Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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St. Patrick’s Day Activities

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

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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.

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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.

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

Green rice vermicelli noodles for sensory play.

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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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St. Patrick’s Day pretend play items:

  • St. Patrick’s Day themed plates and napkins
  • shamrock felt decorations (to use as cookies)
  • shamrock felt garland (taken apart to be “pretzels”)
  • green and yellow pom-poms (play food)
  • green and white flowers
  • shamrock-shaped tray
  • green serving utensils and ice cube tray
  • shamrock table scatter
  • bead necklace
  • gold coins

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St. Patrick’s Day Creating And Writing Center

St. Patrick's Day writing center with office supplies. Themed tracers, stickers rulers, rubber stamps, erasers, hole punches, and writing papers are included.

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The items in this creating and writing center are:

  • felt pens in varying shades of green
  • shamrock ink stampers
  • shamrock paper punch
  • leprechaun hat and shamrock tracers
  • St. Patrick’s Day erasers
  • St. Patrick’s Day stickers
  • sticky note pad
  • green stencil rulers
  • paper and pencil
  • gold coins
  • St. Patrick’s Day glasses
  • flowers and Irish blessing for decoration

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All these activities are stocked with accessories easily found at Dollar stores or party stores. They are versatile pieces and can be used in the same or different ways in upcoming years.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

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Chinese New Year 2019 Rice Sensory Bin

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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.

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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 rollover.

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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.

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Related:

Year Of The Rat Noodle Bin (Chinese New Year 2020)

Year Of The Ox Sensory Tray (Chinese New Year 2021)

Year Of The Tiger Chickpea Bin (Chinese New Year 2022)

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Local Celebrations

In recognition of Chinese New Year, this weekend there will be celebrations all over the city of Edmonton.  Events will include lion and dragon dances, music, dancing, and cultural performances. There will be karaoke singing for seniors and crafts for children.  West Edmonton Mall will host a talent show as part of their itinerary. The University of Alberta will hold a Lunar New Year Gala, so Asian students can celebrate the holiday and make new friendships while staying in Edmonton to further their studies.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

Here’s a sensory bin to celebrate Chinese New Year 2019. The rice base is a neutral color, but colored yellow rice would work well too.

A Chinese New Year 2019 rice sensory bin.

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Items In The Sensory Bin:

  • brown rice
  • red bowls
  • red spoons
  • Asian themed tins
  • small red cups
  • chopsticks
  • gold coins (borrowed from my St. Patrick’s Day stash)
  • gold and red buttons
  • red and gold jewels
  • red garland pieces
  • gold stars
  • toy dragons
  • toy pigs

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