winter

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

February 26, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

These ice drum musical instruments can be played outside or indoors any time of the year. The musical activities are inspired by the Siberian percussion group Etnobit, who experimented with playing ice on Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake.

_______

Supplies To Collect

food containers (yogurt, sour cream, margarine, etc.)
bowls
food coloring
drum sticks
large tub
spoons for stirring and drumming

_______

Making the Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Freeze water colored with food coloring in different-sized food containers and bowls.

When frozen, remove the ice shapes from their molds and place them in a tub. Sprinkle snow in the tub first if it is available. Add drumsticks and objects for striking the ice.

Ice drum musical instruments that can be played indoors or outside any time of the year.

________

Playing The Ice Drums

Invite your early learners to experiment with drumming sounds on the ice chunks.

They can tap:

fast sounds
slow sounds
loud sounds
soft sounds
one slow note/ two fast notes rhythm
one loud note/two soft notes rhythm

_______

The little learners can also tap their own melodies on the ice drums.

_______

Watch this video to see the percussion group Etnobit playing music on ice slabs.

_______

Frozen Water Glass Xylophone

Another frozen water musical activity is to fill clear drinking glasses with varying amounts of colored water. Freeze them overnight and then set them on a table in a row. Have your little charges tap the water glasses with drumsticks to make higher and lower notes and experiment with melody making.

An easy to prepare frozen water xylophone for music exploration.

_______

Winter Playdough Recipe

Snowman Sensory Play

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Tablescape

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

_______

[Read more…]

Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays

February 25, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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

_______

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

_______

Polar Animal Sensory Tray Loose Parts

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

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

_______

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

_______

Seal and narwhal-inspired loose parts tray.

_______

Arctic Animal Sensory Trays

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

_______

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

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

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

_______

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

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

_______

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

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

Polar bear and seal sensory tray with luxurious loose parts.

_______

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

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

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

_______

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

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

_______

[Read more…]

Recycled Card Mitten Matching

January 31, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Mitten and snowflake matching math activity using recycled cards.

_______

Christmas is one of the best times to collect recycled cards for classroom activities. I ask people to save their cards for me and then file them away for future use. Cards are beautiful and add an arty flair to any project. And winter-themed cards are perfect for this recycled card mitten matching challenge.

For this activity, select cards with a snowy, winter theme. Christmas cards frequently have this. Cut mitten shapes from the cards. Use one of these templates if you wish. I made the mittens in two sizes!

_______

Large Mitten PrintableDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.

_______

Mitten PrintableDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.

_______

Punch shapes from the center of the mittens. I used a snowflake paper punch, but any shape could be punched or cut out. Then set the mittens and punched shapes out on a table. Invite early learners to match the cutouts to the mittens.

_______

More Paper Mitten Activities

Aside from this recycled card mitten matching challenge, mittens cut from different colors of cardstock paper could be used for matching. Or use the mitten template for a painting, coloring, or scissor skill activity.

_______

Snowflake and mitten matching challenge.

_______

Mitten and snowflake matching challenge.

________

[Read more…]

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Play

January 30, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Three engaging sensory activities to explore whether dinosaurs could have survived in polar regions of the world.

_______

Could dinosaurs have survived in polar areas of the world? Since fossils of many kinds of dinosaurs have been discovered in cold, icy regions, this question has been carefully pondered. Early learners can explore this idea through polar dinosaur sensory play.

_______

Polar Dinosaur Discoveries

Northern Alaska is the best polar location to find dinosaur fossils, as fossils of many uniquely different dinosaurs have been unearthed there.

Fossils from at least eight types of dinosaurs have been discovered in Antarctica.

Dinosaur fossils have also been found in Siberia, Canada, southern Australia, New Zealand, and the southern tip of South America.

There have been discoveries of dinosaur trackways, footprints, teeth, skin impressions, and bones.

Collecting dinosaur fossils in polar regions is challenging because of the extreme weather conditions, rugged, hard to access places and difficulty in removing fossils.

_______

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Tray

A simple way to incorporate the idea of polar animals living in cold parts of the world is to set up a polar dinosaur sensory tray.

Polar dinosaur sensory play with dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts.

_______

Items in the tray:

dinosaur figurines and skulls
acrylic ice cubes
turquoise acrylic gems
white, cream, and blue gems
stones
cotton balls
snowflake confetti
dinosaur confetti

Loose parts tray featuring dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts, perfect for exploring a polar dinosaur theme.

_______

This is an eye-pleasing tray that is bound to draw children in. It works well for individual sensory play.

Sensory tray with dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts, perfect for exploring a polar dinosaur theme.

_______

Polar Dinosaur Playdough Tray

You can use most of the above items for a polar dinosaur playdough tray. I exchanged the dinosaurs for miniature ones and took out the cotton balls.

For the oh, so soft playdough recipe, click here.

Playdough tray featuring dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts, perfect for exploring a polar dinosaur theme.

_______

Dinosaur cookie cutters add to the play possibilities.

Oh, so soft playdough used with dinosaur and winter-themed accessories.

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Tube

After using snowflake and dinosaur confetti in sensory trays, sprinkle some in a large clear plastic water bottle. Then add mini dinosaur figurines and water. Set the bottle out as a sensory tube for little learners to explore.

Polar dinosaur exploration sensory tube with snowflake confetti and miniature dinosaurs. An easy to prepare sensory experience for early learners.

_______

What Scientists Think About Dinosaurs and Polar Regions

Some dinosaurs could have lived in dark, chilly places, and may have hibernated in winter. Others could have adapted to the colder weather.

Still others may have migrated to polar regions in spring/summer because food was plentiful like many animals do today.

When dinosaurs roamed the earth the climate around the world was much warmer than today. Although polar lands had freezing temperatures and some snow, the weather was milder.

Fossils of leaves, pine needles, and trees show evidence that many polar areas were covered with forests when dinosaurs lived.

Polar dinosaur sensory tray with dinosaurs and winter-themed loose parts.

_______

Sensory tube for polar dinosaur exploration with snowflake confetti and miniature dinosaurs. An easy to prepare sensory experience for early learners.

_______

[Read more…]

Winter Sensory Trays

January 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Snowflake confetti makes an eye-catching base for three simple winter sensory trays. Combined with a few accessories, it sets the stage for sparkly sensory play experiences your little learners will delight in.

The find: shiny snowflake and dot confetti in a blue, silver, and white color scheme.

Basic Winter Sensory Tray

Supplies to collect:

_______

snowflake confetti
turquoise gems
silver and white bead garland strips
large silver snowflakes
star cups
clear spoons

Set in a tray, these pieces make the perfect hands-on sensory activity for your little ones to celebrate winter with.

Snowflake studded winter sensory tray filled with shiny pieces.

_______

Shiny pieces rule in this snowflake confetti based winter sensory tray.

_______

Polar Bear Sensory Tray

In this tray, the star cups and spoons are replaced with cube-shaped “ice cube” acrylic gems and an ice floe cut from styrofoam. Polar bear figurines are set on and around the ice floe.

Polar bear winter sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base and shiny loose parts.

_______

Polar sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base and shiny loose parts.

_______

Polar animal-themed loose parts tray. — **Polar Sensory Tray Loose Parts**

_______

Penguin Sensory Tray

The bears are out and a variety of penguins are in! Styrofoam packing chips are added to the mix. The penguins are propped on the ice floe and ice chunks, or swimming in the water. Cotton balls would also be a good fit for this tray.

_______

Penguin sensory tray with a winter-themed loose parts in a snowflake confetti base.

_______

White rice or paper snowflake confetti can be substituted as the base in these glitzy, easy-to-set-up winter sensory trays your little learners will love.

_______

Winter Playdough Recipe

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Polar Bear Small World

Painting Ice and Snow

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape