Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

loose parts

Giant Snowflake Printmaking

by Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

_______

This giant snowflake printmaking project gives children a chance to paint on a different canvas and practice a printmaking technique in an ombre color scheme. A large, slatted wooden snowflake is the inspiration and unique find for this printmaking activity.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Snowflake Printmaking Craft Supplies

For this gigantic snowflake printmaking activity, gather the following supplies:

  • large slatted wooden snowflake
  • turquoise, red, blue, and white tempera paints
  • paint pots and paintbrushes
  • spoons
  • large sheets of paper

_______

The Giant Snowflake Printmaking Process

_______

To do this snowflake printmaking activity, select a large, wooden snowflake for the canvas. This oversized snowflake with four wooden slats works perfectly for an ombre painting activity.

Next, choose tempera paint colors. In this ombre design, the chosen colors are shades of blue, pink, and turquoise.

Then stir white paint into the red, blue, and turquoise temperas to create hues to your liking. Varying amounts of white mixed with blue tempera paint make the light and medium blue hues. White added to red makes a pastel pink shade. And white added to turquoise makes the lighter hue.

_______

Afterward, set out the paints in pots and add a paintbrush to each one.

Paint each slat a different paint color. Apply the colors generously, and make sure to give the outside edges an extra good coat.

_______

Finally, carefully flip the wooden snowflake over onto an 11-inch x 14-inch piece of sturdy art paper, or an 11-inch x 17-inch piece of copy paper. Press firmly on all parts of the unpainted side of the snowflake, and then lift it off carefully.

_______

Tip: You may want to make two prints for your first try with this painting technique. The tempera paint will transfer over better on the second try.

When the paint print snowflake is dry, trim the top and bottom edges of the paper. Or cut the colorful snowflake out.

_______

The wooden snowflake canvas can be used over and over if you are introducing this printmaking activity to a group of children.

Large printed snowflakes positioned at different angles display beautifully together.

_______

Helping Little Learners Experience The Printmaking Process

Little learners will need help when performing this giant snowflake printmaking activity in the following ways:

  • painting each slat the appropriate color
  • applying paint to all areas of the wooden canvas
  • flipping the snowflake over to make a print on paper

In this activity, they can label and match colors, learn about an ombre color scheme, and practice a printmaking art activity.

_______

Variations Of This Giant Snowflake Printmaking Activity

To follow up this art experience, invite participants to paint the snowflake canvas any way they would like to allow for individual creativity.

A second idea is to offer wooden snowflakes in a smaller size. This gives little learners a chance to make snowflake prints independently.

_______

More Winter Activities

Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

_______

[Read more…] about Giant Snowflake Printmaking
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play

by Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

_______

The weather is super snowy and cold in my part of the world right now, and this Snowflake Café dramatic play center fits right in. The center incorporates many loose parts, which little learners love to use in imaginative ways.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Snowflake Restaurant Supplies

_______

The following supplies are in the snowflake café set up:

  • acrylic snowflakes and gems
  • white styrofoam balls
  • felt, foam, and wooden snowflakes
  • ice cream play food
  • iridescent bead necklaces
  • snowflake-themed bells
  • metal trays, cookie pans, and muffin tray
  • frosted disposable goblets
  • disposable plates
  • clear spoons and forks
  • play coffee machine and cups
  • play money
  • restaurant signs and menu items
  • table and chairs with a vase of flowers

_______

The Snowflake Cafe

_______

The color scheme for the winter-themed Snowflake Café dramatic play center is blue, white, silver, and gold.

Snowflakes in various sizes and materials make up a large part of the play food. In checking my supplies and scouring stores in our area I found them in felt, foam, acrylic, and wood.

_______

The wooden snowflakes are painted with gold, silver, or shades of blue acrylic craft paint to match the color scheme.

_______

Including play spaghetti in my dramatic play centers is so fun. In the café iridescent necklaces cut into strips are the noodles, and small snowflake-themed bells are the meatballs.

_______

Styrofoam balls are snow cupcakes or muffins.

_______

Disposable frosted goblets and silver trays add elegance to the center.

_______

Little learners love to mix and match supplies in the snowflake café and use their imagination to decide what play food the loose parts will be. They relish in preparing food, serving it to customers, and handling play money.

_______

Variation Of The Snowflake Cafe

Below, the loose parts and clear tableware in the Snowflake Cafe along with a few additional supplies set the tone for an inviting dining experience on the light table.

_______

_______

Snowflake Cafe Digital Download

A digital download Snowflake Cafe printable set is an alternative to this loose-part rich winter dramatic play center. It is an easy-to-offer pretend play activity for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary children at home or in school.

This engaging, winter-themed pretend play resource

  • is ideal for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary classrooms
  • supports dramatic play, counting, writing, and math skills
  • is great for winter units, indoor recess, or learning centers
  • is perfect for a play date
  • is an excellent activity to pack for family trips
  • is easy to prep-just print, cut, and play
  • is easy to store

_______

What’s included in the printable set:

  • 9 winter-themed cookie choices
  • Cookies in cookie pans
  • 3 hot chocolate choices
  • Snowflake Café signs
  • Open & Closed signs
  • Price list/menu
  • Daily Special sign
  • Two styles of order forms (perfect for different ages and skill levels)
  • Store labels for organizing your café setup
  • Play money
  • Recipe suggestion form
  • 40 printables in all

Whether you’re creating a seasonal dramatic play center, adding fresh excitement to your winter curriculum, or introducing a fun winter activity at home, the Snowflake Café printable set is a delightful way to keep children learning and playing throughout the season.

_______

_______

Related:

Winter Pretend Play Tablescape

Lemonade Stand Dramatic Play

_______

[Read more…] about Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Christmas Small World on the Light Table

by Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

_______

Transparent Christmas trees are the inspiration for this whimsical Christmas small world on the light table. They illuminate beautifully and pair with a variety of loose parts for creative and imaginative seasonal play.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

_______

Light Table Small World Supplies

The following supplies are included in the Christmas small world setup:

  • transparent Christmas trees in green, red, pink, and clear colors
  • clear acrylic deer figurines
  • clear acrylic snowman figurine
  • acrylic clear nativity decoration
  • pink transparent pebbles
  • small wooden shelters
  • wooden peg dolls painted red, green, pink, and white

_______

The Christmas Small World

In this Christmas small world, transparent trees in red, green, pink, and clear hues set the color scheme.

_______

Wooden peg dolls painted with acrylic paints in red, pink, green, and white colors complement the trees.

_______

Clear acrylic deer and a snowman are beautiful ornaments to explore.

_______

Transparent pink pebbles are a soft touch.

A simple nativity decoration enhances the Christmas small world theme.

_______

Making Your Own Transparent Trees

An alternative to purchasing transparent trees is to create your own.

_______

The trees above are made from transparent page dividers and paper rolls. To make them, cut paper rolls into two-inch cylinders. Next, cut a one-inch slit into opposite sides of each paper roll section. Then cut triangular trees from transparent page dividers.

Feel free to download this template to create the trees.

_______

Paper Roll Tree PatternDownload

_______

Slide the bottom of the trees into the paper roll trunks and set them on your light table or another tabletop. These DIY trees also illuminate nicely.

_______

_______

December Kindness Activities Printable Set

A December Kindness Calendar and Kindness Jar are two activities to teach empathy and kindness at home or in the classroom. Download this gorgeous pastel holiday printable set of kindness activities in my Skills N Smiles Etsy Shop for a low-low price. You’ll have the December kindness activities ready in minutes!

_______

_______

More Christmas Activities

Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

CD Case Christmas Craft

Plaid-themed Christmas Rice Bin

Christmas Sheep Craft

Christmas Treasure Blocks

_______

[Read more…] about Christmas Small World on the Light Table
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Turkey Playdough Tray

by Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

_______

Turkeys are a big part of fall, and this turkey playdough tray celebrates them. Three rich fall playdough colors are featured, along with turkey-themed loose parts.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

_______

Turkey Playdough Ingredients

All three playdough colors in the tray are made with my go-to basic recipe, with an icing color added.

For the orange playdough, gather the following ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • orange icing color
  • 3 tablespoons oil

_______

How To Make Turkey Playdough

_______

To make the orange playdough, start by adding the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mixing them together.

Next, mix a half teaspoon of orange icing color in two cups of water, stirring well. Then blend in 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the oily, colored water to the dry ingredients and combine.

Afterward, heat the pot on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Then scoop the dough onto a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding one tablespoon more oil.

Finally, store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

_______

Gold and Copper Playdough Colors

To make the gold playdough, stir a generous amount of buttercup yellow icing color into the water before mixing it with the oil and dry ingredients.

To make the copper playdough, stir in copper icing color instead of orange or yellow.

_______

Turkey Playdough Loose Parts

_______

Including loose parts in the turkey playdough invitation adds interest and offers more opportunities to develop finger and hand strength. The following loose parts are in the tray:

  • turkey game counters
  • life-like turkey figurine
  • pioneer and turkey cookie cutters
  • turkey wooden beads
  • turkey ring and cupcake topper
  • orange, red, and yellow spherical beads
  • yellow, orange, and red feathers
  • spotted brown feathers
  • small wiggly eyes
  • red and tan pipe cleaner sections

_______

Turkey Playdough Invitation

The orange, buttercup yellow, and copper playdough hues are complementary colors, so they go well together.

The turkey and pioneer cookie cutters are on point with the theme.

_______

Little learners have the opportunity to craft a turkey using playdough, feathers, and wiggly eyes. Cut and bent pipe cleaners work well for creating turkey feet and snoods.

The turkey counters and life-like turkey figurine provide models for creating playdough turkeys and are great for incorporating counting activities.

The fall-hued beads, turkey ring, and cupcake topper add interest to the manipulative play invitation.

_______

Besides being appropriate for a Thanksgiving or turkey theme, the beautiful playdough colors in the tray are perfect for any fall theme.

_______

Thanksgiving Printables

Shop Thanksgiving printables in my Etsy shop “Skills N Smiles“:

_______

_______

More Turkey Activities

Paper Plate Turkey Craft

Turkey Sensory Tubes

Coffee Playdough Turkey

_______

[Read more…] about Turkey Playdough Tray
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Apple Playdough Tray

by Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

_______

Tis the season of all things apple, and here’s a tantalizing apple playdough tray to add to your rotation of fall activities. It features playdough in three different scents and colors. The aromatic apple-themed sensory activity also works well for a nutrition or fruit and vegetable theme.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Apple-Scented Playdough Recipe

Gather the following easy-to-find supplies for this silky apple-scented playdough recipe:

  • apple-scented hair conditioner
  • cornstarch
  • large bowl
  • green food coloring
  • measuring cup
  • spoon for stirring

To make the simple no-cook recipe, first scoop 2 parts of cornstarch into a large bowl. Next, add one part apple-scented hair conditioner and mix it with the cornstarch using a stirring spoon. Then knead the scented dough ingredients together to make a smooth dough. If the dough is a bit crumbly, add a tad more hair conditioner. If it is a little slimy, add a bit more cornstarch. A playdough recipe couldn’t be any easier to make.

Apple themed playdough invitation with apple cutting board, ice cube tray, cookie cutters, leaves, and gems.

_______

Optional: Mix in a generous amount of green food coloring with the apple-scented hair conditioner before adding it to the cornstarch to get a light green color of playdough. You can also add the food coloring at the end. In this case, the playdough will look marbled with green at first and turn an even shade of light green after it has been used in a playdough invitation.

While you are making this recipe, it may not look like it will form a smooth playdough. Be assured that it will.

This dough becomes more mouldable as it is being handled. Round balls and other shapes are easy to form once it is warmed up a little with little human hands!

When using the dough for a second or third time, set it out and let learners add a tad more conditioner to their dough. If it gets a little mushy, have them work in a bit of cornstarch. They will love doing this.

_______

Apple-Scented Playdough Variations

_______

Since many apples come in varying combinations of red, green, and yellow hues, you can use other conditioner colors such as strawberry hair conditioner with red food coloring added to make red dough, and coconut hair conditioner with yellow food coloring added to make yellow dough.

Color mixing is a favorite activity for little learners, and they will relish the chance to mix all three colors of playdough together.

_______

Apple Playdough Tray

This apple playdough tray is easy to set up for little learners. Three colors of playdough are featured, but little learners would be more than happy to use only one scented playdough variety for the activity.

_______

In the tray are:

  • red, green, and yellow playdough
  • apple cookie cutters
  • alphabet letter wood stamps
  • leaf pie edgers
  • red, green, and yellow acrylic apple gems
  • green, red, and yellow apple counters
  • yellow, green, and red beads
  • brown pipe cleaners
  • drinking straws

Scented hair conditioner is an effortless ingredient to use in playdough, especially when only one or two other ingredients are required. Checking for it at dollar stores is an economical alternative.

_______

Having a bulk container of cornstarch ensures that there will be enough of this ingredient to make the playdough for a group of students. Using one cup of cornstarch to one-half cup of conditioner makes a recipe big enough for one or two children to share.

Loose parts such as yellow, green, and red apple counters, acrylic gems, and beads add interest to the tray.

_______

Pipe cleaners cut in half and wrapped around a pencil make curly caterpillars. Cut straws can be used to poke holes in the playdough and represent how caterpillars dig holes in apples and burrow inside.

Lowercase alphabet letter wood stamps offer an opportunity to spell the word apple.

_______

More Apple Activities

For more apple-themed activities, check out the following blog posts:

Apple Theme Activities

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Activities

_______

[Read more…] about Apple Playdough Tray
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin