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Five Black History Month Crafts

January 28, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Five gorgeous Black History Month crafts that celebrate diversity. Easy-to-make crafts the whole family can do.
Five gorgeous Black History Month crafts that celebrate diversity. Easy-to-make crafts the whole family can do.

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Black History Month, a time set aside to remember notable black people and their achievements, is just around the corner. It is celebrated in the United States and Canada during the month of February. Here are five Black History Month crafts to help children engage in the celebration.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Celebrate Diversity Butterflies

To make these striking butterflies that represent celebrating diversity, gather the following supplies:

  • metallic gold and bronze tempera paint
  • pink, black, and white paint
  • light pink, black, bronze, and gold glitter
  • black pipe cleaners and pony beads
  • white cardstock paper
  • black cardstock paper
  • pie tins or disposable plates
  • white glue
  • glue gun

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Steps to make a handprint butterfly craft to recognize and celebrate Black History Month.

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Making The Handprint Butterflies

To start off, pour skin-toned tempera paints into pie tins or disposable plates. You may want to add a little white to the black paint to soften its hue.

Have participants dip a hand in a paint color and press it onto white cardstock paper. I use metallic gold and bronze for two of the skin tone shades. Regular tempera paints in these hues would work fine too.

If you have the shades available, sprinkle a similar color glitter onto each handprint.

After the handprints dry and extra glitter is shaken off, cut around the edges.

Next, cut long narrow ovals from black cardstock paper to represent butterfly abdomens.

Bend black pipe cleaners in half and have participants string black beads onto them, leaving a little section open for the butterfly antennae. Twist the pipe cleaners just above the beads to make sure they stay on.

Assembling The Butterflies

Make this gorgeous handprint butterfly craft to recognize Black History Month and celebrate diversity.

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Using white glue or a hot glue gun, add black or pink pompoms to the antennae.

Then use white glue or a hot glue gun to affix four handprint “wings” onto each abdomen. The butterflies can be designed in different kinds of color combinations.

Next, glue the beaded pipe cleaners to the butterfly abdomens. Now the “celebrate diversity” butterflies are ready to be displayed!

Make these gorgeous handprint butterfly crafts to recognize Black History Month and celebrate diversity.

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Celebrate Diversity Yarn Heart

Different shades of skin-toned yarn represent diversity in this textured yarn heart craft.

Make this gorgeous skin-toned yarn heart craft to recognize Black History Month and celebrate diversity.

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Supplies to Collect

  • yarn in a variety of thicknesses and skin tones
  • 8 ½ x 11-inch golden-brown cardstock paper
  • white glue or hot glue gun
  • double-sided tape
  • ruler
  • scissors
  • heart template

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Steps to make a gorgeous skin-toned yarn heart craft to recognize Black History Month and celebrate diversity.

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To make this gorgeous yarn heart craft, start by cutting skin-toned yarn into 7 ½ inch strips. Using different thicknesses of yarn adds variety to the craft.

Next, glue the strips of yarn in rows onto a sheet of 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock using white glue or a glue gun. Leave a small border around the edge of the paper.

Then add pieces of double-sided tape around the edges of the paper.

Afterward, cut a large heart in the center of a second piece of cardstock.

Finally, gently position the cardstock paper with the heart cut out on top of the yarn-covered piece, making sure the double-sided tape adheres to it.

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Kindness Heart Wreath

This kindness heart wreath with cardstock skin-toned hearts and a geometric bow communicates that all lives matter and that everyone should be treated with kindness.

Black History Month ribbon and skin-toned hearts are the highlights of this easy-to-make "kindness" wreath craft.

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Black History Month Heart Banner

In this craft, skin-toned hearts are used to decorate an attractive, geometric ribbon-edged banner honoring Black History Month.

Black History Month ribbon and skin-toned paper hearts are the highlights of this easy-to-make banner craft.

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Black History Month Ribbon Heart

This heart craft takes full advantage of vibrant, geometrically patterned ribbon, and looks striking on display.

Make this stunning Black History Month heart craft to honor this important annual celebration.

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Which one of these five Black History Month crafts will you try? Let me know in a comment below.

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[Read more…] about Five Black History Month Crafts

Filed Under: art, Black History Month, crafts, preschool Tagged With: Black History Month, butterflies, hearts, papercrafts, wreaths

White Lilacs And Black Playdough

June 11, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Try this unexpected combination of white lilacs and black playdough. It goes well with cookie cutters and white and transparent loose parts.
Try this unexpected white lilac and black playdough combination. It goes well with cookie cutters and white and transparent loose parts.

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When I first decided to make black playdough, it was for a space theme. And lilacs were going to be used in a sensory play tub. Some white lilacs did end up in a sensory tub along with a generous supply of purple ones, and I used black playdough for the space theme as planned. But I also discovered that white lilacs and black playdough make an interesting and unexpected combination.

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

For the black playdough in this post, I use a recipe featured in a blog post by Left Brain Craft Brain. It is easy to make, and produces super black playdough!

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White Lilacs And Black Playdough Tray

Set up this unexpected white lilac and black playdough tray. Striking creations will surely be the result.

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The supplies gathered for this effortless playdough tray are:

  • white lilac sprigs
  • clear gems
  • transparent hair ties
  • reusable transparent star ice cubes
  • white pony beads
  • wired white leaves
  • flower, bug, and butterfly cookie cutters
  • scissors
  • rolling pin

Set out on a serving tray with compartments, the supplies make for an aromatic play invitation.

The lilac sprigs can be snipped and kneaded into the playdough.

Loose parts and tiny lilac petals are available to embellish playdough shapes.

The flower, insect, and butterfly cookie cutters are unexpected and result in striking creations.

White lilac and black playdough creations using flower, butterfly, and bug coolie cutters and white and transparent loose parts.

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Black playdough and white lilacs make the perfect combination for a dynamic playdough invitation.

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Alternatively. the lilac and black playdough work wonderfully for a space theme. Star-shaped gems and reusable ice cubes, grey painted rocks, white pony beads, clear acrylic gems, and an astronaut and spaceship are included in the play invitation below.

A sure-to-please space playdough setup.

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Black And White Playdough Tray

Set up this striking black and white playdough tray for your little learners to explore today!

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If you decide to forgo using lilacs, black playdough works well on its own with white and transparent loose parts and cookie cutters. Gathered for the tray above are:

  • striped black and white straws
  • white buttons
  • black and white game pieces
  • bottle caps
  • baby bottle lids
  • white beads
  • pizza lid box stands
  • flower, butterfly, and bug cookie cutters
An striking black and white playdough theme with flower, bug, and butterfly cookie cutter shapes.

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Spider, bat, and skeleton loose parts are also a good fit for this playdough.

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A sure-to-please outer space playdough setup.

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Set up this striking black and white playdough tray for your little learners to explore today!

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[Read more…] about White Lilacs And Black Playdough

Filed Under: playdough, preschool, sensory, space, spring, summer Tagged With: butterflies, flowers, insects, loose parts, playdough, sensory play, space

Flower Planting Sensory Play

May 10, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Bring spring inside by introducing these four flower planting sensory play activities to your little learners.
Bring spring inside by introducing these four flower planting sensory play activities to your little learners.

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One of the best things to do in spring is to visit greenhouses, pick flowers, and then plant them in gardens and pots. Little learners can experience this indoors in flower planting sensory play activities.

A few easy-to-gather supplies are all that is needed for children to engage in spring planting sensory activities. Featured are four sensory tray ideas.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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Seed Tray Flower Planting

Set up this no-fuss flower planting sensory activity today!

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Seed trays are the perfect size for planting miniature flower figurines.

Supplies To Collect:

  • small seed starter trays
  • flower figurines
  • dried black beans

Set out the seed starter trays, along with a bowl of black beans and flower figurines. Invite little learners to plant flowers in black bean “dirt.”

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Flower Planting Sensory Tray

Miniature flower and butterfly figurines take center stage in this easy-to-set-up flower planting sensory activity.

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The low edge in serving trays makes them ideal for little learners to reach in and explore sensory materials.

Supplies To Collect

  • small seed starter trays
  • dessert cups
  • flower and butterfly figurines
  • spoons
  • serving tray

Spread a layer of black beans in an edged serving tray. Set in dessert cups and spoons.

Then place containers with flowers and butterflies next to the tray.

Invite little learners to scoop and pour black beans, plant flowers, and add butterflies to their designs.

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Book-Inspired Construction Zone Tray

A bean-based sensory bin inspired by the storybook "The Digger And the Flower" by Joseph Kuefler.

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This book-inspired sensory tray features an unlikely pairing: a construction vehicle and flower figurines.

Supplies To Collect

  • picture Book: The Digger And The Flower
  • black beans
  • rocks
  • flower figurines
  • serving tray

Read the endearing picture book called “The Digger And The Flower” by Joseph Kuefler. It’s a keeper!

Then layer a base of black beans in a serving tray.

Next set in a construction vehicle digger, rocks, and a few flowers.

Afterward, invite students to take turns exploring the tray.

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Rice Bin Flower Planting

Miniature flower figurines take center stage in this easy-to-set-up flower planting rice bin.

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Rice makes an economical sensory base in this bin.

Supplies To Collect:

  • brown rice
  • seed starter trays
  • flower and butterfly figurines
  • wooden scoops
  • plastic bin

Spread brown rice in a bin. I feature a food service bin that accommodates two to three children.  Add in seed starter trays, flower figurines, and wooden scoops for little learners to use in the bin.

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Note: Eaten raw, black beans and rice are toxic. Supervision is important when offering these activities. If your little charges are prone to sticking things in their mouths, consider using an edible sensory base.

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These four flower planting sensory play invitations take only minutes to set up. With slight variations in supplies, the flower and butterfly figurines can be explored in new ways.

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Related: Carrot Paint Prints

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[Read more…] about Flower Planting Sensory Play

Filed Under: construction vehicles, gardening, preschool, sensory, spring, summer Tagged With: bean bin, butterflies, flowers, rice bin, sensory bin, sensory play, sensory tray

Remembrance Day Butterfly Craft

November 11, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Remembrance Day butterfly craft. Squish painted butterfly accented with beadwork, glitter, and a poppy.
Remembrance Day butterfly craft. Squish painted butterfly accented with beadwork, glitter, and a poppy.

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This Remembrance Day butterfly craft combines squish painting and beadwork and is accented with a poppy. It’s easy and satisfying for little learners to do.

Remembrance Day is celebrated in Canada on November 11 each year. On this day, people remember the many soldiers who died to give us freedom. The efforts of present-day soldiers are acknowledged and supported.

Red poppies are a symbol of Remembrance Day: people wear them and/or display poppy-themed arts and crafts on this notable day.

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Poppy butterfly Remembrance Day craft.

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Supplies To Collect

  • white cardstock butterfly
  • red and black tempera paint
  • red glitter
  • paint containers
  • spoons
  • black beads
  • black pipe cleaners
  • hot glue gun
  • red craft poppies

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Making The Remembrance Day Butterfly Craft

Squish painted butterfly with a poppy and beadwork for Remembrance Day.

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Set out paper butterflies that have been folded in half, and then reopened.

Have your early learners dribble red paint on their butterflies with a spoon, and add blobs of black.

Help them fold one side of their butterfly over the other, and rub over the top side of the paper.

The children will enjoy seeing the symmetrical paint designs when the paper butterflies are unfolded.

Sprinkling red glitter on the wet paint adds sparkle.

Let the squish paintings dry.

Ask your little learners to string black beads on pipe cleaners. (24 beads were used for each butterfly featured in this post.)

Fold the beaded pipe cleaners in half, and glue them onto the butterflies with a hot glue gun.

Hot glue a poppy with the pin removed onto each butterfly, on top of the beaded middles.

Display the poppy accented butterflies to remember the efforts of past and present soldiers.

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"We Remember" butterfly craft for Remembrance Day. Squish painted butterfly accented with beadwork, glitter, and a poppy.

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Poppy artwork is one way for children to acknowledge Remembrance Day. More activities are suggested on CBC Kids: 8 Things You Can Do For Remembrance Day.

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[Read more…] about Remembrance Day Butterfly Craft

Filed Under: art, display, preschool, Remembrance Day Tagged With: butterflies, poppies, Remembrance Day

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. I am a preschool teacher who loves to share easy and fun early learning activities. Thanks for visiting my blog. Feel free to stay awhile!

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