Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Hawaiian Party

by Leave a Comment

Hawaiian party ideas for an all-ages get together. Food, crafts, songs, and music for an easy to manage get together.

_______

Here’s a Hawaiian Party that works for all ages. We did it with a group of seniors, preschool children, and their parents. It was dreamed up because this school year our preschool classes were invited to visit a senior’s home to socialize with the residents. February was a great month to show some kindness, so we planned our visit then.

_______

Hawaiian Holiday Theme

Hawaiian Holiday was the theme of choice. Our city was in the middle of a cold-weather spell, so the thinking was “If we can’t be in Hawaii, (where we would ALL rather be), then let’s bring Hawaii to us.”

Our preschool brought food and activities for the visit.

As seniors, preschool children, and preschool parents entered the social room at the home, music from the CD “Golden Hits Of Hawaii” wafted through the air. (This is a favorite CD of Hawaiian music, and we’ve played it at school on some of our coldest days. The music lifts our spirits every time.)

_______

As everyone chose a spot to sit, they were invited to make a paper lei.

Paper Hawaiian lei party craft suitable for all ages.

_______

Next, our school group performed some action songs for seniors and parents. Songs from Dr. Jean Sing Along Read Along books and CDs were our choice. (Dr. Jean has many singing and learning activities available on her website and her YouTube Channel.)

_______

Hawaiian Party Food

Then refreshments were served. Hawaiian-themed paper plates were passed out.

Little muffins with parasols for decoration were offered.

Muffins decorated with parasols for a Hawaiian party snack.

_______

Each table got a palm tree scene fruit plate.

Palm tree scene made with fruit and coconut rolls for a Hawaiian party snack.

_______

Crispy coconut rolls were a last-minute find for the palm tree trunks.

A selection of cookies rounded out the snack options.

A cookie tray with rainbow, oatmeal, and chocolate chip cookies.

_______

Extra fruit was available to make sure everyone would have some.

Fruit tray with strawberries, blueberries, grapes and honeydew.

_______

Closing Activity

Our last activity was choosing a Hawaiian-themed picture to color. Scented markers were used for this. The seniors were proud to show us their finished work.

_______

As we were preparing to leave, many seniors showed appreciation for our visit. They said we brightened their morning, which is what we had hoped for! Preschool parents who helped supervise our activities were complimentary. A good time was had by all.

_______

[Read more…] about Hawaiian Party

Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

by Leave a Comment

Chinese New Year 2019 Rice Sensory Bin

_______

The Chinese New Year officially begins on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, and it will be the Year of the Pig. The pig is the 12th and last zodiac animal. Some ancient storied explanations are:

  • The pig was the last to arrive at an important meeting because he slept in.
  • A wolf destroyed the pig’s house so he had to rebuild it before he could get to the meeting.
  • The pig stopped to enjoy a feast while taking part in a race. He resumed the race but not surprisingly came in last.
  • Being pretty pudgy, the pig moved the slowest in the race.

_______

Fascinating Facts About Pigs

Although pigs often get associated with being smelly and dirty, they keep quite clean if they are in a temperature-controlled environment. They only roll around in dirt when they get hot, and this is because they cannot sweat.
As far as smarts go, pigs are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world.  As pets, they can figure out how to open a cupboard and can be trained to shake a hoof and rollover.

_______

Predictions For The Year Of The Pig

The Year of the Pig might just be a positive one for everyone!  People born in the Pig Year are attributed with an agreeable personality, balanced lifestyle, hardworking nature, and enjoyment of life. These qualities are thought to have a positive influence on all people.

_______

Related:

Year Of The Rat Noodle Bin (Chinese New Year 2020)

Year Of The Ox Sensory Tray (Chinese New Year 2021)

Year Of The Tiger Chickpea Bin (Chinese New Year 2022)

_______

Local Celebrations

In recognition of Chinese New Year, this weekend there will be celebrations all over the city of Edmonton.  Events will include lion and dragon dances, music, dancing, and cultural performances. There will be karaoke singing for seniors and crafts for children.  West Edmonton Mall will host a talent show as part of their itinerary. The University of Alberta will hold a Lunar New Year Gala, so Asian students can celebrate the holiday and make new friendships while staying in Edmonton to further their studies.

_______

Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

Here’s a sensory bin to celebrate Chinese New Year 2019. The rice base is a neutral color, but colored yellow rice would work well too.

A Chinese New Year 2019 rice sensory bin.

_______

Items In The Sensory Bin:

  • brown rice
  • red bowls
  • red spoons
  • Asian themed tins
  • small red cups
  • chopsticks
  • gold coins (borrowed from my St. Patrick’s Day stash)
  • gold and red buttons
  • red and gold jewels
  • red garland pieces
  • gold stars
  • toy dragons
  • toy pigs

_______

[Read more…] about Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

Coffee Playdough Turkey

by 2 Comments

Easy to make playdough turkey. Feathers, espresso beans, and a wiggly eye complete the bird.

_______

Use this aromatic coffee playdough recipe, or your favorite sensory dough to make a playdough turkey.

_______

Coffee Playdough Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup salt
  • 1 cup old coffee grounds
  • ½ cup cold coffee

_______

Mix and knead all the ingredients in a large bowl. Add a little more flour if needed.

Store in the fridge until use. Take the dough out of the fridge to warm up if there is time.

_______

Making The Coffee Playdough Turkey

Have children use a large turkey-shaped cookie cutter to make a turkey shape. Set out feathers, espresso beans, and googly eyes for children to decorate their birds with.

_______

A freshly made turkey.

A freshly made coffee playdough turkey.

_______

A dried coffee playdough turkey ready to display.

A coffee playdough turkey that has dried and is ready to display.

_______

With this unique sensory experience, preschoolers are bound to have fun smelling and molding playdough turkeys and other creations of their choice.

_______

_______

[Read more…] about Coffee Playdough Turkey

Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

by Leave a Comment

Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.

_______

Paint Mixing

Preschoolers love, love, love to mix paint colors, and I like some unique art for memory albums and/or classroom display. The orange/fuchsia diptych art quilt entitled “Now” by textile artist Laurie Brainerd provides just the right inspiration for children to color mix and have an interesting finished project. The unique paper shapes add interest to the painting project.

_______

The Two-Part Paint Mixing Process

Cut out the two shapes displayed above on light pink or white fade-resistant construction paper.

Day One

Set out yellow and a little red tempera paint along with brushes for children to decorate the shape featured below.

Color mixing paint activity: red and yellow paint set up with an unusual paper shape.

_______

Day Two

Set out white and a little red tempera paint along with brushes for children to decorate the shape featured below.

(The red paint tends to dominate, so a small amount works best.)

Color mixing paint activity: red and white paint set up with an unusual paper shape.

_______

Finishing The Look

After both projects dry, use glue tape to attach the pieces to a 12 x 12 piece of card stock. The art can be displayed on a wall and/or saved for a scrapbook-style memory album.

Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.

_______

About Laurie Brainerd’s Work

The art quilt “Now” (2008) is part of Laurie Brainerd’s series of abstract works around formal elements of design.  Commercial, hand-dyed, and vintage fabrics were used in the pieces. I discovered the quilt in the gorgeous book “500 Art Quilts” by Karey Patterson Bresenhan.

_______

Laurie Brainerd makes many unique art quilts. You can find out more about Laurie’s interesting and varied pieces on her website.

_______

[Read more…] about Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

Transparent Page Divider Activities

by Leave a Comment

Transparent page divider activities. Art, science, math, and photography ideas that are suitable for all ages.

_______

School supplies are stocked everywhere, sales are on, and I’m buying a substantial amount of transparent page divider packets. I’m using them for their usual purpose and setting lots aside for early learning activities. Read on for ideas on how to incorporate these layering page dividers in photos, art, and light table play.

Transparent page dividers used in math, science, art, and photography activities with children.

_______

Transparent Page Divider Jellyfish

Page divider jellyfish bells and transparent stir stick tentacles offer an invitation to create on the light table. The jellyfish can give each other “hugs” so new colors are discovered.

Light table jellyfish made with transparent page divider shapes and stir sticks.

_______

Geometric Shape Creations

Cut geometric shapes in various sizes and a tray of transparent gems inspire open-ended creating.

Cut geometric transparent page divider shapes set on a light table with transparent jewels.

_______

Christmas Tree Decorating

Christmas trees cut from page dividers and set out on a light table with transparent star links and game pieces offer a festive invitation to decorate.

Transparent Christmas trees, star links, and game pieces.

_______

Page Divider Picture Accents

A strip of transparent color layered on pictures adds a striking element. Black and white animal themed coloring pages and calendar pictures work well as subjects too.

Sketch Art picture of meerkats looking into a pumpkin enhanced with a transparent page divider strip.
Sketch Art Meerkat And Pumpkin Photo

_______

Sketch Art photo of a pier enhanced with a transparent page divider strip.
Sketch Art Pier Photo

_______

Country barn photo enhanced with a strip of a transparent page divider..

_______

Handprint Turkey Art Accent

A strip of a transparent page divider enhances black and white turkey handprint art.

Handprint turkey enhanced with a strip of transparent page divider.

_______

[Read more…] about Transparent Page Divider Activities

Book Inspired Tree Art

by Leave a Comment

Tree Art inspired by the storybook "Wow! Said The Owl" by Tim Hopgood. Papercraft art using a variety of colors and textures.

_______

Inspiration For The Tree Art

Trees are a popular art theme, and I love using tree art in a mosaic pattern on a bulletin board display.

Over the years I’ve done a few tree displays celebrating our four Alberta seasons.  This year I chose an art project based on the storybook “Wow! Said The Owl” by Tim Hopgood.  In the story, an owl stays up past his bedtime one summer night and notices the beautiful colors of early morning, midday, and dusk.  The owl loves all the color schemes but decides the night colors are still the best.  As I read the story, I was saying “Wow” right along with the owl, because the illustrations featuring the owl and tree throughout the day are gorgeous!

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Art Set-Up

Paper supplies to make the tree art pictures. An all-ages book inspired art activity.

_______

Based on the colors in the book, I used heart-themed paper punches to cut a variety of leaves.  I used circle paper punches for the sun and moon.  Butterfly paper punches came in handy for the midday pictures.  A sticker owl was available to complete each picture.

For the art project, I used four different blue shades of 9 x 12 fade-resistant paper.  This size displays perfectly as a mosaic pattern on a feature bulletin board I have access to.  I cut tree trunks in different shades of brown and glued one on each piece of blue paper.

Then children got a little bag with shapes to create a tree scene.  Paper pieces were attached with a glue stick.  Some children questioned why we were using heart shapes for the leaves, so I showed them heart-shaped leaves from real plants.

_______

Tree Art Themes

Children completed at least two of the following projects.

Sunrise paper craft tree inspired by the storybook "Wow! Said The Owl" by Tim Hopgood.

_______

Mid day paper craft tree inspired by the storybook 'Wow! said The Owl' by Tim Hopgood.

_______

Sunset paper craft tree inspired by the storybook "Wow! Said The Owl" by Tim Hopgood.

_______

Nighttime paper craft tree inspired by the storybook 'Wow! Said The Owl' by Tim Hopgood.

_______

Some of the completed pictures were saved for each child’s memory album; others were saved for the bulletin board display.

Tree art projects arranged in a mosaic pattern on a bulletin board.

_______

A second bulletin board idea…

Tree art bulletin board idea inspired by the storybook "Wow! said The Owl" by Tim Hopgood.

_______

Tree art depicting the seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall is always a stunner. And it is easy to display on a bulletin board for parents and children to admire.

_______

[Read more…] about Book Inspired Tree Art