art

Celebrate Diversity Coloring Pages

March 1, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

These Celebrate Diversity coloring activities with an “I Belong” theme help children feel seen, accepted, and valued. Designed to nurture confidence and a sense of inclusion, this printable set includes three coloring pages (two are editable), and matching bookmarks to color. The printable is available in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop.

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The self-esteem building printable set offers the chance to decorate with patterns of two, four, or seven colors or designs, adding a math component to the creative coloring activities.

I Belong Coloring Pages

The Celebrate Diversity printable set includes three coloring pages, each with a heart and sunray design. The first has a heart with the words “I Belong” in the center. The other two have different-sized hearts with no text, enabling participants to add their name or a saying of choice.

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There are many ways to decorate the Celebrate Diversity coloring pages. Skin-toned markers or pencil crayons provide a standout result.

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Pastel-colored markers, pencil crayons, or crayons are also great choices. Offering one of the printables in a medium with these soft colors encourages conversations about kindness and self-worth.

I Belong Bookmarks

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The “I Belong’ bookmarks come in a design with 5 color options. Crayons, markers, or pencil crayons in skin tones or pastel kindness colors also work great for decorating the bookmarks.

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Below are the steps to make the bookmarks. Adding yarn or ribbon as a finishing touch offers more choice in personalizing a bookmark.

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How to add yarn or ribbon:

Fold two or three 8 or 9-inch strands of yarn or ribbon in half.
Insert the loop at the top through the punched hole.
Pull both ends through the loop and gently tighten.

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Celebrate Diversity Printable Set Uses

This Celebrate Diversity printable set is perfect for:

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities
Inclusive classroom themes
Back-to-school community building
Anti-bullying discussions
School counselors and therapists
Morning work or quiet time
Library and literacy centers
Homeschool affirmation activities

Grab the easy-to-use Celebrate Diversity printable set in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop today!

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Celebrate Diversity Paper Craft

Celebrate Diversity Heart Art

Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art

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Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art

January 29, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

These Positive Affirmation coloring pages reflect character qualities that black people possess and employ to achieve goals and major accomplishments. As such, they are perfect for art activities that celebrate Black History Month. The positive qualities surrounded by beaming sunrays build self-esteem and are key to Black excellence and resilience.

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The positive affirmations in the coloring pages were inspired by picture books that highlight Black history and culture.

Decorating the Black History Month Positive Affirmations Printable

There are a variety of ways to decorate the sunshine-themed printables, allowing for many design possibilities. 28 sunrays have room for creative patterns with 2, 4, or 7 colors and/or styles.

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The patterns below are inspired by the splendid suns in the storybook “Seven Spools of Thread” by Angela Shelf Medearis. Although written for Kwanzaa, the book is wonderfully suited for a Black History Month theme.

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The seven bright colors in the decorated printable below were inspired by those of the spools of thread in the same book.

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In the next art sample, the pastel colors represent kindness.

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Traditional Black History Month hues (red, green, yellow-gold, and black), are showcased in this last arty project.

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Aside from including these Positive Affirmations coloring pages in an art project during Black History Month, they are a fantastic addition to an “I Am Special” or a “Celebrate Diversity” theme. It is an empowering, easy-to-do creative activity with striking results.

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Black History Month Positive Affirmations Bulletin Board

The finished artwork and the words “I AM” (Brilliant), (Irreplaceable), “I AM A” (Traveller), “YOU ARE” (Brave) (Strong), or “YOU ARE A” (Leader) make a stunning bulletin board display. It is a gorgeous addition to classroom decor.

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Where to Get the Black History Month Positive Affirmations Printables

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The BHM Positive Affirmations coloring pages are available for an everyday low price in my Etsy Skills N Smiles shop. There are 18 pages, each with a different word of affirmation. In addition, there are four editable pages to add words of affirmation to by hand or using a program such as Canva. Lastly, the captions “I AM”. “I AM A”, “YOU ARE”, and “YOU ARE A” are included in the set. The instant download printables are available in 8 ½ x 11-inch and A4 sizes. Download your set today.

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More Black History Month Activities

Three Black History Month Crafts

Black History Month Hair Decorating Art

Celebrate Diversity Heart Art

Black History Month Mixed Media Art

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Black History Month Mixed Media Art

February 26, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Black History Month is observed in February in the United States and Canada. It is a time to celebrate the creativity and achievements of Black people and their communities by participating in activities and discussions. This Black History Month mixed media art project draws attention to the beauty of black women’s hair. The craft features a unique technique for creating curly hair.

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Supplies To Collect

For this mixed media art project that pays homage to Black History Month, gather the following:

black yarn
brown, orange, and green construction paper
14-inch x 16-inch sheet of white construction paper
1 ½ inch wide wired craft ribbon
white glue
black fine point marker
parchment paper
scissors and pencil
glue stick and glue gun
disposable plate
measuring cup
spoon
tray

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Starting the Mixed Media Art Project

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To begin this art project, draw a side view of a woman’s head on brown construction paper and cut it out.

Next, draw and cut out one ear from the same sheet of paper, and the top of a t-shirt from orange construction paper.

Then draw a few lines on the ear with a black fine-point marker to add detail.

After this step, cut two small triangles from green and orange sturdy paper to fit together as an earring.

Then cut two strips of wired craft ribbon, one measuring 12 inches long, and the other measuring 9 inches long.

Next comes the part that may be the most fun: creating the curly yarn hair. To fashion the hair, complete the following steps:

1) Draw a silhouette outline of the hair in the middle of a large sheet of parchment paper. Then place the parchment paper on a tray.

2) Mix one-half cup of white glue with one-half cup of water on a disposable plate.

3) Using a spoon, press down a long piece of black yarn in the gooey white mixture to completely cover it in glue.

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4) Slowly lift the yarn out of the thinned glue and spread it around the hair outline in swirls. Add a second layer of swirled yarn and gently press it down on the first layer so the yarn sticks to itself when dry. Add a few straight lines at the hairline.

5) Let the sculptured yarn hair dry for one or two days. When dry it lifts off the parchment paper easily.
Note: The glue-soaked yarn hair may look grey at first, but will appear black again as it dries.

This swirled yarn art process was a must-try for me after viewing an informative September 4. 2024 Instagram post by mykidsartbox.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Assembling the Black History Month Art

Now it is time to assemble the gorgeous art activity. Complete the following steps:

1) Select a large piece of sturdy paper to glue all the arty shapes onto. I feature paper cut to a 14-inch x 16-inch size.

2) Position the crafted pieces on the background paper and note where they look best. Drawing light pencil lines to mark the perfect spot for each shape makes this easier and the lines can be erased at the end.

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3) Use a glue stick to adhere the head, ear, triangular earring, and shirt portion to the paper.

4) Carefully affix the curly hair over and above the face with a glue gun.

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5) Fashion two strips of wired craft ribbon into a knotted headband. Cut the ribbon ends to the correct size and fold in the outer edges to fit around the yarn hair above the hairline.

6) Use the glue gun to adhere the headband over and above the bottom edge of the curly hair.

7) Add a caption for Black History Month if desired.

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When making the Black History Month mixed media art project, feel free to work with a color scheme of your choice. What do you think of this activity?

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Black History Month Positive Affirmations

This Black History Month printable set has coloring pages with 18 positive affirmations and 4 editable pages. Many creative patterns inspired by African art are possible, all with basic art supplies. Two bulletin board headers make displaying the stunning finished artwork super easy. Download this easy-to-use printable set at my Etsy Skills N Smiles shop for an everyday low price.

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See the blog post Black History Month Positive Affirmations Art for more infomation.

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Shamrock Leaf Print Art

March 12, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Shamrock leaf print art is an activity I’ve wanted to try for a few years now, and this spring I carved out time for it. The art project is easy and enjoyable to do, and I am sure you will like it too.

A good time to try this leaf print art activity is around St. Patrick’s Day, as shamrock plants are plentiful in stores then. The compound leaves on the plant look like the shamrock symbol that the country of Ireland is known for. Irish people think shamrocks represent good luck, and they are prominent in clothing, decorations, and tableware during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

An Oxalis Regnelli shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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The shamrock plant I found is called Oxalis Regnellii, which comes from Africa and some parts of the Americas. It has delicate leaves with three triangle-shaped leaflets. The leaves fold up neatly on overcast days and anytime it is dark, and open up when they are exposed to sunlight. The tiny, white, long-stemmed flowers have five petals.

A tiny white flower on an Oxalis Regnellii plant.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this nature-based art project:

shamrock plant
green and purple acrylic or tempera paint
paint pots
paintbrushes
purple and green pencil crayons
all-purpose art paper
green and purple construction paper
newspaper or manila paper
magnifying glasses

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Making The Shamrock Leaf Print Art

Before using the shamrock leaves for printmaking, give participants a chance to study the plant. Offer magnifying glasses to view the leaves and dainty flowers with yellow stamens. Set the plant out in a sunny place and then put it in a dark area to see how its leaves fold down and spread out depending on how much sunlight the plant is getting.

To prepare the art activity, snip a few leaves off the plant to use for making paint prints.

Steps to make beautiful shamrock leaf print art. This is an easy-to-do all-ages nature art project

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Next, lay down newspaper sheets or a large piece of manilla paper for participants to work on.

Then add an art station with a sheet of all-purpose art paper, leaf sprig, paintbrush, and green acrylic paint for each participant. My paper size is an 11-inch x 14-inch inch sheet cut in half, creating a 7-inch x 11-inch piece to work on.

Note: Non-toxic tempera paint is a good choice for young children taking part in the activity.

Afterward, invite participants to brush the tops of the leaflets on their sprig thoroughly with green paint, flip the leaf over, and carefully press the painted sides down on the paper. Have them gently rub their fingers over the leaflets and pat the edges down to transfer as much paint to the paper as possible.

Beautiful shamrock leaf print art with leaves from the Oxalis Regnelli plant. This is a nature art project that is perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

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Then ask everyone to slowly lift their leaf off the paper canvas and repaint it to make more leaf prints. The shamrock leaves are delicate, but when handled gently they can be used a few times. If someone’s leaf tears, offer a new sprig to use.

When the paint prints are dry, ask participants to use a pencil crayon to add stems to the leaves.

As a finishing touch, mount each shamrock leaf print art project on a similar-colored construction paper background.

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Making Purple Shamrock Leaf Print Art

A purple shamrock, called Oxalis Triangularis, has similarly shaped leaves and flowers as the Oxalis Regnallii. This purple shamrock showcases deep purple, dark-edged leaves that respond to darkness and light in the same way.

A purple shamrock plant with compound leaves composed of three triangular leaflets.

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With purple acrylic or tempera paint, let participants create shamrock prints just as they were made in green.

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If there are any leaves left on the plant after the printmaking activity is done, add them to a playdough activity. Or have someone without pets take the plant home to care for.

Note: All Oxalis plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and grazing animals such as horses and must be kept out of their reach. These plants are slightly toxic to humans. Make sure to supervise all shamrock leaf activities closely so that no one ingests the leaves.

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More Shamrock-themed Activities:

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

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Glow Art Words Of Affirmation

September 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This black light "Words Of Affirmation" Glow Art activity is a must-try. It is a science, art, and language self-esteem-building project.

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Words are powerful, and they can be super uplifting to early learners. At the beginning of the school year, supportive, self-esteem-building words help students get off to a good start. A creative and oh-so-easy way to introduce them is by inviting little learners to use highlighters to color around positive ones printed in heart shapes. Afterward, the fancied-up words can be viewed and discussed in a “Glow Art Words Of Affirmation” language and science activity.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this confidence-boosting glow art activity, gather the following supplies:

chisel-tipped highlighters in a variety of colors
white cardstock paper
black felt marker
scissors
tape
portable black light fluorescent tube and holder
small coffee table

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Glow Word Art

First, draw heart shapes on white cardstock paper with a black felt marker, and add a word of affirmation to each one. Or design the project digitally. The words chosen for my art project are:

creative
friendly
kind
brave
helpful
teachable
awesome
unique
cherished

Steps to perform a black light "words of affirmation" glow art activity. The art project is perfect for the beginning of the year, the end of the year, or anytime in between.

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Next, invite little learners to decorate a word heart with highlighter markers, and then cut their hearts out. Leaving some parts of the designs uncolored is fine, as white will glow too.

Note: Highlighter ink is a tiny bit toxic, but using it is not considered a health risk. If your little charges are prone to sticking things in their mouths and/or coloring on themselves, it is advisable to choose another art medium for this activity.

When decorated, tape the embellished hearts to a wall in a room that can be made totally dark.

Afterward, place a fluorescent tube black light on a small table next to the art wall, and turn it on.

Then invite everyone to the room to view the art with all lights on. Discuss how the words apply to your little learners.

This "positive words" glow art activity incorporates language and science. It is a confidence-boosting art project perfect for any time of the year.

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Lastly, make the room dark and leave just the black light on. Students will be wowed by the glowing, worded hearts.

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Safety Tip: Tell children that they should only be near a black light for a short period of time. Prolonged exposure may lead to eye and skin damage.

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Discussing The Glow Art Words Of Affirmation

Here are some ideas for discussing decorated word hearts with the children:

Assure early learners that they are brave in coming to school and meeting new friends.
Affirm the specialness of each child by saying they are “unique, awesome, and cherished.”
Compliment students for being creative and teachable.
Highlight that being “friendly, helpful, and kind” are ways to work as a team and get along with each other.

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The Science Behind Black Light

Black lights are designed to block out visible light and emit invisible, ultraviolet (UV-A) light. They illuminate natural and man-made materials that contain phosphors. Phosphors convert the energy in UV radiation to visible light by re-emitting it at a different wavelength, one that our eyes can see.

The dyes from highlighter pens contain phosphors. When highlighter art is positioned in a dark room near a black light, it glows.

This black light character trait art activity incorporates language and science. It is a confidence-boosting art project perfect for any time of the year.

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Glowing Names

Instead of focussing on words of affirmation, invite your little learners to color around their names with highlighters. This is also a terrific beginning of the year activity. And it works well at the end of the school term to remind children that they have been valued members of the class.

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Related: Scented Moon Playdough

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