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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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puttingtheprettyin.preschool

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Another set of eggs that won’t be stored in the Another set of eggs that won’t be stored in the Easter bin! 
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Dragon necklace craft my preschoolers will do this Dragon necklace craft my preschoolers will do this coming week. We meant to fit it in earlier in the month, but time got away on us. I’m 100% sure they will enjoy making and wearing the craft anyways. Instructions and free template are on the blog. Link in profile leads to the post. 

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Chinese New Year chickpea bin. 2022 will be the “Year Of The Tiger.” Link in profile leads to the blogpost about how to put together this sensory bin. 

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Easy and fun winter playdough. Link in profile for Easy and fun winter playdough. Link in profile for the recipe. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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Recent Posts

  • Space Father’s Day Craft June 18, 2022
  • White Lilacs And Black Playdough June 11, 2022
  • Lilac Flower Sensory Trays June 9, 2022
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