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Putting the Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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Christmas Tree Art

December 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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

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.


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.

[Read more…] about Christmas Tree Art

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool, trees, winter Tagged With: Christmas tree, painting, trees

Scissor Skill Gingerbread Man Craft

December 19, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Gingerbread man craft with scissor skill opportunities. Christmas-themed craft supplies are used to decorate the kraft paper gingerbread man.
Gingerbread man craft with scissor skill opportunities. Christmas-themed craft supplies are used to decorate the kraft paper gingerbread man.
.

Gingerbread man stories and activities are definitely one of the most fun parts of Christmas. Including them in my preschool plans is an annual routine.

After reading a few fun-filled gingerbread man picture books to my preschoolers this month, I was eager to set out a scissor skill gingerbread man craft so they could explore beautiful bits and baubles and practice cutting and gluing. This activity would be easy to set up for the little learners in your life.


Craft Materials To Collect

Gather Christmas-themed craft materials that can be cut and glued, or simply glued.

Compartment sorting tray with Christmas-themed craft supplies.

Included in this compartment sorting tray are:

gingerbread man themed cupcake liners

striped straws

cream lace

Christmas bows

pompoms

feathers

pipe cleaners

tissue paper squares

bead garland

thick ribbon pieces

The color scheme for this scissor skill craft is red, yellow, green, gold, and cream.


[Read more…] about Scissor Skill Gingerbread Man Craft

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool, sensory Tagged With: Christmas craft, gingerbread man, loose parts, printables

Handprint Christmas Crafts

December 18, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Heart-tugging handprint Christmas crafts using paper bags as a base. Featured are heart, Christmas tree, reindeer, and fish ornament crafts.
Heart-tugging handprint Christmas crafts using paper bags as a base. Featured are heart, Christmas tree, reindeer, and fish ornament crafts.

There has been a return in popularity of paper grocery bags, so why not use a few for handprint Christmas crafts? The bags are sturdy and give craft projects a vintage feel.

Here are a few festive, heart-tugging crafts that employ brown paper bags as a base.


Handprint Heart Decorations

Cut hearts from paper grocery bags. Feel free to download this heart printable to use as a template.

Heart printable for art and craft projects.

Heart TemplateDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.


Set out bright red tempera paint and a paper heart. Invite your early learner to dip a hand in the paint and make a print on the heart.

Invitation to make a red handprint on a paper bag heart.

Or, invite your little one to paint a hand and then make the print. This takes more time, but the result is often neater.

Invitation to paint a hand to make a print on a paper bag heart.

After the handprint heart dries, hot glue on a red bow. Then add a looped ribbon to hang the craft.

Red handprint heart craft ready for hanging.

[Read more…] about Handprint Christmas Crafts

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool Tagged With: Christmas craft, Christmas tree, handprint crafts, ornaments, paper bag crafts, printables

Handprint Angel Craft

December 16, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Handprint angel craft in magenta and turquoise colors.
Handprint angel craft in magenta and turquoise colors.

Last year’s handprint angel craft was a hit with my preschool families. So this year I set out to find a glittery Christmas stem that would inspire a variation of the well-received keepsake craft. I shopped with no preconceived ideas in mind, and at the first store, a gleaming peacock-inspired stem caught my eye. I knew immediately that it was “the one” for this year’s angel craft.

In my instructions, I use the colors magenta, turquoise, and pink, and “peacock-inspired Christmas stem.” But feel free to substitute any glittery stem and complementary colors for the craft.


Supplies To Collect

peacock-inspired Christmas stem

magenta tempera paint

pink glitter

white cardstock paper

skin toned cardstock paper

disposable plate

glue gun

scissors

pencil or thin black felt pen


Making The Handprint Angel

Choose a glittery peacock-inspired Christmas stem. The stem featured in this craft is turquoise and magenta, a wonderful Dollar Store find.

Magenta and blue Christmas stem with a peacock theme.

[Read more…] about Handprint Angel Craft

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool Tagged With: angels, Christmas craft

Christmas Sensory Play

December 15, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Christmas-themed sensory play with festive loose parts in a rice based tray and a water tub.
Christmas-themed sensory play with festive loose parts in a rice based tray and a water tub.

With a host of seasonal loose parts available to purchase in fall, Christmas sensory play experiences are easy and economical to put together. These two festive tubs are sure to delight your little learners.


Christmas Rice Sensory Tray

Glutinous rice is the base for this tray. The word glutinous means glue-like; the rice does not contain gluten. The grains are super white, showcasing the loose parts in the tray. But any kind of rice would work well.

Christmas-themed rice sensory tray.

Pour a layer of rice into a tray or plastic tub.  Add loose parts from the list below, or substitute accessories you have available. Invite your early learners to explore the tray.

Loose parts:

red, green, and white buttons

ice cube stars, snowmen, and trees

acrylic gem snowflakes and lights

metallic snowflakes

foam Christmas shapes and alphabet letters

candy-striped straws

red bowl and spoon


Christmas-themed loose parts tray for sensory play.

Additional containers for pouring and filling could be included.


Christmas-themed containers for sensory play.

[Read more…] about Christmas Sensory Play

Filed Under: Christmas, literacy, Math, preschool, sensory Tagged With: Christmas, loose parts, rice bin, sensory play

Christmas Dove Art

December 13, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Squish painting and collage Christmas dove art projects suitable for all ages Free dove template included.. ages.
Squish painting and collage Christmas dove art projects suitable for all ages Free dove template included.. ages.

Angels are often my “go-to” theme for a Christmas craft keepsake, but this holiday season I have doves on my brain. Doves are symbolic of peace and love, welcome inspiration at Christmas, or any time of the year. So here are two Christmas dove art projects that make touching keepsakes… and display beautifully. Bonus: I’ve included a free downloadable printable to use for the crafts.


Squish Painted Dove

Create a symmetrical dove pattern or download the printable in this post to use as a template. Cut out one bird from white 8 ½ inch x 11-inch cardstock paper for each child completing the project.

Dove printable to download for a craft project.

Dove TemplateDownload

This printable is for individual and one classroom use only.


Set the doves out onto a table along with red and green paint and spoons.

Invitation to spatter paint paper doves with red and green paint.

Invite your little learners to spatter paint their dove.

Spatter painted dove using green and red Christmas colors.

Then help them fold the dove, and smooth their hand over it. Placing newspaper underneath and overtop the folded birds helps absorb excess paint.

Ask your little ones to unfold their birds. They are bound to be excited to see the art they have created.

Squish painted dove art project in red and green colors.

After the doves dry, hot glue a sprig from a Christmas stem underneath each beak.

A sprig from a Christmas stem is the finishing touch for this squish painted red and green dove.

[Read more…] about Christmas Dove Art

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool Tagged With: Christmas craft, doves, painting, paper crafts

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

December 10, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fun red and white Santa Claus themed playdough invitation which features oh so soft and aromatic cherry jello playdough.
Fun red and white Santa Claus themed playdough invitation which features oh so soft and aromatic cherry jello playdough.

This Santa Claus playdough tray is stocked with white and cherry red dough. You’ll want to save this post to have the recipes on hand, as they are oh so soft and aromatic.

Santa Claus is a fun part of Christmas celebrations, and legend has it that he lives at the North Pole. With the help of his elves, he makes toys all year long. He fills a sack with toys on Christmas Eve and delivers them to children all around the world in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer.  


Related: Read a Christmas Santa Claus Story about how the jolly man may have originated on howstuffworks.com.


Santa-themed Loose Parts Tray

Santa Claus is most often pictured with a long white beard and red, fur-trimmed clothing. So red and white loose parts are predominant in this collection.

Red and white Santa Claus and reindeer themed loose parts tray.

The tray includes:

Santa and reindeer erasers

reindeer ring and buttons

red snowflake gems

red and white round gems

various sized white pearl beads

cut up candy striped straws

reindeer and stocking cookie cutters

Santa Claus and present shaped cookie cutters could be added to the tray.  

Santa Claus-themed sensory tray with red and white loose parts.

White Playdough Recipe

My go-to basic playdough recipe (featured in this post) has the following 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.


[Read more…] about Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Filed Under: Christmas, playdough, preschool, sensory Tagged With: playdough, Santa, scented playdough, sensory tray

Frozen 2 Inspired Sensory Bin

November 26, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin with pumpkins, apples, leaves, rocks, and craft supplies. A reindeer, snowman, and people characters complete the bin.
Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin with pumpkins, apples, leaves, rocks, and craft supplies. A reindeer, snowman, and people characters complete the bin.

When I came across the Frozen II based storybook “We’ll Always Have Each Other” earlier this year, I immediately fell in love with the fall color scheme. The rich red and orange forest colors, peppered with gold, green, and purple got me super excited about putting together a Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin.

This endearing story written by John Edwards touches on pumpkins, the changing seasons, and the close friendship between Olaf and Anna. The line “life may get harder sometimes, but we’ll stay strong for each other” seems even more relevant today than when it was written more than a year ago.


Sensory Bin Color Guide

These papers were my color guide for choosing craft supplies and loose parts for the vibrant sensory bin. I used leaf punches in two different sizes to turn cardstock into tiny leaves to sprinkle in the bin.

The color guide for a Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin.

[Read more…] about Frozen 2 Inspired Sensory Bin

Filed Under: apples, autumn, fall, friends, literacy, preschool, pretend play, sensory Tagged With: apples, Frozen inspired, looseparts, pumpkins

Pumpkin Color Activities

November 23, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Pumpkin facts and color activities. Anatomy, color matching, and art activities.
Pumpkin facts and color activities. Anatomy, color matching, and art activities.

Although orange pumpkins are traditional, and most grocery stores focus on selling them, these dramatic fruits come in many other hues. Diversely colored pumpkins can be scouted out at farmer’s markets and garden centers in autumn. They are intriguing in pumpkin color activities for little learners.


Pumpkin Display

First, set out pumpkins on a shelf for little ones to view. The contrasting colors make a striking display. Discuss pumpkin color, size, shape, and texture.

Pumpkins in mint, cream, black, yellow, and green colors.

Color Matching

Move the pumpkins to a table and invite early learners to add color words.

Color matching with mint, orange, green, cream, and black pumpkins.

[Read more…] about Pumpkin Color Activities

Filed Under: art, autumn, display, fall, literacy, preschool, science, sensory, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: colors, painting, pumpkins, Thanksgiving Day

Beet Science And Sensory Activities

November 22, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Beet science and sensory activities. Beet washing station, ordering beets by size, and growing new greens and roots. Links to two festive recipes.
Beet science and sensory activities. Beet washing station, ordering beets by size, and growing new greens and roots. Links to two festive recipes.

This fall at a greenhouse a display of golden beets caught my attention. They weren’t on my list to buy, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them after I got home. So on my next visit to the garden center, I purchased golden beets and a red bunch too. The showy vegetable inspired beet science and sensory activities that can be introduced on the fly.


Beet Washing Station

Set one or both kinds of beets in a tray with water and a vegetable brush. Invite your early learner to scrub the beets to make their color shine.

Beet washing station with red beets.

Red and golden beets in a beet washing station.

[Read more…] about Beet Science And Sensory Activities

Filed Under: autumn, fall, gardening, preschool, science, sensory, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: beets, Christmas, measurement, Thanksgiving Day

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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. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#dinosaurcraft #dinosaurvalentines #rawr #pompomcraft #ValentinesDay2021 #kidscrafts #crafter #craftersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #eyfs #papercraft #preschoolcrafts #homeschooling #totsschool #Sundayvibes #teacherofig #Canadianteacher
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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