palette in this glam skeleton-themed playdough invitation.

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Chocolate Mint Playdough

Gingerbread Playdough

Christmas Playdough

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Orange-Scented Playdough Invitation

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Winter Playdough Recipe

Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities

St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

Easter Playdough Tray

Unicorn Playdough Tray

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[Read more…]

Tea Party Sensory Play

May 14, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Easy-to-set-up tea party sensory trays for water or rice bin play. Miniature tea sets are the highlights of the sensory play.

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These tea party sensory play ideas provide possibilities for easy, affordable, and fun learning through play. Only a few low-cost supplies are needed for the activities.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Tea Party Sensory Play Supplies

Here are the supplies for easy-to-set-up, engaging tea party sensory play:

toy tea sets
measuring cup
container for water
low edged trays
toy fruit counters
fruit-themed reusable ice cubes
play food cookies, cupcakes, and squares
rice
waterproof apron
spill proof tablecloth
water supply

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A black, red, and white theme sets the tone for a super inviting tea party water play sensory invitation.

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Preparing For Tea Party Sensory Play

To prepare this sensory activity, first, cover a table with a spill-proof tablecloth.

Next, select a toy tea set, a container for water, and a few play food fruits or desserts and set them on a tray on the table.

Then fill the container and teapot with water.

Now this tea party play invitation is ready to explore. Setting up for a sensory activity couldn’t be any easier!

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Tea Party Sensory Play Variations

Larger and smaller tea sets and fruit and dessert play food are options to add variety to tea party sensory play.

This black and white diagonally striped placemat enhances the visual appeal.

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A silver-edged, gilded mirror tray exudes elegance.

This silver-edged, gilded mirror tray is paired with a dainty miniature tea set for super inviting tea party water play.

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A shiny aluminum foil pizza pan is an inviting alternative and the larger tea cups have more room to hold fruit.

Toy fruit counters add interest to this easy-to-set-up tea party water play sensory invitation for early learners.

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The dainty miniature dollar store tea set below is super affordable and little learners love to handle the tiny pieces.

Tea party water play is extra inviting with a miniature tea set on this silveredged gilded mirror tray.

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For more variety, offer a tea set and accessories in a rice bin or tray.

Dessert playfood and a toy tea set are inviting to play with when set in a rice-based sensory bin.

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Dessert playfood and a miniature toy tea set are inviting to play with when set in a rice-based sensory bin.

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Eye-hand coordination, practice with self-help skills, exploring capacity, language development, and just plain fun are goals for these sensory activities.

Tea party sensory play is perfect for Mother’s Day or any time of the year. And it works fabulously for outdoor playtime.

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Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bin

Strawberry Lemonade Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]

Popcorn Spice Mother’s Day Craft

May 13, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A simple and aromatic Mother's Day craft that is super fun to make. Use spices, sesonings or herbs for this sensory craft activity,

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This simple and aromatic popcorn spice Mother’s Day craft is so fun to make. And it really caters to the sense of smell. Warning: there may be a few sneezes while doing this activity!

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies Used In The Craft

The following easy-to-find supplies are used in this spicy craft:

popcorn seasonings: butter salt, jalapeno cheddar, ketchup, and all dressed
small bowls and spoons
dessert plates
brown cardstock paper
cream-colored cardstock paper
scissors and pencil
glue stick
tablecloth

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The Popcorn Spice Mother’s Day Craft

To make this craft, first, cover a table with a washable tablecloth.

Next, trace and cut out four “wooden spoons” from brown cardstock paper. Use the printable below for the spoons or design your own.

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Spoon PrintableDownload

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Then spoon popcorn seasonings into small bowls.

Four popcorn seasoning flavors for an aromatic Mother's Day craft project.

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Afterward, use a glue stick to spread a thick layer of glue on the head of a spoon.

Next, hold the paper spoon over a dessert-sized plate and sprinkle a generous amount of popcorn seasoning on it.

Then shake off excess seasoning and let the spoon dry.

An oh-so-easy and fun popcorn seasoning Mother's Day craft to do in one sitting. Explore the sense of smell with this aromatic craft activity.

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Repeat the process with all the spoons and seasonings.

Then use the glue stick to affix the spoons to a paper background.

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Finally, add the words “You Spice Up My Life” and “Happy Mother’s Day.” Feel free to use the template below for this craft.

Mother's Day craft template for an aromatic keepsake project for mom.

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Spiced Mother’s Day Craft PrintableDownload

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This template is perfect for grandma.

Mother's Day craft template for an aromatic keepsake project for grandma.

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Spicy Mother’s Day Craft TemplateDownload

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The bright yellow butter salt and ketchup seasonings add pops of color to the craft. Herbs or other spices could be substituted. What seasonings would you use?

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Mother’s Day Floral Craft

Mother’s Day Crafts And Gifts

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[Read more…]

Easter Peeps Houses

April 1, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky 2 Comments

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These cute Easter peeps houses take gingerbread house-making into the Easter season. And the chick peep coop and bunny peep hutch are easy-peasy to make together with little learners.

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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 these sweet graham cracker houses:

bunny and chick peeps
Easter bunny rabbit jubes
graham crackers
powdered sugar icing
cornstarch
water
assortment of candies
green candy sprinkles
green gel icing color
mixer or whisk
plates, spoons, and disposable knives

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Making The Easter Peeps Houses

An oh-so-tasty graham cracker Easter bunny hutch everyone will enjoy making. A sure-to-please Easter activity.

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For this activity, I use powdered sugar icing, a little cornstarch, and water to make the icing. It’s ideal to have powdered gingerbread house icing available, but I couldn’t find any on short notice.

Start by mixing a few scoops of powdered sugar icing, a teaspoon of cornstarch, and a little water in a bowl. Blend ingredients with a mixer or whisk for a couple of minutes. The icing mixture should be thick and tacky. Add a little more icing sugar if the mixture is too thin, or add a tad more water if it is too thick.

Then set aside some of the icing in a bowl and stir in a tiny bit of green gel icing color.

Next, spread plain icing on the edges of graham crackers and gently assemble them together to make five sides of a cube, leaving one side open. Disposable knives are a good size for little learners to work with.

An oh-so-tasty graham cracker Easter chick coop craft everyone will enjoy making. A sure-to-please Easter activity.

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Note: Name-brand graham crackers are best to use because they are sturdier, don’t break as easily, and come in bigger pieces. Featured here is a no-name brand.

Afterward, select candies to decorate the Easter peeps house with. I feature miniature M&M’s and jelly bellies.

Easter peeps and an assortment of candy to make graham cracker Easter peeps houses.

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Then spread icing on the sides and tops of the graham cracker house and decorate with candies of choice.

If little learners are participating, allow some snacking while working. There will be interesting discussions about candy types, colors, and tastes!

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A Peep Bunny Hutch Or Chick Coop

Create this cute Easter bunny hutch with graham crackers, a peeps bunny, and candy treats. It's an all-ages craft sure to be enjoyed.

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To make an edible bunny hutch scene, spoon a layer of green icing on a plate. Make sure the plate is disposable if participants are taking their tasty creation home.

Then set in the graham cracker “hutch.” Add a few candy sprinkles around it.

Spread a generous amount of icing on the floor of the house and set in two Easter bunny rabbit jubes. These can be bunny babies.

Finally, drop candy sprinkles on the green icing to look like grass, and add an Easter bunny peep and a few gummy eggs.

Create this cute Easter chick coop with graham crackers, a peeps chick, and candy treats. It's an all-ages craft sure to be enjoyed.

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For the chick peep coop scene, set the coop on a plate with green icing, and add candy sprinkles and gummy eggs. Then place the Easter chick peep in the coop.

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These Easter peeps houses are sure to delight little learners and their families. Do you have any suggestions for how to make them? Leave a comment below.

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Related:

Bunny Candy Art

Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies

Easy S’Mores Bars

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[Read more…]

Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

March 27, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Bunnies are a symbol of spring, and can easily be spotted hopping around neighborhoods at this time of year. They are associated with abundance, rebirth, new beginnings, and fertility. And just as these four-legged garden lovers are prevalent outdoors, bunny-themed accessories are easy to snag in stores at the moment. Here’s a collection of accessories featured in a spring bunny play tablescape.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Spring Bunny Tablescape Supplies

Bunny-themed loose parts for a spring dramatic play tablescape your little learners will love to play in.

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The following bunny-themed supplies are featured in the colorful pretend play setup:

paper plates and cutlery
clear disposable goblets
serving bowls
carrot-shaped treat holders
bowling pins
bunny builder construction toy
large pompom balls
erasers
foam beads
squish bunny party favors
cookie cutters
miniature stuffed bunny
fillable bunnies
hopping bunny and basket game
artificial spring branch

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The Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

Bunny-themed loose parts take center stage in this super fun Easter bunny dramatic play invitation.

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The list above shows the possibilities for collecting accessories for this vibrant dramatic play invitation. Just a few of the supplies will keep a play kitchen center interesting and engaging.

Game pieces and fillable treat holders work wonderfully as play kitchen loose parts.

Early learners will use their imagination to turn these loose parts into muffins, cookies, candies, and other kinds of food.

During the spring season, these kinds of supplies are prevalent at dollar and discount stores, and in the seasonal section of most grocery stores.

A super fun bunny pretend play invitation that is quick and easy to set up. It's perfect for an Easter or spring theme.

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This bunny-themed play tablescape works well during the Easter season and can be offered as part of a spring theme.

A super fun bunny dramatic play invitation that is quick and easy to set up. It's perfect for an Easter or spring theme.

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Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

Lemon-Inspired Play Kitchen

Watermelon Dramatic Play

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Tablescape

Penguin Pretend Play Tablescape

Chinese New Year Tablescape

Valentine’s Day Pretend Play

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Set up this super colorful Easter bunny play tablescape in minutes. Bunny-themed loose parts take center stage in the setup.

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[Read more…]

Bunny Rice Bin

March 26, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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We’re ready for spring, and this bunny rice bin is definitely helping to usher it in. The green and white seasonal color scheme is inspired by beautiful bunny-themed eggs discovered on a shopping run.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

This spring bunny loose parts tray features green and white bunnies, eggs, and loose parts.

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For this calming rice bin, gather the following supplies:

stuffed Easter bunny
decorative Easter eggs
Easter basket
shredded Easter grass
bunny erasers
marbles
container caps
transparent triangles
bendable bunny figurine
Easter grass
glutinous rice
bus tub

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The Bunny Rice Bin

The bin of choice is a white bus tub. It is large enough to fit a variety of contents and is suitable for 2-3 children to use at once.

The base for this bin is white glutinous rice. It is my absolute favorite base because it showcases the supplies in a bin so well.

The sensory bin theme is inspired by decorative green and white eggs snapped up at a dollar store on a routine shopping run.

This green and white bunny-themed rice bin gives you all the feels. Loose parts coordinate with the bunnies and eggs in the bin.

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It took a little while to find a matching stuffed bunny, but eventually, I discovered a unique one at another dollar store. The sprawling bunny adds character to the bin.

Green paper Easter grass adds texture to the glutinous rice base.

An Easter basket, bendable bunny, and bunny erasers all in green come from my Easter theme storage tub.

And green transparent triangles, marbles, and container caps picked from my loose parts collection round out the supplies in the bin.

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Any color scheme will work wonderfully for this bunny rice bin. Selecting two or three feature colors for the bin makes setting it up that much more fun.

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More Bunny Activities

Easter Bunny Sensory Bins

Silhouette Bunny Art

Spring Bunny Canvas Art

Bunny Rolling Pin Art

Bunny Candy Art

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[Read more…]

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table

March 14, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Setting up activities for the light table is one of my favorite things to do, and the light table is a well-loved center in our classroom. A perfect center for March, this St. Patrick’s Day light table setup is full of captivating loose parts for early learners to explore.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies Collected

This oh-so-green St. Patrick's Day light table activity filled with transparent loose parts is super fun for early learners to explore.

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The following transparent loose parts are gathered for this very green light table center:

light-up rubber bear
bear figurine
shamrocks
numbers
stir sticks
tiny cups
gem animal figurines
reusable shamrock ice cubes
shamrock serving tray
pebble-shaped gems
light-up shamrock necklaces
pair of party eyeglasses
construction toy

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A vase with artificial flowers, a leprechaun figurine, and a pair of St. Patrick’s Day glasses round out the supplies on the table.

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The St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Center

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For this light-illuminated center, I started off by checking my St. Patrick’s Day supplies for green transparent objects. These have been collected over the years from Dollar stores and party supply stores.

Next, I scrounged through my tub of green loose parts for interesting things to add, selecting the light-up bear, transparent pebbles and stir sticks.

Then I looked through my light table supplies and gathered mostly green and a few yellow transparent objects, such as a bear figurine, transparent construction toys, numbers, and tiny animal figurines.

An opportunity to sort shamrocks on a St. Patrick's Day light table filled with green transparent loose parts.

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An opportunity to sort green loose parts on a St. Patrick's Day light table filled with transparent treasures to explore.

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Finally, on a recent trip to a dollar store I purchased two light-up necklaces. I included them after little learners had a week to explore the center, offering my little charges new items that continued their interest in this St. Patrick’s Day activity.

A green shamrock light-up necklace is a highlight in a St. Patrick's Day light table center.

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A green shamrock light-up necklace and pair of glasses are highlights in a St. Patrick's Day light table center.

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View this center as a St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Video.

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More Light Table Activities

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

Canada Day Light Table

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[Read more…]

Shamrock Leaf Print Art

March 12, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Shamrock leaf print art is an activity I’ve wanted to try for a few years now, and this spring I carved out time for it. The art project is easy and enjoyable to do, and I am sure you will like it too.

A good time to try this leaf print art activity is around St. Patrick’s Day, as shamrock plants are plentiful in stores then. The compound leaves on the plant look like the shamrock symbol that the country of Ireland is known for. Irish people think shamrocks represent good luck, and they are prominent in clothing, decorations, and tableware during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

An Oxalis Regnelli shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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The shamrock plant I found is called Oxalis Regnellii, which comes from Africa and some parts of the Americas. It has delicate leaves with three triangle-shaped leaflets. The leaves fold up neatly on overcast days and anytime it is dark, and open up when they are exposed to sunlight. The tiny, white, long-stemmed flowers have five petals.

A tiny white flower on an Oxalis Regnellii plant.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this nature-based art project:

shamrock plant
green and purple acrylic or tempera paint
paint pots
paintbrushes
purple and green pencil crayons
all-purpose art paper
green and purple construction paper
newspaper or manila paper
magnifying glasses

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Making The Shamrock Leaf Print Art

Before using the shamrock leaves for printmaking, give participants a chance to study the plant. Offer magnifying glasses to view the leaves and dainty flowers with yellow stamens. Set the plant out in a sunny place and then put it in a dark area to see how its leaves fold down and spread out depending on how much sunlight the plant is getting.

To prepare the art activity, snip a few leaves off the plant to use for making paint prints.

Steps to make beautiful shamrock leaf print art. This is an easy-to-do all-ages nature art project

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Next, lay down newspaper sheets or a large piece of manilla paper for participants to work on.

Then add an art station with a sheet of all-purpose art paper, leaf sprig, paintbrush, and green acrylic paint for each participant. My paper size is an 11-inch x 14-inch inch sheet cut in half, creating a 7-inch x 11-inch piece to work on.

Note: Non-toxic tempera paint is a good choice for young children taking part in the activity.

Afterward, invite participants to brush the tops of the leaflets on their sprig thoroughly with green paint, flip the leaf over, and carefully press the painted sides down on the paper. Have them gently rub their fingers over the leaflets and pat the edges down to transfer as much paint to the paper as possible.

Beautiful shamrock leaf print art with leaves from the Oxalis Regnelli plant. This is a nature art project that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

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Then ask everyone to slowly lift their leaf off the paper canvas and repaint it to make more leaf prints. The shamrock leaves are delicate, but when handled gently they can be used a few times. If someone’s leaf tears, offer a new sprig to use.

When the paint prints are dry, ask participants to use a pencil crayon to add stems to the leaves.

As a finishing touch, mount each shamrock leaf print art project on a similar-colored construction paper background.

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Making Purple Shamrock Leaf Print Art

A purple shamrock, called Oxalis Triangularis, has similarly shaped leaves and flowers as the Oxalis Regnallii. This purple shamrock showcases deep purple, dark-edged leaves that respond to darkness and light in the same way.

A purple shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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With purple acrylic or tempera paint, let participants create shamrock prints just as they were made in green.

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If there are any leaves left on the plant after the printmaking activity is done, add them to a playdough activity. Or have someone without pets take the plant home to care for.

Note: All Oxalis plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and grazing animals such as horses and must be kept out of their reach. These plants are slightly toxic to humans. Make sure to supervise all shamrock leaf activities closely so that no one ingests the leaves.