Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

space

Salt Painting Planet Art

by Leave a Comment

_______

This salt painting planet art is super satisfying and oh so simple to do. The salt drip painting technique works well to create Earth or one of the other eight planets.

_______

Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies, which you probably have around your home, for this stunning planet art activity:

  • 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper
  • table salt
  • white glue
  • glue paddle
  • food coloring
  • paint pots
  • eye droppers
  • paintbrush
  • teaspoon
  • disposable plate
  • scissors and pencil
  • glue stick or glue gun
  • washable table cover

_______

_______

Salt Painting Earth Art

The first planet to create is our Earth as seen from outer space. Complete this salty art activity over two days.

Day One:

Protect an art table with a washable or disposable table cover.

Cut out a circle measuring 18 cm/7 inches from 8 ½ x 11-inch or 9 x 12-inch cardstock paper.

Pour white glue into a small container or paint pot.

Set the sturdy paper circle, pot with white glue, glue paddle, and disposable plate on the prepared art table.

Dip the glue paddle into the white adhesive and spread it on the circle in shapes of land forms.

_______

Using a teaspoon, generously sprinkle salt over areas of the circle that contain glue.

Tip the circle sideways over a disposable plate and shake off excess salt. (The leftover spice can be used for more salt painting planet art projects.)

Let the gluey circle dry overnight.

_______

Day Two:

Cover an art table with a washable table cover.

Prepare the watercolor paints: Mix a few drops of blue food coloring into a paint pot containing water and a few drops of green food coloring into a second water-filled pot. Or mix a lighter and darker hue in each color for more variety.

_______

Set the raised salt circle on the art table with two hues of green food coloring. Add an eye dropper or pipette to each pot.

Using the droppers, carefully drip paint onto the salt-covered areas of the circle.

_______

Then, with a paintbrush, carefully brush blue watercolor paint around the raised salt land forms to represent water.

_______

Set the painted art project aside to dry.

The earth art looks stunning adhered with a glue stick or glue gun to a black or dark blue 8 ½ x 11-inch or 9 x 12-inch cardstock or construction paper background. Displayed in a group, this salt painting planet art project looks stunning.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

_______

Salt Painting Jupiter Art

_______

Jupiter also looks amazing in a salt painting planet art activity. To create planet Jupiter with this art technique, spread the glue in a stripy design to show Jupiter’s banded, cloud-covered look. Sprinkle on salt and shake it off next. After the spice-covered glue dries, drip red and yellow food coloring paint onto the raised salt areas. Then, carefully brush orange food coloring paint (or orange liquid watercolor paint diluted with water) between the raised salt areas for contrast.

_______

As with the salt painting planet Earth project, a group of arty Jupiter planets looks stunning when displayed on dark cardstock paper backgrounds.

_______

The salt painting art with an Earth theme is a great activity for Earth Day. Both art projects are welcome additions for a space theme.

Is this post helpful? Which planet would you create with this technique?

_______

[Read more…] about Salt Painting Planet Art

Space Theme Light Table

by Leave a Comment

_______

This space theme light table is a perfect fit for a unit on space. There are many sparkly, glowing objects in space, so offering activities with light in the theme is fitting.

_______

Supplies To Collect

The light table is one of my favorite centers, and I love collecting supplies for it.

There are many awesome toys on the market designed just for this center. Interesting light table accessories can also be found in unexpected places, and I’ve included quite a few in this play invitation.

 The following supplies, many of which are transparent, are on the light table:

  • toy spaceships
  • glow in the dark moon
  • circles, stars, and squares
  • miniature spinning tops
  • star-shaped reusable ice cubes
  • story stones
  • star-shaped ice cube mold
  • clear serving dish

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Space Theme Light Table

In this outer space-themed center the story stones are the only supply designed to be a learning resource. They serve as space rocks.

_______

In the play invitation the accessories below originally had other purposes:

  • The spaceships were bubble bottles…such a great find!
  • The circles, stars, and squares were cut from hanging decorations.
  • The miniature spinning tops were party favors.
  • The star-shaped reusable ice cubes were meant to help keep drinks cold.
  • The yellow ice cube tray was designed to freeze ice cubes into star shapes.

_______

Benefits of the Space Theme Light Table

Besides being a whole lot of fun, this space-themed light table offers the following opportunities:

  • shape recognition
  • matching shapes
  • counting and sorting by size and color
  • discussing large and small
  • development of eye-hand coordination
  • small muscle development

What would you add to this play invitation? Share in a comment below.

_______

_______

More Light Table Activities

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Christmas Light Table Activity

Valentine’s Day Light Table Play

Valentine’s Day Jewelry on the Light Table

St. Patrick’s Day Light Table

Rainbow Sensory Tray

Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

_______

More Space-themed Activities

Scented Moon Playdough

Salt and Glue Moon Art

White Lilacs and Black Playdough

Space Restaurant Dramatic Play

Outer Space Pretend Play

Space Theme Loose Parts Play

Moon Colors Art Project

_______

[Read more…] about Space Theme Light Table

Paper Plate Sun Craft

by Leave a Comment

_______

A few weeks ago, I was looking for tableware for a space kitchen dramatic play center and found speckled and silver supplies that fit the bill. These metallic rainbow plates gleamed next to the iridescent silver ones I chose, and caught my attention. It was a no-brainer to use them in an easy and cute paper plate sun craft.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Just the following few supplies are needed for this simple sun craft:

  • 9-inch metallic rainbow party plates
  • bright yellow cardstock paper
  • marker
  • glue stick
  • scissors and pencil

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Preparing The Paper Plate Sun Craft

_______

Craft preparation is easy for this paper plate sun craft. First, use a marker to draw lines along the ribs on the edge of 9-inch rainbow plate backs. The lines will be about two inches long.

Next, cut circles from bright yellow cardstock, about 6 inches in diameter.

Then choose a marker in a matching color to use for creating sun faces.

Set out a paper plate front side down and a pair of scissors for each child participating.

_______

The Paper Plate Sun Craft

For this craft, invite children to cut along the lines on the back side of their plate. This is great scissor skill practice.

_______

Next, have each participant draw a face on their yellow circle using a color that matches one of the metallic plate hues.

_______

After turning their paper plate right side up, give each child a glue stick to affix their yellow paper face to the center of their sun.

Finally, encourage participants to bend up every other fringed section on the edge of their plate to enhance the sun’s rays and create a 3D effect.

_______

The shiny, adorable paper pate suns beg to be displayed and will look cute together tacked to a bulletin board or wall.

_______

Variation of the Paper Plate Sun Craft

As an alternative to using metallic plates for this craft, offer plain white paper plates. Invite children to paint or color their plate yellow or orange, snip sun rays around the edge, and then glue on a round yellow paper face.

_______

Related:

Scented Moon Playdough

Outer Space Pretend Play

_______

[Read more…] about Paper Plate Sun Craft

Moon Colors Art Project

by Leave a Comment

_______

This “moon colors” art project is inspired by a gorgeous spiral montage of 48 moon hues photographed over the years by Marcella Pace. The stunning image was selected by NASA as the Astronomy Photo of the Day and is available as an art print.

The surface of the moon is a dull grey color due to the combination of minerals present. The moon appears lighted because it reflects light from the sun. It sometimes appears to change colors due to its position in the sky and the atmospheric conditions present. At times it can appear red, pink, yellow, orange, or even blue. The impending arrival of these uniquely hued full moons is regularly announced on social media platforms such as Facebook or X, giving everyone a heads-up about when to search for them in the night sky.

Since I love to feature objects in unexpected colors in creative activities, this art activity features moons in a variety of colors using a simple salt and glue technique. I previously debuted this popular art activity on a grey paper moon base in a post titled Salt and Glue Moon Art.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Colors of the Moon Art Supplies

Gather the following supplies for this striking moon art project:

  • 8 ½ inch x 11-inch cardstock paper in red, pink, yellow, orange, blue, turquoise, purple, and green hues
  • 9-inch x 12-inch black cardstock
  • white glue
  • glue paddle
  • disposable plate
  • table salt
  • small bowls or paint cups
  • spray adhesive
  • hot glue gun
  • table cover

_______

Colors of the Moon Art Process

To prepare this easy-to-do art activity, cut circles about 7 ½ inches in diameter from gray cardstock.

Next, set up a station for each child participating with a

  • cardstock paper circle
  • small bowl of salt and a teaspoon
  • container of white glue and glue paddle
  • disposable plate

_______

Invite little learners to drizzle white glue on their circle-shaped paper in a random manner.

Then have them sprinkle salt from a teaspoon over the glue, and shake excess salt onto their disposable plate.

Let the colorful art projects dry overnight.

To help preserve the moon art, spray each salted circle with adhesive spray. Hairspray works fine for this task too.

When thoroughly dry, adhere each salt and glue moon to a 9-inch x 12-inch sheet of black cardstock or construction paper background using a hot glue gun.

Display the striking moons on a bulletin board or wall. They will look amazing together!

_______

Different Moon Colors Explained

Red Moon

When the sun illuminates the whole moon in a lunar eclipse, it can appear red.

This moon is commonly called a “blood moon.”

_______

Yellow or Orange Moon

A yellow or orange moon is called a Harvest Moon since it is usually seen in late summer or early fall during harvest time. The moon can appear orange or yellow when it is close to the horizon.

_______

_______

Pink Moon

The pink moon is the first full moon in April, and it only occasionally looks pink.

_______

Purple Moon

Although it doesn’t look purple the second full moon in April is called a purple moon. It has been photographed as purple in Marcella Pace.

_______

Blue Moon

The moon rarely appears blue. When it does look blue, the hue is the result of a huge amount of dust or smoke in the air due to a volcanic eruption or forest fire.

_______

Green Moon

There have been no sightings of a green moon. But it is fun to reimagine the moon in a green hue using the salt and glue art technique.

_______

Turquoise Moon

Like a green moon, a turquoise moon won’t be spotted in the night sky. It is also fun to create in art.

_______

Moon Colors In Art

Depicting different colors of the moon is popular in digital art and photos, and there are many beautiful moon artworks available. Why not join in the fun and create colorful moon art using the salt and glue technique?

_______

Related:

Scented Moon Playdough

Starry Sky Sensory Bin

Space Father’s Day Craft

Space Restaurant Dramatic Play

Watercolor Planets With Markers

Outer Space Pretend Play

Earth Day Heart Art

Earth Day Craft

Space Loose Parts Play

Space Theme Light Table

_______

[Read more…] about Moon Colors Art Project

Space Loose Parts Play

by Leave a Comment

_______

Loose parts are a highlight in any play center, and they certainly shine in a space theme. Sorted in a tray, they are ready for all kinds of outer space loose parts play. The outer space-themed supplies can be added to a rice bin, water play bin, or playdough invitation. The out-of-this-world loose parts have other great uses as well.

_______

Space Loose Parts Supplies

_______

The following economical and easy-to-find supplies are in the space loose parts tray:

  • space-ship shaped bubble blowing containers
  • star-shaped buttons
  • thin bracelets
  • orange and white ping pong balls
  • glow in the dark stars, stones, and pebbles
  • space-themed erasers
  • marbles
  • rubber balls
  • sun and star-shaped acrylic gems
  • yellow pickleball balls
  • astronaut and spaceship toys

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Space Loose Parts Tray

_______

Repurposed spaceship-shaped bubble blowing containers with screw-top lids work well in sensory bin activities and are super fun to use.

Glow-in-the-dark stars and star-shaped buttons help create vivid night skies. The stones and pebbles serve as space rocks.

Yellow pickleball balls represent a lighted, crater-filled moon.

Various kinds and colors of small balls and marbles can be reimagined as planets or moons, and the bracelets make great planetary rings.

Iridescent sun and star-shaped acrylic gems add beauty to outer space play activities.

Mini astronaut and spaceship toys and erasers extend imaginative play.

_______

Space Loose Parts Play

The colorful rubber balls in the space loose parts play tray can be used in large motor activities.

The space-themed buttons, glow-in-the-dark stars, rocks, bracelets, erasers, and acrylic gems make great loose parts in outer space pretend play.

The supplies in the tray are perfect for a space-themed transient art invitation.

_______

The outer space supplies shine in a rice sensory bin or water play setup.

_______

And the supplies are tantalizing in a playdough invitation.

_______

_______

[Read more…] about Space Loose Parts Play