Putting The Pretty In Preschool – Page 74 – Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Ninja Theme Facts And Activities

October 24, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This ninja theme draws inspiration from the picture book “Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Nap”, written and illustrated by J. C. Phillipps. The book is filled with energy, wisdom, and tidbits about Japanese culture. For young children, the story is a captivating read. The illustrations provide inspiration for multicultural story extensions.

Ninja theme featuring sensory, small world, art, large motor, and pretend play activities. Ninja facts and picture book inspiration included.

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In the story, a little ninja named Wink is excited that he is a famous circus performer. But he cannot get in a much-needed nap because his fans follow him everywhere! He walks through a garden of cherry trees, and moves through and hides in different parts of town, but his followers persist.

Back at Summer Moon School For Young Ninjas, he comes up with a plan inspired by Master Zutsu’s mentoring. With help from his fellow ninja students, his fans are detoured so he can nap. His stuffed panda is along for the adventure.

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“Wink” Inspired Ninja Activities

Cherry Blossom Tree Small World

Offer children accessories to create a small world on a decorative cloth-covered table with

Wooden tree blocks

Pink flower blossoms

Pink and white gems

Ninja figurines

“Safari Toob” panda bears

Paper folded Japanese home

Cherry blossom tree small world with pink flowers, gems, and panda and ninja figurines.

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Cherry blossom tree book-inspired small world with pink flowers, gems, and panda and ninja figurines.

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For the ninjas, take apart Wall Crawlers, available at dollar stores. Remove the jelly-like insides, glue the upper and lower body parts together with a hot glue gun, and glue in pipe cleaner hands and feet.

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Ninja Dress Up

Collect ninja-themed props for dramatic play and photos ops. Include

Ninja masks (Dollar Tree)

Throwing stars (Dollar Tree)

Ninja vests (Dollar Tree)

Foam swords (Dollar Store)

A stepping stool to stand on and pose

Ninja themed masks, vests, throwing stars, and foam swords for pretend play.

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Pretend Play Printable

Download this free printable to inspire ninja-themed pretend play. It works best printed on cardstock paper.

The mask can be cut out and decorated with crayons or felt pens. It can also be traced onto and cut from colored paper. Attach an elastic string so the mask can be worn.

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Ninja Mask PrintableDownload

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World Landmark Geography Center

Create a center inspired by Wink’s circus performer travels and his sleeping area at home.

Display pictures from around the world on a wall above a table. Add a rice sensory bin with:

Safari Toob “Around The World” landmark figures

Ninja figurine

Panda bear figurine

Loose parts (gems, beads. bells, and shells)

Ninja book-inspired rice sensory bin featuring Safari Toob "Around The World" figurines.

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Tree Placemat

Set out ninja figurines, panda bears, pink gems, and a tree placemat so children can create a cherry tree garden scene.

Ninja-themed loose parts tray with panda bears, ninja figurines, and pink and white gems.

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Tree placemat scene invitation to create with pink gems and ninja and panda bear figurines.

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A similar scene works with eraser figurines and gems.

Ninja themed placemat scene with gems and eraser figurines.

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Other Book-Themed Accessories

Keep your eye out for accessories that complement a ninja theme.

Story accessories to compliment the picture book "Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Nap" by J. C. Phillipps.

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A Little Ninja History

Ninjas …

were spies/warriors active from the 12^th century to the early 1600s.

were specially trained. Their skills were handed down from father to son, and from teacher to a small group of trainees.

were exceptional students. Only top students were picked for training in schools.

were extremely physically fit.

were skilled at using swords and throwing discs.

were good at keeping secrets. To this day little is known about their training.

were great actors. They pretended to be someone else in their daily lives and were good at making surprise attacks.

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“Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Nap” is a follow-up story to the delightful picture book “Wink, The Ninja Who Wanted To Be Noticed.” To view a video of the first book read by author J. C. Phillipps, click here.

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To see how to make a toilet roll ninja craft featured on the website www.kidsactivities.com, click here.

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Reptile Egg Science

September 10, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Animal eggs come in different colors, shapes, sizes, and shell textures. Bird eggs feel hard. Snakes and many turtles lay soft-shelled eggs with a rubbery feel. Snake eggs are usually oval; turtle eggs are round to slightly oblong.

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Make A Reptile Egg

Here’s an easy-to-do Science experiment to transform an unshelled, boiled egg into a rubbery reptile egg! It’s perfect for the classroom or to do with your children at home.

A container of cider vinegar and an egg.

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Supplies Needed:

one unshelled, boiled egg
1 ½ cups / 375 ml cups of cider vinegar
clear 2 cup / 500 ml jar
tablespoon
dessert plate

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Boil the egg and let it cool. Ask children to describe the color and feel the hardness of the egg.

Place the unshelled, boiled egg in a jar of cider vinegar. Discuss the color of the liquid…yellow, red, and orange are words children might use for the hue. I suggest the word amber.

Put the jar in the fridge.

A boiled egg immersed in a jar half-filled with cider vinegar.

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After a couple of days, take the jar with the egg out of the fridge and have everyone view it. The cider vinegar will look a little foamy.

Scoop the egg out of the jar, place it on a dessert plate, and invite children to feel it. The egg will be tinged with brown residue. Ask children to describe the texture, which has turned rubbery.

A boiled egg taken out of cider vinegar after two days.

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New Discovery

The above egg is the result of the second time I tried this experiment! The first egg I used was not boiled, as I forgot to do it! I left the unshelled egg (in a jar of cider vinegar) in the fridge for two weeks before noticing it! When I finally took it out, it had a neat visual appeal. The outside of the uncooked egg felt rubbery, just as the boiled one did. When I poked it, soft insides spilled out. It was a happy accident that led to a new discovery!

An unboiled egg after being immersed in cider vinegar for two weeks. — Forgotten Reptile Egg

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An unboiled egg placed in cider vinegar for two weeks, then pricked with a fork to show the soft inside. — Forgotten Reptile Egg Insides

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Reptile Egg Science Printable

Extend the Science experiment by setting out this printable with reptile egg shapes to decorate and cut, or use as a play mat for matching turtle and snake figurines.

Reptile egg shapes printable to color and cut. Or invite children to place snakes and turtles in the circle, oval and oblong-shaped eggs.

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Match snakes and turtles to their corresponding egg shapes.

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Reptile Egg Shapes Free PrintableDownload

(This printable was created in PicMonkey and is for personal or one classroom use only.)

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Do you have a favorite experiment to do with eggs? I’d love to hear about it!

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To view a video showing a snake hatching from an egg on the DK website, click here.

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Activities With Sunflowers

August 26, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Art, nature and sensory activities with a variety of sunflowers and their parts.

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Sunflowers are a summer showstopper on a patio or balcony, or in a garden. They make stunning cut flowers. When mature, sunflower parts are ideal for art, nature, and sensory activities with young children.

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Growing Sunflowers

Sunflowers are easy to grow. And there are so many varieties to choose from! Featured below are golden yellow midsized ones (Golden Hedge), rust and yellow sunflowers (Evening Sun) and a fluffy double flower “teddybear” kind.

Sunflowers in different colors, shapes and sizes.

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Start seeds indoors near a sunlit window, or under a grow light. After the last frost, transplant the tiny plants to pots or add them to a garden plot. In areas with long growing seasons, plant the seeds in gardens or containers outdoors immediately.

Sunflowers need a sunny location to flourish. They require regular watering but can tolerate some drought. Plants in pots may need to be transplanted to larger ones when they grow bigger.

For more information about growing sunflowers, view this post from Gardener’s Path.

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Sunflower Activities For Young Children

Invite young children to help plant and grow sunflowers. The frequent changes in growth offer many opportunities for investigation. Include mature sunflower parts in art and sensory activities.

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Printmaking With Sunflowers

Set out red, blue, green and yellow tempera paint colors along with brushes, sunflower heads, and leaves. Have children paint the flowers and leaves and press them on a large piece of paper.

Supplies for making paint prints with sunflower parts.

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Let the paintings dry.

Paint prints with sunflowers. Tempera paint and primary colors used with leaves and heads of sunflowers. This is an all-ages activity.

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Also read: Butterfly Sunflower Papercraft

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Sunflowers And Playdough

Offer a circular party tray with playdough and sunflower parts for children to use. The one below includes

seeds
petals
leaves
stems
flower heads
seed packages

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Discovery Tub With Sunflowers And Bugs

Set out a shallow tub for children to explore that contains

sunflower parts
insects
magnifying glass
a pair of binoculars

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Sensory tray with sunflower heads and leaves, insects, binoculars and a magnifying glass.

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Growing sunflowers and exploring them through activities offers young children valuable nature experiences. And in late summer/early fall, a visit to a sunflower patch or maze makes a terrific field trip or family outing!

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Dinosaur And Sweet Potato Vine Activities

July 26, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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One Spring I was greenhouse shopping, and a ledge of sweet potato vines caught my attention. The sales clerk suggested that the leaves looked like dinosaur footprints.

That thought stuck with me, and soon after I picked two uniquely colored sweet potato vines to add contrast to the flowering plants on my deck. I was also eager to use some leaves in dinosaur-themed nature play.

When the sweet potato vines had grown and poured over their pots, I snipped a few leaves off the plants to feature the activities below.

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Dinosaur Themed Small World

Sweet potato vine leaves in a dinosaur-themed sensory tub. Rocks, twigs, plastic and marble eggs, and blue water complete the scene.

Small world scene with dinosaurs, rocks, twig, plastic eggs, marbles, blue water, and sweet potato vine leaves.

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Painted Leaf T-Rex Footprints

An invitation to make leaf prints shaped like dinosaur footprints with silver and bronze paints and sweet potato vine leaves.

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One side of cut leaves are painted with tempera paints. Next the leaves are carefully pressed on paper to make T-Rex dinosaur footprints. Bronze and silver paints make the art project extra special!

Printmaking project. Sweet potato vine leaves are painted with bronze and gold metallic paints. The leaves are pressed on paper to look like dinosaur footprints.

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Sorting T-Rex Footprint Shaped Leaves

An invitation to sort different sizes and colors of “dinosaur footprint” shaped leaves into “alike and different”. Large passionflower leaves add variety to this activity.

An iInvitation to sort sweet potato vine and passionflower leaves. A Math activity using nature materials.

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Activities with leaves are a welcome opportunity to include nature in art and play centers. Do you have a favorite activity to do with leaves or leafy plant you treasure? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

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Related: Fall Leaf Crown Paper Crafts

Make a gorgeous leaf crown craft with one of these leaf crown printables.

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[Read more…]

Superhero Activities

May 28, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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As everyone can attest, Superhero activities are hugely engaging for children. Superheroes are also a topic I was hesitant to plan a full theme around for many years. I was afraid that the children’s excitement level would go up, and never return to a manageable rate.

One year I decided a generic Superhero theme could be feasible as the last one of the school term. I thought the children might get riled up, but I would be sending them home for the summer afterward!

The Superhero activities were a hit and turned out to be perfectly manageable. Dress up props were available in the gymnasium, where loud noises and running were the norms. A number of books read in the classroom highlighted good character traits of Superheroes. Puzzles, manipulative toys, and sensory trays rounded out the play choices.

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Edmonton Comic And Entertainment Expo

Last Fall I attended the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo because it looked so fun! I also hoped to get some more ideas for my Superhero theme. The multitude of booths showcasing art, toys, outfits, and much more offered loads of inspiration. And I visualized a Superhero theme working for our next Father/Preschooler evening (held this past March.)

Pictures of booths and merchandise set up at a Comic And Entertainment Expo.

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Father/Preschooler Night Superhero Activities

The Father/Preschooler evening started out with a potluck supper. Open-ended toys were available for guests to explore, with Superhero figures added in.

Superhero sensory tray with loose parts. — Superhero Sensory Tray

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Superhero coloring sheets were available to decorate. DIY board games, game chips, and dice were set out around the eating area.
Flags, eucalyptus sprigs, and themed table scatter adorned the tables.

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After dinner adults and children were invited to visit feature centers. Everyone was encouraged to take a strip of tickets out of a bowl to “pay” for each center activity.

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These were the options:

1) Photo Op: Take A Picture With Your Favorite Superhero

Justice League props and backdrop purchased from Party City were used for this activity. Individual, adult/child, and group photos were taken. The snapshots turned out amazing!

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2) Purchase Superhero Art

Guests could purchase a picture of a Superhero Father made by a preschooler. Family members bought their own child’s work of course!

Superhero figure drawing with a handprint cape.

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3) Photo Op: Take A Picture Dressed Up As A Superhero

Dress-up clothes were available for children and adults to wear. There was a telephone picture and calendar Superhero action word backdrop. Individual, adult/child, and group photos were taken.

The reflective aviator sunglasses pictured with the table decor above were my favorite look!

Superhero dress-up clothing, telephone print and action word backdrop for a photo opportunity.

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4) Purchase Superhero Self Portraits

Guests could purchase a preschooler’s Superhero self-portrait.

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These Superhero activities were easy to set up and set the tone for many positive interactions between fathers and preschoolers. And the children did art, math, sensory exploration, and pretend play in the process.

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