Putting the Pretty In Preschool - Page 2 of 7 - Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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.

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Spooky Hands Craft

October 29, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This shiny spooky hands craft is effortless to do and uses easy to gather materials. The supplies for this project can be found at your local grocery and dollar stores.

Supplies Needed

white corn syrup

orange, green, and purple food coloring

paint containers and brushes

spoons

spider-themed fake nails

skull-themed fake nails

polka dot fake nails

Q-Tips

spider gems

sturdy white paper

black permanent felt pen

scissors

Taste safe corn syrup paint ingredients.

Traced hands and supplies needed to make spider, skull, and skeleton hand-themed crafts.

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Toilet Paper Roll Monsters

October 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Toilet paper roll monster craft and activities. Easy to make watercolor painted monsters to use with stacking blocks or a red split lentil-based sensory bin.

For most of the year, there has been a plethora of recycled crafts and activities posted on blogs and social media, and toilet paper rolls have been a “hot” material for craft and sensory projects. Debuting in this post are spunky toilet paper roll monsters. They are so simple to make and can be used with toys or in sensory bins for imaginative play.

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Scented Playdough Activities

October 18, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This two-ingredient playdough is super aromatic and has a unique consistency. It is easy and quick to make and inspires endless scented playdough activities.

Playdough Ingredients

The only ingredients needed are cornstarch and scented hair conditioner. Low cost perfumed conditioners can be picked up at Dollar stores and local grocery stores. Food coloring is an optional third ingredient.

Below are the supplies to collect for three scented playdough variations.

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Celery Science Experiment

October 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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 Needed

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.

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Horse Chestnut Leaf Art Activities

October 12, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A horse chestnut leaf featured in five easy to do art projects that are suitable for all ages.

Horse chestnut tree leaves are sizable and showy and have that “wow” factor. They are deep green compound leaves with five to seven leaflets that live on a tree that is beautiful throughout the seasons. The palmate leaves are showcased along with large, spiked flowers in spring. They turn golden yellow in autumn and are accompanied by dramatic, prickly lime green fruits that are coverings for ultra-smooth nut-like seeds called conkers. The leaves are a spectacular subject for art. Featured in this post are five horse chestnut leaf art activities that are easy to do with your early learners.

Horse chestnut tree flowers in spring. — Flowers in spring.

Horse chestnut tree with fruit in autumn. — Leaves and fruit in autumn.

Horse chestnut tree conkers on the left, and broken fruit casings on the right. — Conkers and empty fruit casings.

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Turkey Sensory Tubes

October 3, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Here are three quick and inviting turkey sensory tubes to put together for a Thanksgiving, fall, or farm theme. I used large water bottles with wide mouths purchased at a dollar store for these activities. Offer the tubes to little learners and have them “spot the turkeys.”

Three "Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.

Split Pea And Lentil Based Sensory Tube

Split pea and lentil-based turkey sensory tube with turkey counters, and leaf, pumpkin, and apple gems.

This calming turkey sensory tube features a red split lentil and yellow split pea base. Also included are:

red, orange, and yellow rubber turkey counters

pumpkin and apple gems

fall round and leaf gems

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Corn Theme Activities

September 6, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Corn is a symbol of autumn, and a garden plant with so many uses. We love it in foods, but it is also found in products such as oil, glue, hand soaps, cosmetics, and varnish. And corn cobs in an array of hues are showstoppers in fall décor. The versatile vegetable can be enjoyed by children in the corn theme activities below.

Corn Maze Visit

A corn maze visit is a farm infused adventure everyone should have. Aside from the obvious nature challenge of finding one’s way through a giant corn maze, the experience offers so much more.

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Carrot Theme Activities

August 18, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

One of the easiest vegetables to grow in an indoor or outdoor garden is carrots. This makes carrot activities ideal for hands-on nature experiences with young children.

Carrot theme sensory, art, and baking activities.

We usually think of carrots as orange, but did you know that they come in a variety of colors? You can purchase a rainbow bunch, which has purple, red, orange, yellow, and white carrots. Being a lover of all things colorful, I chose rainbow carrots for some of the carrot theme activities.

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Apple Theme Activities

August 8, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Apple themed art, sensory and baking ideas for early learners.

Apples are a handy educational resource. Whether these fruits are picked from a tree, given by a neighbor, or purchased from a store, they shine in early learning projects. Read on for engaging apple theme activities, and projects inspired by them.

Apple Toothpick Sculptures

Slice up green, red, and yellow apples into small pieces. Dip the chunks in lemon juice to prevent browning, and pile them on a tray. Add toothpicks.

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