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Putting the Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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Chinese Money Tree Activities

February 2, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Easy to do, creative Chinese money tree activities that give early learners a chance to use shiny gold coins and loose parts in art and sensory play while learning about a world-renowned celebration.
Easy to do, creative Chinese money tree activities that give early learners a chance to use shiny gold coins and loose parts in art and sensory play while learning about a world-renowned celebration.

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.

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

[Read more…] about Chinese Money Tree Activities

Filed Under: art, Chinese New Year, gardening, preschool, sensory, trees Tagged With: Chinese New Year, loose parts, printables, sensory tray

Chinese New Year Sensory Tray

February 1, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Year of the Ox Chinese New Year rice-based sensory tray with a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.
Year of the Ox Chinese New Year rice-based sensory tray with a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) will be celebrated on February 12 in 2021. It is the most important holiday in China and is celebrated by Chinese people and interested others all over the world. The holiday marks the end of the coldest winter days and the beginning of spring. Since it is the year of the ox, why not join in the festivities this February with an ox-themed Chinese New Year sensory tray.


Ox Facts

Domesticated oxen are often castrated adult male cows, as this makes them easier to handle.

Ox horns are very long.

Being very strong animals, they can pull heavy loads.

As dependable work animals, oxen transport people and supplies, help with field work, and power machines.

Oxen used to roam in herds in the wild.

Chinese New Year "Year of The Ox" rice-based tray featuring a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

Character Qualities Of The Ox

The ox is a cherished animal in Chinese culture, as it is hardworking and reliable, and was used in agriculture by peasants to plow fields. Positive character qualities are attributed to the ox. And people born in the year of the ox are considered to be logical, disciplined, diligent, trustworthy, and talented. And who wouldn’t want to emulate these qualities!


[Read more…] about Chinese New Year Sensory Tray

Filed Under: Chinese New Year, preschool, sensory Tagged With: rice bin, sensory bin

Recycled Card Mitten Matching

January 31, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Mitten and snowflake matching math activity using recycled cards.
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!

Mitten template.

Large Mitten PrintableDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.


Mitten template.

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.

Mitten pattern matching math activity.

[Read more…] about Recycled Card Mitten Matching

Filed Under: art, Math, preschool, winter Tagged With: mittens, printables, recycled cards

Polar Dinosaur Sensory Play

January 30, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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

[Read more…] about Polar Dinosaur Sensory Play

Filed Under: dinosaurs, playdough, preschool, sensory, winter Tagged With: Antarctic, Arctic, dinosaurs, fossils, playdough

Chinese New Year Sensory Play

January 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Chinese New Year sensory tub with red and gold accessories in a dyed chickpea base.
Chinese New Year sensory tub with red and gold accessories in a dyed chickpea base.

Have you ever dyed chickpeas? I finally gave it a try, and it is soooo addicting! I made the first batch red to use for Chinese New Year sensory play.

In experimenting, I thought the chickpeas looked nice in a combination of dark red, speckled red, and natural hues. All deep red chickpeas seemed overpowering in the sensory tub.

Chickpeas dyed with varying amounts of red acrylic paint.

How To Dye Chickpeas

A quick and easy way to dye chickpeas is with acrylic craft paint.

Supplies to collect:

large bag of chickpeas

red acrylic craft paint

measuring cup

tablespoon

large sandwich bags

plates or trays

Scoop one cup of chickpeas into a large sandwich bag. Add a tablespoon of red acrylic craft paint. Seal the bag well and knead the chickpeas for a few minutes until they are covered in paint.

Open the bag and set it on a table. After ten minutes, pour the chickpeas onto a tray or plate. They will be completely dry in another ten minutes.

Chickpeas dyed with red acrylic paint for sensory play.

To get a speckled paint look, add half a tablespoon of paint to one cup of bagged chickpeas and knead well. Repeat the drying process.

Then color a cup of chickpeas with one-quarter tablespoon paint.

Leave some chickpeas undyed. This will give you four color varieties to add to a tub or bin for Chinese New Year sensory play.

To have enough chickpeas for a group sensory tub, dye more of them!

Note: Acrylic paint washes off hands, tables, dishware and cutlery easily. If it spatters onto your clothes, wipe the paint off with a wet cloth before washing.


[Read more…] about Chinese New Year Sensory Play

Filed Under: Chinese New Year, preschool, science, sensory Tagged With: chickpeas, Chinese New Year, sensory bin

Winter Sensory Trays

January 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Snowflake confetti rules in these three winter sensory trays featuring polar bears, penguins, and shiny accessories.
Snowflake confetti rules in these three winter sensory trays featuring polar bears, penguins, and shiny accessories.

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:

Winter sensory tray loose parts.

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.

[Read more…] about Winter Sensory Trays

Filed Under: ocean, preschool, pretend play, sensory, winter Tagged With: loose parts, penguins, polar bears, sensory bin, sensory play, snowflakes

Color Explosion Science Experiment

January 1, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A simple color explosion science experiment with dramatic results. Just three kitchen supplies are needed to carry out this experiment.
A simple color explosion science experiment with dramatic results. Just three kitchen supplies are needed to carry out this experiment.

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.

[Read more…] about Color Explosion Science Experiment

Filed Under: Christmas, preschool, science, sensory, trees Tagged With: colors, experiment, trees

New Year’s Countdown Activities

December 30, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Art and math New Year's countdown activities. Printmaking with fringed toilet rolls, collage art, and number matching opportunities.
Art and math New Year's countdown activities. Printmaking with fringed toilet rolls, collage art, and number matching opportunities.

This post is an updated version of one of last year’s posts.

These New Year’s countdown activities give practice in number recognition and counting down from 10 to 1. And how fun is it for early learners to print fireworks with fringed toilet paper rolls!


Printmaking Fireworks

Supplies needed:

Happy New Year printable (downloadable below)

scissors

toilet paper rolls

magenta, yellow and light blue tempera paint

small plates or container lids

paint brushes


Happy New Year Printable

New Year's Countdown template to use for art and math activities with young children. Invitation to add paint print fireworks, count down from 10 t0 1 and match numbers.

The “Happy New Year” printable can be printed on 8 1/2 inch x 11-inch paper, or 11-inch by 17-inch paper.


Happy New Year PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.


[Read more…] about New Year’s Countdown Activities

Filed Under: art, Math, preschool Tagged With: Happy New Year, painting, printables, printmaking

New Year’s Crafts

December 29, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Glitzy, easy to make 2021 New Year's keepsake crafts that enhance eye-hand coordination, fine motor control, patterning, and number recognition.
Glitzy, easy to make 2021 New Year's keepsake crafts that enhance eye-hand coordination, fine motor control, patterning, and number recognition.

2021 is just around the corner, and who doesn’t mind having some easy to do New Year’s crafts at their fingertips. These activities double up as 2021 keepsakes. You can choose from several versions.


2021 Collage Craft

Supplies Needed:

glitter gold cardstock

tan cardstock

8 ½ x 11-inch cream cardstock

gold sequins, stars, balls and confetti

gold glitter glue

glue paddle

collage containers

adhesive gems

black or gold metallic felt pen

pencil

scissors

glue stick or glue gun


Making The 2021 Collage Craft

Trace your little learner’s hand on a piece of tan cardstock, or let your child do the tracing.

Help your child cut out the hand.

Add gold glitter glue and the craft bits to small containers. Just collect any gold colored craft items you have around for the collaging.

Set out the gold bits, glue, glue paddle, and paper hand on a table.

Gold craft supplies to decorate traced hands.

Invite your little one to glam up the hand with the collage items, using the glitter glue as an adhesive.

Let the collaged hand dry.

Cut a number one and a pair of number two shapes from gold glitter cardstock or a gold gift bag. Download the printable further on in this post to use as a template if desired.

On cream-colored cardstock, help your little learner use a glue stick to tack on a number two, the decorated hand, another number two, and a number 1. Reinforce the shapes with a glue gun if needed. Add a greeting with a black or gold metallic felt pen.

Gold-themed traced hand 2021 keepsake craft.

The glitzy hand takes center stage in this craft.


[Read more…] about New Year’s Crafts

Filed Under: art, Math, preschool Tagged With: Happy New Year, keepsakes, printables

Christmas Tree Decorating Center

December 23, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This festive Christmas tree decorating center for early learners features mini trees and child-friendly, nonbreakable decorations.
This festive Christmas tree decorating center for early learners features mini trees and child-friendly, nonbreakable decorations.

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.

[Read more…] about Christmas Tree Decorating Center

Filed Under: Christmas, display, preschool, sensory, trees Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas tree, sensory play, trees

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you find inspiration and leave some for me! Feel free to stay awhile!

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puttingtheprettyin.preschool

The bright sun streaming through my office window The bright sun streaming through my office window belies the fact that it is -16  degrees C /  3.2 degrees F outside. So an icy ice drum post it is!  This activity can be done indoors or outside any time of the year. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ 🌞🌞🌞 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

How is the weather in your part of the world?

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This post is inspired by the storybook “The Snow This post is inspired by the storybook “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. The book was published in 1962 and features an African-American boy as the main character. I read the story every winter to my preschoolers and they are spellbound each time. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#snowyday #bookinspired #blackhistorymonth #picturebook #readaloud #classicbooks #favoritebook #winterbooks #preschoolteacher #teacherofig #kindergarten #homeschooling #tots #eyfs #Canadianteacher #teachersfollowteachers #instateacher
A heart jewelry sensory tray that goes beyond Vale A heart jewelry sensory tray that goes beyond Valentine’s Day with its spring colors. The jewelry theme is inspired by a post by @littlelilacpreschool .

❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a last minute cr Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a last minute craft for dinosaur lovers. Link in profile to a free printable. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Day store! 😍

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#ValentinesDay #pretendplay #dramaticplay #hearts #playtolearn #prek #preteacher #teachersfollowteachers #playallday #playingislearning #playing #totsschool #eyfs #preschool #kindergarten #homeschooling #schoolathome
Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree. This Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree. This activity is inspired by an invitation to decorate a cherry tree by @rubberbootsandelfshoes .  Money tree facts and a free tree printable are #ontheblog .
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

#ChineseNewYear #lunarnewyear #trees #treeprintable #invitationtocreate #money #gold #sensorytray #waldorf #reggioinspired #playtray #prek #eyfs #moneytree #festiveplaylearn #trayfortheday
A woolly Valentine’s Day craft. The pattern for A woolly Valentine’s Day craft. The pattern for this craft is now on the blog...link in profile.

This craft was first featured last year and is inspired by a post from Agnes @hellowonderful_co . I’ve shared her adorable version in my stories.

❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑

#keepsake #valentinesdaycraft #kidscrafts #craftykids #artoftheday #heartart #celebratinglove #finemotorskills #artwithkids #craftswithkids #crafting #craftingwithkids #valentine #valentines #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities
Valentine’s Day playdough invitation. The dough Valentine’s Day playdough invitation. The dough in the middle is jello playdough. The dough on the right is my all time favourite basic playdough recipe.  The recipes for these three varieties are on the blog. Link in profile.

#playdough #ValentinesDay2021 #hearts #jelloplaydough #mainananak #montessori #playdoughfun #sensoryplay #toddleractivities #playbasedlearning #earlylearning #eyfs #playmatters #playtime #mainanmurah
Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers fo Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers for their original purpose. 😅😅😅

#erasers #minierasers #looseparts #hearts #prek #lovenothate #kindness #kindergarten #homeschooling #totsschool #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #schoolsupplies
Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the worl Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the world, even in cold, icy places like Alaska and Antarctica. But could dinosaurs have survived in polar regions? Link in profile to a blogpost that explores this topic with scientific views and sensory activities.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

 #polardinosaurs #dinosaurs #dinosaurfossils #earlylearning #paleontology #playdoughtray #prek #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #playdough #winterplay #sensory #tactile #handsonlearning #playandlearn #learningthroughplay #Canadianblogger
Sensory tray inspired by polar ornaments.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#sensorytray #sensorybin #trayforrheday #playtray #polaranimals #narwhal #seal #letsplay #playtolearn #earlylearning #itscoldoutthere #preschool #kindergarten #homeschool #iteachprek #teachersfollowteachers #Canadianteacher #Canadianblogger
Chickpea based Chinese New Year sensory tub. The c Chickpea based Chinese New Year sensory tub. The chickpeas are dyed with varying amounts of red acrylic paint, and some are left undyed. Read my latest blogpost  to find out more about the chickpea dying process. Link in profile.

#ChineseNewYear #yearoftheox #ChineseNewYearsensorybin #sensoryplay #colourful #redandgold #earlylearning #playtolearn #playing #handsonlearning #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #playsetup #iteachprek #tots #multicultural #Chineseholiday
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Recent Posts

  • Ice Drum Musical Instruments February 26, 2021
  • Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays February 25, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies February 18, 2021
  • Jewelry Sensory Tray February 15, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments February 14, 2021
  • Dinosaur Valentine Craft February 13, 2021
  • Scissor Skill Heart Collage February 10, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities February 7, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes February 6, 2021
  • Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts February 6, 2021

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