New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

December 31, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This New Year’s Eve sensory tray is full of party vibes. It is an inviting loose parts tray to offer at a New Year’s Eve event, or on the first day of class in January. The dinner-themed play invitation is currently ready for my preschoolers to explore when they are back at school next week. I’m excited to see how they use it!

The featured tray is called a “tuff tray”, or “active world tray.” In our country (Canada) they are available to order online at:

Scholar’s Choice

Education Station

My active world tuff tray is a recent addition to my stock of early learning resources, and I love using it.

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Supplies To Collect

New Year's Eve sensory play tray with a party theme.

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To recreate this tray, pick a set of disposable paper New Year’s party plates. Use the colors in the plates to guide the color scheme for the loose parts in the active world tray. My plates are gold, silver, black and white, with metallic touches. I use gold and silver metallic accessories for the tray.

Loose parts to include:

round placemat
disposable cups and cutlery
gift boxes
serving bowls and spoons
tongs
star-shaped containers
strips of bead garland
buttons
play coins
small bells
large ornament bells
present ornaments
balls cut from garland
tiny trophies

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The New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

Gather loose parts that you have available. Arrange them as a dinner invitation.

New Year's Eve tuff tray filled with dinner-themed loose parts little learners will love to party with.

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Serving containers in a variety of sizes and shapes add appeal and provide options for manipulating loose parts.

Bells are a welcome addition to any sensory activity. There are large bell ornaments and small jingling bells in the tray, offering a musical component.

The featured gift boxes are clear and contain tiny trophies and ornaments. Little learners can explore them and change up the contents. Gold or silver gift boxes would work wonderfully too.

New Year's Eve sensory tray featuring dinnerware, gift boxes, and metallic loose parts.

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New Year’s All Gold Sensory Activity

December 30, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

An inviting New Year's all gold sensory bowl filled with shiny items little learners will love to explore.

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This New Year’s all gold sensory activity is filled with … you guessed it…all gold loose parts! It’s one I’ve been wanting to put together for a while and finally did. Whether the loose parts are organized in a bin or tray, this activity is one your little learners will love to take part in.

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Gold And New Year’s

Glittery, metallic gold is a popular color for New Year’s celebrations. And it usually plays a big part in Christmas festivities too.

Gold is considered a symbol of wealth. But in addition to monetary wealth, the rich color also represents a wealth of experience, knowledge, and love. And who doesn’t wish for all these things, especially at the beginning of a new year?

Follow me on Pinterest for more New Year’s ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

New Year's all gold sensory bin loose parts tray for little learners to explore.

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Gather the following supplies in metallic gold:

tiny trophies
small present and drum decorations
play coins
assorted buttons
miniature ornaments
bows
jingle bells
strands cut from beaded necklaces
tongs
spoons
cups

It’s easy to find these items during the holiday season. And I’m sure you will be able to think of even more things to add.

New Year's all gold sensory activity loose parts tray.

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“All Gold” Sensory Bin

A large clear plastic salad bowl makes a good bin for this sensory setup. But a plastic square or rectangular container works fine too.

A rich New Year's all gold sensory activity featuring shiny metallic loose parts for little learners to explore.

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No base ingredient is needed for this eye-appealing activity. Just throw a mix of metallic gold loose parts in your container of choice. Then set it out on a table with golden cups, tongs, and spoons for your little learners to explore.

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All Gold Sensory Tray

If you only have a small supply of golden items, why not use a serving tray. Your little charges will be happy to dive in and investigate the shiny “treasures” in the tray.

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New Year's metallic gold sensory bin loose parts tray.

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New Year’s Countdown Activities

December 30, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This post is an updated version of one of last year’s posts.

These New Year’s countdown activities give practice in number recognition and counting down from 10 to 1. And how fun is it for early learners to print fireworks with fringed toilet paper rolls!

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Printmaking Fireworks

Supplies needed:

Happy New Year printable (downloadable below)
scissors
toilet paper rolls
magenta, yellow, and light blue tempera paint
small plates or container lids
paintbrushes

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Happy New Year Printable

New Year's Countdown template to use for art and math activities with young children. Invitation to add paint print fireworks, count down from 10 t0 1 and match numbers.

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The “Happy New Year” printable can be printed on 8 1/2 inch x 11-inch paper, or 11-inch by 17-inch paper.

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Happy New Year PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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The Printmaking Invitation

Cut fringes into one end of three toilet paper rolls.

Bend the fringes on each paper roll outward.

Pour magenta, yellow, and light blue paint into small plates or lids.

Set out the paints, paper rolls, and paper on a table.

Ask your little learner to dip the fringed end of each paper roll into a color of paint and make a firework print on the paper.

Encourage your little one to add more prints in each paint color to the page.

Invitation to paint fireworks with fringed toilet paper rolls.

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Tip: Try this on a practice sheet first.

For added control, fringed ends can be painted with a brush instead of being dipped in paint.

New Year's fireworks printmaking with fringed toilet paper rolls.

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Fireworks paint prints made with fringed toilet paper rolls.

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To incorporate number recognition and matching practice, ask your early learner to cover the numbers 10 to 1 with numeric stickers.

Number matching on a New Year's countdown printable.

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Dot Marker New Year’s Countdown

Another way to use the New Year’s Countdown printable is to let your little learner decorate it with paper stars. Then ask your little one to count down the numbers from ten to one, dabbing each numeral with a dot marker as it is spoken.

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Dot marker New Year's countdown activity.

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These New Year’s countdown activities will be sure to help your early learner start the new year off on a positive note. Let the counting begin!

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New Year's countdown printmaking and number matching printable.

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New Year’s Crafts

December 29, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This post has been updated for New Year 2023.

Glitzy, easy-to-make 2023 New Year's keepsake crafts that enhance eye-hand coordination, fine motor control, patterning, and number recognition.

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2023 is just around the corner, and who doesn’t mind having some easy-to-do New Year’s crafts at their fingertips. These activities double up as 2023 keepsakes. You can choose from several glitzy versions.

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2023 Collage Craft

Supplies Needed:

glitter gold cardstock
tan cardstock
8 ½ x 11-inch cream cardstock
gold sequins, stars, balls, and confetti
gold glitter glue
glue paddle
collage containers
adhesive gems
black or gold metallic felt pen
pencil
scissors
glue stick or glue gun

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Making The 2023 Collage Craft

Trace your little learner’s hand on a piece of tan cardstock, or let your child do the tracing.

Help your child cut out the hand.

Add gold glitter glue and craft bits to small containers. Simply collect any gold-colored craft items you have around for the collaging.

Set out the gold bits, glue, glue paddle, and paper hand on a table.

Gold craft supplies to decorate traced hands.

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Invite your little one to glam up the hand with the collage items, using glitter glue as an adhesive.

Let the collaged hand dry.

Cut a number three and a pair of number two shapes from gold glitter cardstock or a gold gift bag. Download the printable further on in this post to use as a template if desired.

On cream-colored cardstock, help your little learner use a glue stick to tack on a number two, the decorated hand, another number two, and a number 3. Reinforce the shapes with a glue gun if needed. Add a greeting with a black or gold metallic felt pen.

Gold-themed traced hand 2021 keepsake craft.

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The glitzy hand takes center stage in this craft.

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Traced Hand 2023 Keepsake

A simpler version of this activity is to trace your little one’s hand on glitter gold or glitter silver cardstock. After cutting it out, have your child glue the glam hand onto a gold or silver numbered 2023 template (downloadable below.)

A gold glitter traced hand completes this 2021 keepsake craft.

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Adhesive gems enhance the craft.

Gold cardstock traced hand and adhesive gem 2021 craft.

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Silver glitter cardstock and adhesive gem 2021 keepsake craft.

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Golden Hand Craft Printable

Download this free New Year 2023 gold-numbered template for making children's keepsake crafts.

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2023 Here I Come Gold 2 PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Silver Hand Craft Printable

Download this free New Year 2023 silver-numbered template for making children's keepsake crafts.

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2023 Here I Come Silver 2 PrintableDownload

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This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Rhinestone 2023 New Year’s Crafts

Skip the hand art and invite your early learner to add adhesive gems to a metallic numbered 2023 printable.

Adhesive gem decorated 2021 keepsake craft supplies.

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Following are silver and gold versions for downloading.

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Gold 2023 Template

Download this free New Year 2023 gold-numbered printable for making children's keepsake crafts.

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2023 Here I Come Gold PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Silver 2023 Template

Download this free New Year 2023 silver-numbered printable for making children's keepsake crafts.

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2023 Here I Come Silver PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Adhesive gem decorated 2021 keepsake craft.

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These New Year’s crafts are great for strengthening finger muscles and practicing eye-hand coordination. They facilitate number recognition and pattern making. And your little learner will love the opportunity to use adhesive gems and gold-themed craft supplies in these projects.

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Happy New Year 2023!

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Collage 2021 keepsake craft with a gold theme.

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[Read more…]

New Year’s Sensory Tray

January 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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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Items In The New Year’s Sensory Tray:

parboiled rice
antique watch heads set to 12:00
tube confetti
confetti party hats and stars
sequins
foil pieces
tiny balls
beads
pom poms
bead garland strips
tinsel
bells
musical instruments
alphabet letters that spell the wish “Happy New Year”
star dessert cups
spoons

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Safari Toob musical instruments would be a stand out in this tray.

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Activities To Extend Exploration

Your early learner will enjoy sifting through the sensory tray and filling the star dessert cups with treasures. A few prompts will extend learning opportunities.

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

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Search And Find Challenges

Challenge your child to…

find letter H, Y, etc.
collect five pom poms
shake bells in cupped hands to make music
search for watch heads
find three silver stars and two gold stars
add musical instruments to a star dessert cup

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Spelling “Happy New Year”

Cut necklaces into “HAPPY NEW YEAR” sections. Ask your little one to find the letters that make up the new year’s greeting.

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New Year's sensory tray with an invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year". This tray offers sensory, math and language opportunities for learning.

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The gold and silver pieces are not precious metals, but this New Year’s sensory tray has a rich feel that is sure to be inviting.

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To create a similar tray, keep an eye out for baubles to recycle from Christmas events or gift openings. As an alternative, you can put together a bright, colorful bin as seen at rubberbootsandelfshoes.

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[Read more…]

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.

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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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Related: 2021 New Year’s Crafts

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New Year Handprint Keepsake

Supplies Needed:

golden glitter cardstock
tan cardstock
8 ½ x 11-inch cream cardstock
gold sequins, stars, balls, and confetti
gold glitter
gold glitter glue
glue paddle
collage containers
pencil
scissors
metallic gold felt pen
glue stick
glue gun

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Trace your child’s hand on a piece of tan cardstock, or let your child do the tracing.

Help your child cut out the handprints.

Add gold glitter glue and collage items to small containers.

Set the collage items, glue, glue paddle, and paper handprints on a table.

Decorate handprints with glitter glue and gold stars, sequins, confetti, and glitter. A collage activity for all ages.

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Invite your child to glam up the handprints with gold-colored collage items.

Gold glitter and confetti can be sprinkled on at the end for an added dose of glitz.

Let the handprints dry.

Cut a pair of number two shapes from golden glitter cardstock.

On cream-colored cardstock, help your child use a glue stick to tack on a number two, the left decorated hand, another number two, and the right embellished hand. Reinforce the shapes with a glue gun if needed.

Add the words “Here I Come” underneath the number 2020 with a metallic gold felt pen.

Glitter paper and gold collage items are front and center in this 2020 handprint art activity. An easy to make New Year's keepsake suitable for children of all ages.

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To introduce a simple version of this art project, a couple of number twos and handprints can be traced onto white cardstock and then cut out. Let your child color the numbers and handprints, and glue them onto a contrasting background.

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New Year Countdown Fireworks Picture

This activity gives practice in number recognition and counting down from 10 to 1. It does double duty as an art activity.

Supplies Needed:

Happy New Year printable (download below)
scissors
three toilet paper rolls
magenta, yellow, and light blue tempera paint
small plates or lids
paintbrushes

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This “Happy New Year” printable can be downloaded on 11-inch by 17-inch paper, or 8 ½ x 11-inch paper.

Happy New Year PrintableDownload

This printable was created in PicMonkey and is for individual and one classroom use only.

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Paper Roll Firework Paint Project Set-Up

Cut fringes into one end of three toilet paper rolls.

Bend fringes on each paper roll outward.

Pour magenta, yellow, and light blue paint into small plates or lids.

Set the paints, paper rolls, and paper on a table.

Ring in the new year with your early learners by introducing an activity to make toilet roll and paint fireworks. Use the Happy New Year printable to count down from 10 to 1.

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Ask your child to dip the fringed end of each paper roll into a color of paint and make a firework print on the printable.

Encourage your child to add more prints in each paint color to the page.

Tip: Try this on a practice sheet first.

Practice making paint print fireworks on a piece of scrap paper before making prints on the Happy New Year printable.

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For more control, fringed ends can be painted with a brush instead of dipped in paint.

Toilet paper roll firework paint prints. For added control, paint the fringes of the paper roll and press onto the Happy New Year printable to create fireworks.

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A paper roll and paint art activity to ring in the new year with. Introduce this activity with your early learners using this Happy New Year printable. Incorporate math by having children count down from 10 to 1 and match numbers by adding numerical stickers.

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To incorporate number recognition and matching practice, ask your child to cover the numbers 10 to 1 with numerical stickers.

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These art and math activities will be sure to help your child start the new year off on a positive note. I hope 2020 will be a fabulous one for your loved ones and you!

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