Putting The Pretty In Preschool – Page 66 – Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Frozen Inspired Shadow Box

February 5, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This Frozen-inspired shadow box scene features neutral and cool colors and textures. The color palette is gorgeous and is relatable to my experience of winter. Your child will enjoy using similar hued loose parts to create unique shadow box scenes.

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Although I live in an area with a long snowy season, it hasn’t always been easy to find winter-themed play accessories. I learned that if you haven’t bought your snowmen crafts and toys before Christmas, you’ve missed your chance. And it’s hard to find snowmen décor that isn’t adorned in green and red and draped in holly.

The same goes for fake snow or any winter-themed crafts. They often go hand in hand with Christmas. And that’s in a city with a winter season that lasts through March.

So, I especially embrace the winter setting and turquoises, pinks, and purples in Frozen I. These are colors I can relate to when my city is covered in ice and snow. And the hues take center stage in this invitation to create a Frozen-inspired shadow box scene.

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Supplies To Collect

Frozen inspired loose parts tray. Invitation for children to create a scene and engage in pretend play.

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cotton balls
pom poms in white and shades of turquoise
gold, turquoise, pink and purple necklaces
purple, pink, and turquoise beads
strips of white ribbon, lace, and bead garland
clear gems and ice blocks
foam bath sticker Frozen characters
tray with compartments
shadow box or wooden canvas paint board
12-inch x 18-inch piece of blue fade-resistant construction paper

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Frozen Inspired Shadow Box Set Up

Sort craft supplies in a tray with compartments. Add necklaces that are whole, and others cut into strips. Include Frozen bath stickers.

Cut a 12-inch x 18-inch piece of construction paper to fit snugly in the back of the wooden canvas paint board. If you are using a shadow box, cut paper to fit its size.

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A wooden canvas paint board to be used as a shadow box.

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A wooden canvas paint board with a blue piece of fade-resistant paper tucked inside.

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Set the canvas board or shadow box and tray with compartments on a table.

Encourage your child to create scenes and engage in pretend play.

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Offer this activity as a reusable center. Or craft supplies can be glued down and the Frozen-inspired shadow box displayed.

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Chinese Valentine’s Day Activities

February 2, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Chinese Valentine's Day celebration activities. Art, reading, math, light table and block play. These activities are perfect for a Chinese multicultural theme.

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On the weekend of August 25 and 26, 2017, Chinese Valentine’s Day was celebrated at the Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Center, located in downtown Edmonton. This traditional Valentine’s Day celebration dates back to the 1800s in China and is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, in late August.

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The Legend Of Zhi Nu And Niu Lang

The celebration is based on a story of a Chinese heavenly being named Zhi Nu, the seventh daughter of The Queen of Heaven, and a mortal cow herder named Niu Lang. Zhi Nu comes down to earth and admires how hardworking Niu Lang is. They marry and have two children, a boy and a girl. Zhi Nu is a skilled weaver and Niu Lang continues to work in the fields.

The Queen of Heaven soon notices that Zhi Nu is missing, and commands the army to bring her back up to heaven. Niu Lang and the children try to follow, but the Queen of Heaven creates a silver river (called the Milky Way) to keep them apart. Afterward, Niu Lang and his children live on the star Altair, and Zhi Nu lives on the star Vega. They are extremely sad to be parted from one another. A flock of magpies notices and decide to help by creating a bridge over the Milky Way with their bodies. This allows Zhi Nu and Nui Lang to spend time together. The Queen of Heaven sees how happy they are to be reunited, and decides that Zhi Nu and Nui Lang can meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

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A display featuring characters inspired by The Legend Of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang. Chinese Valentine's Day celebrations are based on this story. — A display featuring Zhi Nu and Niu Lang.

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Chinese Festival Resources

This story is based on a selection found in the book Celebrating Chinese Festivals, a Collection of Holiday Tales, Poems, and Activities by Sanmu Tang. There are a few different versions of the story and they vary slightly.

For more history, facts, and ideas about Chinese Valentine’s Day view the post by chinahighlights.com: “How To Celebrate Chinese Valentine’s Day.“

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My Visit To The Chinese Valentine’s Day Weekend Celebration

Elaborate Chinese Valentine's Day display at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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My visit to the cultural center was on Sunday afternoon, August 27. I saw an elaborate display showing figures and objects that had meaning to the story of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang. When the tale was shared with me, I was impressed with values such as being hardworking (in fieldwork), being skilled and creative (in weaving), and showing loyalty (to family). The inclusion of astronomy, art, and great character traits made this a rich story.

The afternoon event saw a mingling of seniors, parents, and children. Children were invited to decorate an umbrella and a fan. Intricate beadwork completed by seniors was on display. Everyone was served refreshments.

Bead work projects on display at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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Lanterns and decorated umbrellas at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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Activities Inspired By Chinese Valentine’s Day

Umbrella Decorating

Purchase an economical umbrella and sticker gems and jewel rhinestones. Invite early learners to decorate the umbrella. The stickers may need to be secured with hot glue later so they stay on longer.

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Umbrella decorating. Sticker gems and rhinestones adorn the umbrella. This project is inspired by an activity at a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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Oriental Block Play

Offer preschoolers Oriental blocks and game pieces. The play center can include a Great Wall of China picture backdrop.

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Fruit Matching And Sorting

Set out transparent ice cube fruit shapes and sorting trays on a light table for children to organize. Clear egg cartons are the trays used here.

Fruit sorting at a light table. Math and sensory activity inspired by a Chinese Valentine's Day celebration.

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In addition to being part of a Chinese Valentine’s Day Celebration, the Legend Of Zhi Nu and Niu Lang and these activities can be included in a Chinese multicultural theme.

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[Read more…]

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

January 30, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Invitation to cut craft supplies to make fake snow. The snow is featured in small world and sensory activities. Scissor skill practice for early learners.

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A scissor skill snow cutting activity snipping craft supplies is sure to attract your child’s attention. A rich base will be created for small world and sensory activities. A bonus is that this snow will never melt or be too cold to play with.

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Supplies To Collect

Go on the hunt for white, neutral, and silver craft supplies:

strips of cardstock paper
packing peanuts
straws
yarn
tissue paper
crepe paper
foil
ribbon
cotton balls
bows
lace
bead garland

Also needed:

blunt-edged children’s scissors
storage tray (to hold the precut supplies)
small cookie sheets

White and neutral craft supply tinker tray. Scissor skill activity to create fake snow and bits and pieces for collage and sensory activities.

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Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Set Up

Fill a storage tray with items for cutting.

Set the tray with scraps on a table along with pairs of scissors. Invite your child to choose pieces to snip smaller over a cookie sheet. Feel free to join your child in making snow.

White and neutral craft supply cutting tray set up. Scissor skill activity to create fake snow and bits and pieces for collage and sensory activities.

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Encourage your child to stand and cut. Studies show that children sit down for an enormous time each day, so adding activities where they are on their feet reduces sedentary time. (View an article that cites the benefits of standing versus sitting at standupkids.org.)

The variety of materials offered facilitates scissor skills. For instance, stiffer pieces are easier to hold with the helping hand. And harder-to-cut items increase small muscle strength in the cutting hand.

This scissor skill snow cutting activity offers rich opportunities for language development. Model and discuss descriptive words. Here are some possibilities:

Descriptive words to describe craft supplies in a snow cutting tray.

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Cutting practice with craft scraps offers a non-threatening way for young children to develop scissor skills. There is no wrong way to do it, so frustration is minimized. Children can experiment and cut the materials that work for them.

Early learners can start using scissors with guidance. For tips on teaching children to use scissors, view my post “Santa’s Beard Scissor Activity.”

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Activities With Craft Snow

Once there is a little pile of cut snow, use it in sensory and small world activities.

Polar Small World

Bead garland water, an igloo, and polar animals are highlights of this small world.

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Polar small world with craft supply snipped snow, gem ice cubes, a seal, and bead garland water. — Seal

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Polar small world with craft supply snipped snow, gem ice cubes, and polar bears. — Polar Bears

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Polar Sensory Tray

A take-out food container works beautifully as a sensory tray featuring small figurines.

A snack tray repurposed as a small world with snipped craft supply snow and polar figurines. With the lid snapped on, this play tray is transportable.

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Place the fake snow in one compartment, and the figurines in the other. This tray can be taken along on outings with the lid snapped on.

A snack tray repurposed as a small world with snipped craft supply snow and polar figurines. With a lid snapped on this play tray is transportable.

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Winter Sensory Bag

A large snack bag or small freezer bag can house reusable snow and figurines of any kind. This sensory bag is also portable.

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Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Winter Wreath Craft

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

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[Read more…]

Valentine’s Day Heart Art

January 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This Valentine’s Day heart art project features an oversized valentine with a very personal touch. Lipstick in “notice me” colors adds to the excitement of making the picture.

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For this post, I purchased low-cost lipstick in as many hues as I could find. If you already have lipstick in a variety of colors, you will save in preparation time.

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Supplies To Collect

lipstick colors in a few different shades
large white circle or heart-shaped doily
foam sticker hearts
adhesive gems
glue stick
sharpie felt pen
two sheets of 12-inch by 12-inch cardstock (in colors that complement each other)

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Lipstick shades used for a Valentine's Day paper craft. Lipstick prints are the highlight of the oversized valentine.

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Making The Valentine’s Day Heart Art Picture

Help your child apply lipstick and make lip prints on the doily. You can suggest a different color for the top and bottom lips for added fun.

Invite your child to decorate the doily picture with foam sticker hearts and adhesive gems.

Write some loving words on the doily, or have your child do so.

Assist your child in gluing the doily heart onto the cardstock square of choice.

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As an alternative, you can use a heart-shaped doily. Have your child make lipstick prints on it and follow the rest of the instructions above.

Or the cardstock with the decorated doily could be cut into a heart shape and then glued onto a complimentary piece of sturdy paper.

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Purple, reds, and pinks are prominent in these arty valentines. Choose materials that go with the lipstick hues you have available. Colors like turquoise and/or gold for lips and complimentary art supplies can be showcased wonderfully in this craft.

To view lipsticks that come in unexpected colors, browse through a post from allure.com. Experimenting with unusual shades or making rainbow lipstick prints will add dramatic flair to this valentine’s keepsake.

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[Read more…]

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

January 20, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Winter wreath craft made from a paper plate and recycled cards. A low-cost art project suitable for all ages to do.

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This winter wreath craft made from recycled cards and a paper plate is easy to assemble and displays well. It is gentle on the wallet too.

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Supplies To Collect

winter themed Christmas cards
paper plate
white wired ribbon
glue stick
scissors
glue gun
circle paper punches

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Paper plate winter wreath craft supplies. Circles cut from winter themed Christmas cards are the highlight of the art project.

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Save winter-themed cards from Christmas, and ask family and friends to pass on cards too. Keep an eye out for white ribbon on discount racks after the holidays. Purchase paper plates at a dollar store. If you manage all of the above, you will collect supplies for an economical fee and have leftover cards, plates, and ribbon for other crafts.

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Making The Winter Wreath

Cut or punch various sized circles from cards.

Cut a big circle out of the center of the paper plate.

Snip off a 24-inch piece of ribbon.

Invite your child to glue circles around the edge of the paper plate using a glue stick. An open spot should be left at the bottom or top of the plate for a bow.

Fold the ribbon into a bow. Use a glue gun to attach the bow to the wreath.

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Paper plate winter wreath craft using recycled cards. A low-cost art project suitable for all ages to do.

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The theme for this paper plate winter wreath can be snowmen, snowflakes, or polar animals. The ribbon you select may be patterned, or a different color altogether. The choices are yours!

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Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities