trees

Jelly Bean Theme

April 16, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

A few weeks ago, I set out to make an Easter display that would work for a wall art tree. I thought of incorporating the “Jelly Bean Prayer,” and wondered if there was such a thing as a jelly bean tree. To my delight, an online search revealed a variety of references to “jelly bean tree,” and provided inspiration for other activities. So in addition to changing up the display, I came up with this fun and tasty Jelly Bean Theme. The post includes free printables and a few facts about the colorful candy.

_____

10 Jelly Bean Facts

Jelly beans are bite-sized candies with hard, crunchy shells and soft, chewy centers.
These sweet candies are associated with Easter in Canada and the United States.
Part of the appeal is their egg shape and tiny size. This makes them terrific Easter egg fillers.
There are eight basic colors and flavors, which often have a fruity taste.
Over time, jelly beans were created in many different color schemes, often matching seasonal celebrations.
Jelly beans became popular in the 1960s.
The most common order for eating the candies is: red, purple, green, yellow, and black.
Jelly beans are used as an art medium, and there are mosaic art pieces made with them.
President Ronald Reagan liked them a lot, so artist Peter Rocha made a jelly bean portrait of the president.
There is a National Jelly Bean Day (in the US) on April 22.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Jelly Bean Theme Activities

There are a number of easy, educational jellybean activities to do at home or school.

Tasting Jelly Beans

Give participants jelly beans in the colors red, purple, green, yellow, and black. Chart the order each child eats the jellybeans.

What order would you eat these jelly beans in? Try this candy tasting activity and record the results.

_______

Incorporate language and math sequencing by describing color and taste, and using words such as first, next, and last.

_______

Jelly Bean Sorting

Invite children to sort jelly beans by color. This flower-shaped paint palette is perfect for individual color sorting.

A flower-shaped paint palette makes the perfect tray to sort jelly beans by color.

_______

Candies On Display

Jelly beans look attractive stored in mason jars. The filled jars could be part of a tablescape display or food table.

Store jelly beans in jars for a tablescape or food table display. Have a "Guess The Number Of Jelly Beans In The Jar" contest.

_______

How Many Jelly Beans Are In The Jar?

Fill a jar with jelly beans, and have participants guess the number of candies in the jar. Then count the jellybeans together. For early learners, a baby food jar or small bottle would be a good size to use.

_______

Cupcake Liner Easter Party Favors

Add pipe cleaner handles to sturdy Easter-themed cupcake liners. Fill the liners with Easter-colored jelly beans and hand them out as Easter basket party favors. Or fill plastic Easter eggs with jelly beans.

_______

Jelly Bean Prayer Wall Display

Over-sized paper jelly beans for a "Jelly Bean Prayer" tree display. Download the free printable for art, book-making, and display opportunities.

_______

Download this free template for a Jelly Bean Prayer tree display. I used it to cut out large jelly beans from different colors of cardstock paper. Then I wrote a line of the prayer on each one and added them to a tree theme wall display.

Download this oversized jelly bean template for art, book-making, and display use.

_______

Jelly Bean PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Jelly Bean Art

Use this same printable for children to paint or color and cut out gigantic paper jelly beans.

Or have children dictate or write a page for a jelly bean storybook, and then decorate the background.

_______

J Is For Jelly Bean Craft

Invite children to glue jelly beans onto a paper letter J. How fun!

"J Is For Jelly Beans" in this tasty craft. Reinforce the letter J sound with this fun and easy activity.

_______

Jelly Bean Tree Craft

Print copies of this tree template on white cardstock paper. Set them on an art table along with white glue and jelly beans. Invite children to glue jelly beans on the tree.

This could also be a transient art activity offered in a tray.

How fun! Decorate a tree template with jelly beans. Glue the tasty candies on for a finished project. Free tree printable available.

_______

Jelly Bean Artists

There are artists who work with jelly beans as a medium, or as a subject in their art. Who knew?

Peter Rocha and Kristen Cummings are two notable jelly bean artists. Their creations can be viewed on the Jelly Belly Company’s “The Jelly Belly Bean Art Gallery” web page. Their candy art can also be viewed on my Pinterest Board Jelly Bean Kids Activities/Jelly Bean Artists.

_______

Storybooks Incorporating Jelly Beans

The flavorful candies make an entertaining subject for storybooks. Here are a few books incorporating jelly beans:

Arthur’s Jelly Beans by Marc Brown

Arthur and his friends participate in a “Spring Fling” party, which includes a jelly bean hunt of course!

Jellybean Mouse by Philip Roy

Happy the mouse isn’t excited to go on a laundromat errand but discovers a jellybean machine once there. The day’s adventure becomes just the excitement the spunky mouse is seeking.

The Jellybeans And The Big Dance by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans

A group of girls with different interests meet at a dance studio, and slowly become friends. They eventually discover that just as jellybeans come in different flavors but go well together, they get along great. They decide to call themselves “The Jellybeans.”

There are three more books in this friendship and team-building series:

The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza
The Jellybeans and the Big Camp Kickoff
The Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure

Jelly Bean Tree by Toni Yuli

This story isn’t about jelly beans, but the main character, a giraffe, is called Jelly Bean. It’s reason enough to include the colorfully illustrated, endearing story in the theme.

_______

[Read more…]

Christmas Playdough

December 19, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This Christmas playdough activity incorporates lemon cypress branches and cuttings from silk poinsettias. The plant-themed playdough experience evolved from not being able to go on a well-loved field trip this Christmas season.

Most December months our preschool visits a local greenhouse. The children view a vast poinsettia display, smell a lemon cypress tree, participate in a scavenger hunt among cut Christmas trees, and go on a hayride. Then they plant a paperwhite bulb. The trip is always a highlight for preschool families.

This year the field trip wasn’t possible, so I decided to bring a small, feathery needled lemon cypress tree to preschool for the children to view, smell, and use in playdough activities. I wanted to include other seasonal plants as well but realized that most popular Christmas plants are somewhat toxic or poisonous to humans.

Chartreuse green lemon cypress trees for sale during the Christmas season.

_______

My preschoolers loved this playdough invitation, and your little ones will enjoy it too. Here are the instructions.

_______

Playdough Recipes

Make a favorite playdough recipe. Or use my go-to basic playdough recipe:

Ingredients:

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

_______

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 in one more tablespoon of oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

_______

A lemon jello playdough works beautifully too. Substitute lemon jello for cherry jello in the recipe.

_______

The Christmas Playdough Experience

Show little learners a potted dwarf lemon cypress tree. This small, fine-textured evergreen is hand-trimmed to have a Christmas tree shape and is sold in pots at Christmas time.

Next, have your little charges rub a branch and experience the resulting lemon fragrance.

Give each child a lump of playdough, a few lemon cypress branches, and a pair of scissors.

Offer lemon cypress sprigs with scissors, cookie cutters, and erasers in a fragrant Christmas playdough activity.

_______

Have them cut the bright yellow-green sprigs into pieces and add them to their playdough. Using the scissors to cut the playdough is fine for them to do too, as it strengthens their little fingers.

Then give little ones a few silk poinsettia leaves and bracts to cut and blend in.

Scissor Invitation with playdough and silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

Offer additional supplies such as rolling pins, plastic pie cutters, wooden sticks, and Christmas-themed cookie cutters and erasers.

Lemon cypress scented holiday playdough invitation with cut silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

When blended, the plant parts add pops of seasonal color to the playdough and give it a Christmassy look.

Offer this lemon cypress scented playdough invitation with cut silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

Tip: A coleus plant can be substituted for silk poinsettia leaves and bracts, as it isn’t poisonous. I plan to take one indoors to save for this activity next fall.

_______

Other Ways To Experience Lemon Cypress Plants

Let your little learners use a mortar and pestle to grind and crush lemon cypress branches. A pleasant, citrus aroma will soon fill the air.

Using a mortar and pestle with lemon cypress sprigs brings out the lemon fragrance.

_______

Or invite little ones to add Christmas decorations to the tiny tree.

Decorate a potted lemon cypress tree with Christmas decorations.

_______

Related: Santa Claus Playdough Tray

_______

[Read more…]

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

November 7, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Young children love variety in painting tools, so they will welcome this eye dropper leaf art activity. Using liquid watercolors ensures that the art will be bright and cheerful. And who wouldn’t want to squeeze in just a little more splashy color before the winter season sets in!

The large leaves for this project are inspired by the many leaf paintings by American artist Georgia O’Keefe. Georgia loved the colors and shapes in fall leaves and painted them to completely fill her canvasses.

_______

Supplies To Collect

For this easy-to-do art activity, collect the following:

liquid watercolors
paper towel roll
eye droppers or pipettes
paint containers
leaf templates

_______

Creating The Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Steps to creating beautiful eye dropper leaf art on paper towel designs.

_______

Draw or trace large leaves onto a paper towel roll. You may need two attached sections for each leaf if you go big, as Georgia O’Keefe did. I used oversized wall art leaves as templates and cut out a few different types.

Mix liquid watercolors of choice with a little water, and pour into paint trays. Featured are magenta, orange, and green hues.

Invite children to use eye droppers or pipettes to drip paint on their paper towel leaves.

A paper towel pattern accents the design in this eye dropper-painted maple leaf.

_______

When filled with color, dry the leaves on a flat surface.

Tip: Maple leaf designs work especially well for this activity. Little learners enjoy accenting their many curves and pointy edges.

Eye-catching leaf painting activity using an eye dropper technique.

_______

The colorful leaves can be displayed as-is, or mounted on cardstock.

Note: Because paper towel is so absorbent and the colors spread quickly, large shapes are perfect for this craft. And a paper towel canvas adds a unique texture to the art.

Eye dropper painting technique on paper towel leaves.

_______

Variations Of This Eye Dropper Leaf Art Project

Invite your little charges to drop paint onto leaves cut from sturdy art paper. I used 11-inch x 14-inch, 98 lb, mixed media paper for the leaves.

Steps to create eye dropper and blow dryer painted leaves.

_______

The paint will pool and start to blend slowly. As the art dries, invite little learners to check back periodically to observe the color changes.

In the completed project, I used a blow dryer set on low to hurry the drying process. It was fun and created a uniquely blended earthy-hued color combination.

A blow dryer painting technique yields beautiful results on a maple leaf cut out.

_______

Tip: For young children, I recommend inviting them to blow the paint around with straws instead of a blow dryer.

Copy paper also works for this drippy art activity. Below, the maple leaf is cut from 11-inch x 17-inch paper and decorated in two colors. This version dries the quickest.

Eye dropper painting on a maple leaf with magenta and orange liquid watercolors.

_______

Little learners can get overwhelmed with having to decorate a large canvas. But with this activity, bigger is better!

_______

[Read more…]

Chinese Money Tree Activities

February 2, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Chinese money trees have been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the 1980s and are a symbol of luck and wealth. People buy money trees for their homes and place them in strategic places. They also purchase and display shiny, metallic tree ornaments laden with gold coins. Here are art and sensory Chinese money tree activities your early learners will enjoy.

_______

Chinese Money Tree Tray

Set a tree-drawing inside a wooden tray. Add containers with Chinese coins and green and gold gems.

Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree with gold coins and acrylic gems.

_______

Feel free to download this template for the project.

_______

Tree PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Invite your little learners to decorate the tree.

_______

[Read more…]

Color Explosion Science Experiment

January 1, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This dramatic color explosion science experiment is one of the simplest ones you will find. It uses ingredients you probably have in your home, is easy to set up, and shows stunning, instant results.

_______

Supplies To Collect

serving tray
milk
food coloring (1 – 4 colors)
liquid dish soap

Kitchen supplies to carry out the color explosion milk experiment.

_______

Conducting The Experiment

Pour a thin layer of milk into a serving tray placed on a table. I use an inexpensive 12-inch x 12-inch tree-shaped vegetable tray to add interest to the experiment. About three cups of milk will provide a nice layer in a serving tray this size.

Squeeze drops of food coloring in different parts of the tray. Use one, two, three, or even four colors. Primary colors work well.

Squirt a little dish soap in a few color pools.

_______

Pools of food coloring in the color explosion milk experiment.

_______

The food coloring immediately explodes to the tray edges, blending and making new colors.

Try adding a bit more food coloring, and one more squirt of dish soap. I add a little more blue, red, and yellow to the bottom right section because most of the color has moved to other areas of the tray. I squirt a tad more soap on top. There isn’t a noticeable change right away. In fact, after the initial color burst, nothing much seems to happen.

A second dose of food coloring and dish detergent are added in this color explosion milk experiment.

_______

But wait! The experiment doesn’t end here. Leave the tray on the table undisturbed, and check back a few times over the next half-hour. The food coloring slowly moves through the milk and fills the tray.

Each time you look, new color designs are visible on the surface of the milk.

A monster appears in this color explosion milk experiment.

_______

Gradually, the whole tray is color-infused.

Red, blue, yellow, and green colors fill the tray in this color explosion milk experiment.

_______

This color explosion science experiment is perfect for introducing to a group of early learners. At preschool, I like to set it out just before snack time and have students take a second look at what has happened after they are done eating. Then everyone has another look at the tray just before going home.

_______

Related: Pumpkin Color Changing Milk Experiment

_______

Color Explosion Experiment Take Two

In the above demonstration of the science project, I use 2% milk. Below, I show the results of the same experiment done with 1% milk. This time I add drops of color and a squirt of dish soap only once. The food coloring added is generous.

Food coloring pools in the color explosion milk experiment.

_______

In checking back in ten minutes after the initial explosion, the color has moved away from the edge of the tray towards the center.

Bright colors start to spread from the edges of the tray in this color explosion milk experiment.

_______

In twenty minutes the tray looks like this:

Color spreads on the surface of a milk filled tray after dish detergent and fat molecules bond. The food coloring shows the movement of the molecules.

_______

The colors spread further.

Bright colors take over in this color explosion milk experiment.

_______

Finally, they settle in pastel shades.

Pastel colors settle in this color explosion milk experiment.

_______

Tip: Save milk that has expired for this experiment. I successfully use milk five weeks past the expiration day for this second demo.

_______

The Science Behind The Color Explosion Experiment

Although milk is made of mostly water, it also contains fat and protein. These are both sensitive to changes in the milk. When dish soap is added to the tray, it breaks up the surface tension of the milk and is attracted to the fat molecules. The fat molecules try to scurry away but end up bonded with the soap molecules. The movement of the food coloring makes this process visible. As more and more soap and fat molecules bond, the color movement slows down and eventually stops.

Since fat content in milk is super important in this experiment, homo milk works the best. But as seen above, 2% and 1% milk (which I had handy) also show stunning results.

Color-changing experiment using milk, food coloring, and dish detergent.

_______

[Read more…]

Christmas Tree Decorating Center

December 23, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This Christmas tree decorating center has been a staple in my preschool classroom for many years. I introduce it every year in place of setting up a large Christmas tree. The center is effortless to put up, and the supplies store in one tub. During the festive holiday season, decorations on the tree get put up and taken down by little learners on a regular basis.

In preparation for this tactile center I purchased a variety of small Christmas trees one year just after Christmas Day. They were deeply discounted…around $5.00 Canadian per tree. Now every December I place them on a table covered with a soft white tablecloth and add child-friendly decorations.

_______

Setting Up The Christmas Tree Decorating Center

After arranging the branches on the Christmas trees, I gather small baskets and fill them with non-breakable Christmas decorations.

Baskets of child-friendly decorations for a Christmas tree decorating center.

_______

Making the cut are:

red, silver, and gold bells
Scandinavian bells
bell garland
pine cones
gold and red apples
foam hearts
metal toys
elves and Santas
metallic glitter flower clip ons
angel craft tree toppers

You might notice that there are lots of bells on the list. I love including opportunities for musical exploration.

A string of lights on the table adds ambiance.

Mini Christmas trees set up for early learners to decorate with child-friendly decorations.

_______

A rich, thick garland embellishes this red tree.

Red Christmas tree decorated with lots of garlands.

_______

To see a closeup of all the trees view this Christmas Tree Decorating Center video.

_______

Most people already have their trees up and decorating completed by now. But sale shopping opportunities are just around the corner. Keep a lookout for economical mini trees and child-friendly decorations to set up a Christmas tree decorating center dazzling with your own flair.

_______

Decorated Christmas trees at an early learning center.

_______

[Read more…]

Christmas Tree Art

December 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This Christmas tree art is quick to set up and simple to do. And it gives early learners a chance to explore color shades and brightness.

Dazzling, easy to do Christmas tree art painting activity. An all-ages art project.

_______

Supplies to Collect

green, yellow and white tempera paint
12-inch x 18-inch sturdy paper
paint palettes
paintbrushes
paper towel squares
metallic green star confetti
gold and green Christmas gift bows

_______

Making The Christmas Tree Art

Cut long, narrow triangles from large sheets of sturdy paper. Shown below is manila paper.

Pour dark green, medium green, yellow, and white tempera paint into artist palettes. This color scheme works well when children keep the colors separate or do a lot of blending.

Invite your early learners to paint a triangle. They will embrace painting a unique shape.

Christmas tree art set up with white, yellow, and green paint hues.

_______

A paper towel works well to dab excess paint from the brush before switching to a new color. This is a helpful tip from Patty Palmer’s book “Draw, Paint, Sparkle.”

Painting technique to use when switching paint colors.

_______

Next, have your little charges sprinkle on metallic stars while the paint is still wet. They will loooove doing this too!

Painted triangular tree ready to be topped with a Christmas gift bow.

_______

When the tree art is dry, spray on unscented hairspray from an aerosol can to help the stars stay on. (This is the first year I searched for unscented hairspray to use as a fixative. It was worth the time and slightly greater expense.)

Lastly, have your little learners pick a Christmas gift bow to stick on top of their tree.

A Christmas gift bow is the topper for this painted Christmas tree craft.

_______

Discussing triangle shapes, using beautiful finishing touches, seeing how white added to darker green makes different shades, and noticing how yellow lightens and brightens green are some learning possibilities for this craft.

And these Christmas tree art projects look absolutely beautiful displayed together.

Dazzling, easy to set up Christmas tree art project.

_______

[Read more…]

Maple Leaf Activities

November 1, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Maple leaf paint print activities. Art, math, and display ideas for maple leaves.

_______

Maple trees flourish in eastern Canada and turn vibrant colors in autumn. But I happily settled for these deep green maple leaves from a tree that can survive our harsh Alberta winters. When painted, they produce striking leaf prints. The prints look stunning displayed but can also be used for other maple leaf activities.

_______

Maple Leaf Activities

Leaf Prints

Early learners can join in making maple leaf prints. Set out orange, yellow, and red tempera paints, paintbrushes, and large pieces of sturdy paper. Invite your little learners to paint the leaves, turn them over, and press them onto the paper. Encourage them to gently rub all over each leaf before removing them.

_______

_______

Glitter can be sprinkled on the leaf prints to add a dose of glam before they dry.

Glitter added to tempera paint maple leaf prints.

_______

Painting the back of a leaf, and pressing it on paper clearly reveals the midrib and veins.

Maple leaf paint print with red tempera paint.

_______

Unexpected colors of paint, such as black or blue can be offered.

Maple leaf paint prints with blue tempera paint.

_______

Maple leaf paint print with black tempera paint.

_______

After the leaf prints dry, cut some out for other activities.

_______

Maple Leaf Person

Have your little learners bring a leaf to life by adding wiggly eyes and a permanent felt pen smile.

_______

Canadian Flag Art

The maple leaf is part of our Canadian flag, so it’s extra special to me.

Your early learners can help make a leaf print Canadian flag. Select a big red leaf to glue onto the center of a large, rectangular piece of paper. Have children take turns adding smaller, red leaves on each side to complete the flag.

Canadian flag art made with maple leaf paint prints.

_______

Maple Leaf Math

Select different sized crafted leaves for your early learners to order from smallest to largest.

Leaf size ordering with different sized maple leaf paint prints.

_______

Use some leaves for counting fingerplays.

Counting leaves with maple leaf paint prints.

_______

Leaf Art Displays

Mount cut leaves onto a white piece of paper with double-sided tape. Add a paper background in a contrasting color. Display the art on a shelf or wall.

Displayed maple leaf paint print art. Cut prints are attached to a paper background with double-sided tape.

_______

Hang trimmed maple leaves from a twig tree, or a decorative branch hung on a wall.

Leaf display on a twig made with maple leaf paint prints.

_______

Do you have a favorite tree to introduce early learning activities with? Share in the comments section below.

_______

[Read more…]

Celery Science Experiment

October 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky 2 Comments

Celery and food coloring science experiment.

_______

This classic and colorful celery science experiment is easy to do and has quick results. It works well as a “color-changing celery tree” activity in autumn but is awesome to perform at any time of the year. Your early learner will be thrilled with the speedy and dramatic results of the experiment.

_______

Supplies To Collect

leafy celery stalks
glasses or jars
food coloring hues
pitcher with water
knife
cutting board

Celery and food coloring experiment supplies.

_______

Procedure

Cut the bottoms from celery stalks.

Invite your early learner to generously squirt food coloring hues into glasses or jars, and add about 4 centimeters of water to each one.

Have your child place a celery stalk in each container, and use it to stir the liquids.

Set the jars or glasses with celery on a table or windowsill.

Celery xylem are clearly visible in this closeup photo.

_______

Invite your little learner to look at the celery after a couple of hours. There will be a noticeable change in celery stalk and leaf colors.

Observe the celery with your child the following day. The leaves will be a darker shade of the water hue their stalk was set in than the day before. Colored lines running from the bottom of the stalks to the leaf tips will be clearly visible.

Add a little more water to each container if needed. Study the celery together a day or two later. The leaves and lines on the stalks will be a deeper color still.

Try the experiment with other food coloring hues. The leafy inner stalks below are dipped in turquoise, purple, and green-colored water.

Celery and food coloring experiment using turquoise, fuschia, and green colored water.

_______

Admire the transformed celery.

Color change in celery as a result of adding food coloring to the water.

_______

Variation Of The Celery Science Experiment

Cut off the ends of celery stalks, and split the bottom half of the stalks into two parts.

_______

Invite your child to squirt blue, yellow, and red food coloring into glasses or jars, and mix each hue with a bit of water.

Carefully place a section of one split celery stalk in red water, and the other in yellow. Put the bottom halves of another split celery stalk into yellow and blue water.

Celery stalks placed in two different jars of colored water.

_______

Observe the celery with your little one after a couple of hours, the next day, and two days later.

You will see colored lines that extend from the bottoms of the celery stalks to the leaves. Each stalk will have lines and leaves in two different colors.

_______

The Science Behind The Celery Color Change Experiment

Celery stalks lose water through their leaves. More water gets pulled up from their roots to thirsty leaf tips through a network of hollow tubes called xylem.

The normally invisible process of water transport becomes visible when water accessible to celery stalks is colored.

_______

The little dots on these celery slices are xylem tubes.

The colored dots on these celery slices are xylem tubes that transport water.

_______

[Read more…]

Ninja Theme Facts And Activities

October 24, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This ninja theme draws inspiration from the picture book “Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Nap”, written and illustrated by J. C. Phillipps. The book is filled with energy, wisdom, and tidbits about Japanese culture. For young children, the story is a captivating read. The illustrations provide inspiration for multicultural story extensions.

Ninja theme featuring sensory, small world, art, large motor, and pretend play activities. Ninja facts and picture book inspiration included.

_______

In the story, a little ninja named Wink is excited that he is a famous circus performer. But he cannot get in a much-needed nap because his fans follow him everywhere! He walks through a garden of cherry trees, and moves through and hides in different parts of town, but his followers persist.

Back at Summer Moon School For Young Ninjas, he comes up with a plan inspired by Master Zutsu’s mentoring. With help from his fellow ninja students, his fans are detoured so he can nap. His stuffed panda is along for the adventure.

_______

“Wink” Inspired Ninja Activities

Cherry Blossom Tree Small World

Offer children accessories to create a small world on a decorative cloth-covered table with

Wooden tree blocks

Pink flower blossoms

Pink and white gems

Ninja figurines

“Safari Toob” panda bears

Paper folded Japanese home

Cherry blossom tree small world with pink flowers, gems, and panda and ninja figurines.

_______

Cherry blossom tree book-inspired small world with pink flowers, gems, and panda and ninja figurines.

_______

For the ninjas, take apart Wall Crawlers, available at dollar stores. Remove the jelly-like insides, glue the upper and lower body parts together with a hot glue gun, and glue in pipe cleaner hands and feet.

_______

Ninja Dress Up

Collect ninja-themed props for dramatic play and photos ops. Include

Ninja masks (Dollar Tree)

Throwing stars (Dollar Tree)

Ninja vests (Dollar Tree)

Foam swords (Dollar Store)

A stepping stool to stand on and pose

Ninja themed masks, vests, throwing stars, and foam swords for pretend play.

_______

Pretend Play Printable

Download this free printable to inspire ninja-themed pretend play. It works best printed on cardstock paper.

The mask can be cut out and decorated with crayons or felt pens. It can also be traced onto and cut from colored paper. Attach an elastic string so the mask can be worn.

_______

Ninja Mask PrintableDownload

_______

World Landmark Geography Center

Create a center inspired by Wink’s circus performer travels and his sleeping area at home.

Display pictures from around the world on a wall above a table. Add a rice sensory bin with:

Safari Toob “Around The World” landmark figures

Ninja figurine

Panda bear figurine

Loose parts (gems, beads. bells, and shells)

Ninja book-inspired rice sensory bin featuring Safari Toob "Around The World" figurines.

_______

Tree Placemat

Set out ninja figurines, panda bears, pink gems, and a tree placemat so children can create a cherry tree garden scene.

Ninja-themed loose parts tray with panda bears, ninja figurines, and pink and white gems.

_______

Tree placemat scene invitation to create with pink gems and ninja and panda bear figurines.

_______

A similar scene works with eraser figurines and gems.

Ninja themed placemat scene with gems and eraser figurines.

_______

Other Book-Themed Accessories

Keep your eye out for accessories that complement a ninja theme.

Story accessories to compliment the picture book "Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Nap" by J. C. Phillipps.

_______

A Little Ninja History

Ninjas …

were spies/warriors active from the 12^th century to the early 1600s.

were specially trained. Their skills were handed down from father to son, and from teacher to a small group of trainees.

were exceptional students. Only top students were picked for training in schools.

were extremely physically fit.

were skilled at using swords and throwing discs.

were good at keeping secrets. To this day little is known about their training.

were great actors. They pretended to be someone else in their daily lives and were good at making surprise attacks.

_______

“Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Nap” is a follow-up story to the delightful picture book “Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Be Noticed.” To view a video of the first book read by author J. C. Phillipps, click here.

_______

To see how to make a toilet roll ninja craft featured on the website www.kidsactivities.com, click here.

_______

[Read more…]