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Putting the Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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Mother’s Day Craft

April 29, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Mother's Day keepsake craft featuring mint themed punched paper shapes. An all-ages project bound to make any mother or grandmother feel special.

Themed scrapbook paper and punches are often my “go-to” for an early learner Mother’s Day craft with WOW factor. Mint themed supplies take center stage in this timely crafting project.

Mother's Day keepsake craft featuring mint themed punched paper shapes. An all-ages project bound to make any mother or grandmother feel special.

Mother’s Day is an annual holiday held the second Sunday in May in Canada and the United States. It is a time to make mothers and grandmothers feel special and appreciate their positive impact on families and society. This minty floral craft can be saved for when it is Mother’s Day where you live, or can be given as a keepsake anytime.


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Filed Under: art, Mother's Day Tagged With: gifts, holiday

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub

March 3, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

St. Patrick's Day sensory table inspired by the city of Chicago, USA. Green and shamrock themed loose parts invite sensory play opportunities.
St. Patrick's Day sensory table inspired by the city of Chicago, USA. Green and shamrock themed loose parts invite sensory play opportunities.

This St. Patrick’s Day water play sensory table is inspired by the city of Chicago’s tradition of turning the river water green as part of their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. 

The tradition of coloring the water vibrant green in Chicago became an annual event in 1962, but the origins of this practice started much earlier. A green substance was used to test the river water for pollution in the early 1900s and continued in the following years. People liked seeing the change in color, and in 1962 the practice was implemented for St. Patrick’s Day. In 1966 the powder used became a more environmentally friendly vegetable dye.

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Filed Under: sensory, St. Patrick's Day Tagged With: holiday, loose parts, multicultural, water play

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

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.


[Read more…] about Chinese Valentine’s Day Activities

Filed Under: art, Chinese Valentine's Day, Math, pretend play, sensory, Valentine's Day Tagged With: block play, holiday, literacy, multicultural

Valentine’s Day Process Art

January 18, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky 2 Comments

Valentine's Day process art with an ice cube and powder paint technique. Llama shaped ice cubes give the project a South American flair. An art project suitable for all ages.

Early learners love process art. They delight in exploring art materials and are not usually concerned about the finished product. Often the messier the project, the better! Here is a simple ice cube and powder paint activity your child will love to investigate.

Valentine's Day process art with an ice cube and powder paint technique. Llama shaped ice cubes give the project a South American flair. An art project suitable for all ages.

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Filed Under: art, sensory, Valentine's Day Tagged With: holiday, process art

New Year’s Sensory Tray

January 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

This New Year’s sensory tray shines bright with gold and silver accents. Two watch heads are the highlight of the bin, and children treasure finding them.

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

The collection of pieces below is all gold with a few silver parts added in. The musical instruments are black, only because the gold finish wore off in previous play! The alphabet letters are cut from “Happy New Year” necklaces.

Gold and silver supplies to use in a New Year's sensory tray. Opportunity to sort and count pieces and make sets. Invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year."

The base ingredient is parboiled rice, as its yellow hue complements the gold tone of the bin. The ingredients are showcased in a silver metal square-shaped tray.

A square-shaped silver metal tray is perfect for showcasing the gold and silver pieces in this New Year's sensory play center.

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Filed Under: literacy, Math, sensory Tagged With: Happy New Year, holiday, rice bin

Happy New Year Art And Math Activities

December 30, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Ring in the new year and decade with easy, no fuss art activities that double up as math exercises. Early learners count down from 10 to one and work with the numbers in 2020 while doing art activities with paint, glue, adhesive jewels and collage items.
Ring in the new year and decade with easy, no fuss art activities that double up as math exercises. Early learners count down from 10 to one and work with the numbers in 2020 while doing art activities with paint, glue, adhesive jewels and collage items.

In a few days, we will celebrate the beginning of a new year … and a new decade. If you are looking for no-fuss activities for your child to start the year off with, these simple art and math projects fit the bill. They can be offered at home or saved for the first days of school in January.

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Filed Under: art, literacy, Math Tagged With: fine motor activity, Happy New Year, holiday

St. Patrick’s Day Activities

March 12, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

St. Patrick's Day activities for the early childhood classroom. Sensory tray, writing center, and dramatic play center ideas included.
St. Patrick's Day activities for the early childhood classroom. Sensory tray, writing center, and dramatic play center ideas included.

It’s March, but there is still lots of snow outside in Edmonton.  St. Patrick’s Day activities and the green color they surround us with are so welcome.  Here are three centers my class is currently playing in.


St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tray

Items included in this sensory tray:

spinach rice vermicelli noodles (broken up)
green bowls, sieves, and scoops
green buttons, beads and bead garland
shamrock and leprechaun shaped erasers
green coins
leprechaun mini hats
shamrock ice cubes

St. Patrick's Day rice noodle tray with leprechaun hats, green sieves, utensils and loose parts.

The green vermicelli noodles are a great find, as they are “ready-made” for this activity.

Green rice vermicelli noodles for sensory play.

St. Patrick’s Day Play Kitchen

Pretend play is hands down one of children’s favorite activities to do.  When effort is put into adding details to a play kitchen, children respond with delight.

St. Patrick's Day house center dramatic play accessories. Tableware, play food, jewelry, coins, and decorations are included.

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Filed Under: literacy, preschool, pretend play, sensory, St. Patrick's Day Tagged With: holiday, prewriting, sensory bin

Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

January 29, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Chinese New Year 2019 Rice Sensory Bin
Chinese New Year 2019 Rice Sensory Bin

The Chinese New Year officially begins on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, and it will be the Year of the Pig.  The pig is the 12th and last zodiac animal.  Some ancient storied explanations are:

  • The pig was the last to arrive at an important meeting because he slept in.
  • A wolf destroyed the pig’s house so he had to rebuild it before he could get to the meeting.
  • The pig stopped to enjoy a feast while taking part in a race. He resumed the race but not surprisingly came in last.
  • Being pretty pudgy, the pig moved the slowest in the race.

Fascinating Facts About Pigs

Although pigs often get associated with being smelly and dirty, they keep quite clean if they are in a temperature-controlled environment.  They only roll around in dirt when they get hot, and this is because they cannot sweat.
As far as smarts go, pigs are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world.  As pets they can figure out how to open a cupboard and can be trained to shake a hoof and roll over.


Predictions For The Year Of The Pig

The Year of the Pig might just be a positive one for everyone!  People born in the Pig Year are attributed with an agreeable personality, balanced lifestyle, hardworking nature and enjoyment of life.  These qualities are thought to have a positive influence on all people.


Related: Year Of The Ox Sensory Tray


[Read more…] about Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

Filed Under: Chinese New Year, sensory Tagged With: holiday, rice bin

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you find inspiration and leave some for me! Feel free to stay awhile!

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puttingtheprettyin.preschool

The bright sun streaming through my office window The bright sun streaming through my office window belies the fact that it is -16  degrees C /  3.2 degrees F outside. So an icy ice drum post it is!  This activity can be done indoors or outside any time of the year. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ 🌞🌞🌞 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

How is the weather in your part of the world?

#drums #ice #musicalinstruments #musicforkids #musiceveryday #musicoutside #musicmaking #musical #preschoolmusic #kindergarten #homeschool #preschool #tots #eyfs #drumming
This post is inspired by the storybook “The Snow This post is inspired by the storybook “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. The book was published in 1962 and features an African-American boy as the main character. I read the story every winter to my preschoolers and they are spellbound each time. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#snowyday #bookinspired #blackhistorymonth #picturebook #readaloud #classicbooks #favoritebook #winterbooks #preschoolteacher #teacherofig #kindergarten #homeschooling #tots #eyfs #Canadianteacher #teachersfollowteachers #instateacher
A heart jewelry sensory tray that goes beyond Vale A heart jewelry sensory tray that goes beyond Valentine’s Day with its spring colors. The jewelry theme is inspired by a post by @littlelilacpreschool .

❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️

#jewelry #jewellery  #jewelrytray #ricebin #sensorytray #hearts #heartjewelry #tactileplay #playtolearn #tots #prek #kindergarten #homeschooling #erasers #looseparts #trayfortheday #playtray #playtrayideas
Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a last minute cr Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a last minute craft for dinosaur lovers. Link in profile to a free printable. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#dinosaurcraft #dinosaurvalentines #rawr #pompomcraft #ValentinesDay2021 #kidscrafts #crafter #craftersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #eyfs #papercraft #preschoolcrafts #homeschooling #totsschool #Sundayvibes #teacherofig #Canadianteacher
Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Day store! 😍

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#ValentinesDay #pretendplay #dramaticplay #hearts #playtolearn #prek #preteacher #teachersfollowteachers #playallday #playingislearning #playing #totsschool #eyfs #preschool #kindergarten #homeschooling #schoolathome
Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree. This Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree. This activity is inspired by an invitation to decorate a cherry tree by @rubberbootsandelfshoes .  Money tree facts and a free tree printable are #ontheblog .
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

#ChineseNewYear #lunarnewyear #trees #treeprintable #invitationtocreate #money #gold #sensorytray #waldorf #reggioinspired #playtray #prek #eyfs #moneytree #festiveplaylearn #trayfortheday
A woolly Valentine’s Day craft. The pattern for A woolly Valentine’s Day craft. The pattern for this craft is now on the blog...link in profile.

This craft was first featured last year and is inspired by a post from Agnes @hellowonderful_co . I’ve shared her adorable version in my stories.

❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑

#keepsake #valentinesdaycraft #kidscrafts #craftykids #artoftheday #heartart #celebratinglove #finemotorskills #artwithkids #craftswithkids #crafting #craftingwithkids #valentine #valentines #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities
Valentine’s Day playdough invitation. The dough Valentine’s Day playdough invitation. The dough in the middle is jello playdough. The dough on the right is my all time favourite basic playdough recipe.  The recipes for these three varieties are on the blog. Link in profile.

#playdough #ValentinesDay2021 #hearts #jelloplaydough #mainananak #montessori #playdoughfun #sensoryplay #toddleractivities #playbasedlearning #earlylearning #eyfs #playmatters #playtime #mainanmurah
Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers fo Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers for their original purpose. 😅😅😅

#erasers #minierasers #looseparts #hearts #prek #lovenothate #kindness #kindergarten #homeschooling #totsschool #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #schoolsupplies
Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the worl Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the world, even in cold, icy places like Alaska and Antarctica. But could dinosaurs have survived in polar regions? Link in profile to a blogpost that explores this topic with scientific views and sensory activities.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

 #polardinosaurs #dinosaurs #dinosaurfossils #earlylearning #paleontology #playdoughtray #prek #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #playdough #winterplay #sensory #tactile #handsonlearning #playandlearn #learningthroughplay #Canadianblogger
Sensory tray inspired by polar ornaments.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#sensorytray #sensorybin #trayforrheday #playtray #polaranimals #narwhal #seal #letsplay #playtolearn #earlylearning #itscoldoutthere #preschool #kindergarten #homeschool #iteachprek #teachersfollowteachers #Canadianteacher #Canadianblogger
Chickpea based Chinese New Year sensory tub. The c Chickpea based Chinese New Year sensory tub. The chickpeas are dyed with varying amounts of red acrylic paint, and some are left undyed. Read my latest blogpost  to find out more about the chickpea dying process. Link in profile.

#ChineseNewYear #yearoftheox #ChineseNewYearsensorybin #sensoryplay #colourful #redandgold #earlylearning #playtolearn #playing #handsonlearning #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #playsetup #iteachprek #tots #multicultural #Chineseholiday
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Recent Posts

  • Ice Drum Musical Instruments February 26, 2021
  • Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays February 25, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies February 18, 2021
  • Jewelry Sensory Tray February 15, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments February 14, 2021
  • Dinosaur Valentine Craft February 13, 2021
  • Scissor Skill Heart Collage February 10, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities February 7, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes February 6, 2021
  • Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts February 6, 2021

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