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New Year’s Countdown Activities

December 30, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Art and math New Year's countdown activities. Printmaking with fringed toilet rolls, collage art, and number matching opportunities.
Art and math New Year's countdown activities. Printmaking with fringed toilet rolls, collage art, and number matching opportunities.

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!


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

paint brushes


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.

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


Happy New Year PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.


[Read more…] about New Year’s Countdown Activities

Filed Under: art, Math, preschool Tagged With: Happy New Year, painting, printables, printmaking

Christmas Tree Art

December 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Dazzling, easy to do Christmas tree art painting activity. An all-ages art project.
Dazzling, easy to do Christmas tree art painting activity. An all-ages art project.

This Christmas tree art is quick to set up and simple to do. And it gives early learners a chance to explore color shades and brightness.


Supplies to Collect

green, yellow and white tempera paint

12-inch x 18-inch sturdy paper

paint palettes

paintbrushes

paper towel squares

metallic green star confetti

gold and green Christmas gift bows


Making The Christmas Tree Art

Cut long, narrow triangles from large sheets of sturdy paper. Shown below is manila paper.

Pour dark green, medium green, yellow, and white tempera paint into artist palettes. This color scheme works well when children keep the colors separate or do a lot of blending.

Invite your early learners to paint a triangle. They will embrace painting a unique shape.

Christmas tree art set up with white, yellow, and green paint hues.

A paper towel works well to dab excess paint from the brush before switching to a new color. This is a helpful tip from Patty Palmer’s book “Draw, Paint, Sparkle.”

Painting technique to use when switching paint colors.

Next, have your little charges sprinkle on metallic stars while the paint is still wet. They will loooove doing this too!

Painted triangular tree ready to be topped with a Christmas gift bow.

[Read more…] about Christmas Tree Art

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool, trees, winter Tagged With: Christmas tree, painting, trees

Christmas Dove Art

December 13, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Squish painting and collage Christmas dove art projects suitable for all ages Free dove template included.. ages.
Squish painting and collage Christmas dove art projects suitable for all ages Free dove template included.. ages.

Angels are often my “go-to” theme for a Christmas craft keepsake, but this holiday season I have doves on my brain. Doves are symbolic of peace and love, welcome inspiration at Christmas, or any time of the year. So here are two Christmas dove art projects that make touching keepsakes… and display beautifully. Bonus: I’ve included a free downloadable printable to use for the crafts.


Squish Painted Dove

Create a symmetrical dove pattern or download the printable in this post to use as a template. Cut out one bird from white 8 ½ inch x 11-inch cardstock paper for each child completing the project.

Dove printable to download for a craft project.

Dove TemplateDownload

This printable is for individual and one classroom use only.


Set the doves out onto a table along with red and green paint and spoons.

Invitation to spatter paint paper doves with red and green paint.

Invite your little learners to spatter paint their dove.

Spatter painted dove using green and red Christmas colors.

Then help them fold the dove, and smooth their hand over it. Placing newspaper underneath and overtop the folded birds helps absorb excess paint.

Ask your little ones to unfold their birds. They are bound to be excited to see the art they have created.

Squish painted dove art project in red and green colors.

After the doves dry, hot glue a sprig from a Christmas stem underneath each beak.

A sprig from a Christmas stem is the finishing touch for this squish painted red and green dove.

[Read more…] about Christmas Dove Art

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool Tagged With: Christmas craft, doves, painting, paper crafts

Pumpkin Color Activities

November 23, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Pumpkin facts and color activities. Anatomy, color matching, and art activities.
Pumpkin facts and color activities. Anatomy, color matching, and art activities.

Although orange pumpkins are traditional, and most grocery stores focus on selling them, these dramatic fruits come in many other hues. Diversely colored pumpkins can be scouted out at farmer’s markets and garden centers in autumn. They are intriguing in pumpkin color activities for little learners.


Pumpkin Display

First, set out pumpkins on a shelf for little ones to view. The contrasting colors make a striking display. Discuss pumpkin color, size, shape, and texture.

Pumpkins in mint, cream, black, yellow, and green colors.

Color Matching

Move the pumpkins to a table and invite early learners to add color words.

Color matching with mint, orange, green, cream, and black pumpkins.

[Read more…] about Pumpkin Color Activities

Filed Under: art, autumn, display, fall, literacy, preschool, science, sensory, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: colors, painting, pumpkins, Thanksgiving Day

Spooky Hands Craft

October 29, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Easy to make spooky hands craft using shiny white corn syrup paint, Q-tips, and nail art. A seasonal, all-ages activity that is sure to stun.

This shiny spooky hands craft is effortless to do and uses easy to gather materials. The supplies for this project can be found at your local grocery and dollar stores.


Supplies Needed

white corn syrup

orange, green, and purple food coloring

paint containers and brushes

spoons

spider-themed fake nails

skull-themed fake nails

polka dot fake nails

Q-Tips

spider gems

sturdy white paper

black permanent felt pen

scissors


Taste safe corn syrup paint ingredients.

Traced hands and supplies needed to make spider, skull, and skeleton hand-themed crafts.

[Read more…] about Spooky Hands Craft

Filed Under: art, autumn, party, preschool, sensory Tagged With: #spooky hands, loose parts, painting, skeletons, skulls, spiders

Northern Lights Squish Painting

July 22, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Northern lights inspired squish and string painting. Facts about northern lights included. An all-ages art activity to celebrate nature's dazzling light show.
Northern lights inspired squish and string painting. Facts about northern lights included. An all-ages art activity to celebrate nature's dazzling light show.

Northern lights, or auroras, are nature’s majestic light shows sent from the heavens to earth. They are spectacular to view and stunning in photographs or art.  A northern lights squish painting project celebrates the vibrancy and uniqueness of this natural light display.


Ten Facts About Northern Lights

Northern lights are dazzling neon light shows visible in night skies.

Electrically charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the earth’s atmosphere to produce the auroras.

Charged particle collisions with oxygen in the upper atmosphere cause green dominant auroras; collisions with nitrogen in the slightly lower atmosphere cause blue or purple-red auroras.

Northern lights can also showcase pink, blue, orange, or yellow colors.

[Read more…] about Northern Lights Squish Painting

Filed Under: art, preschool, science Tagged With: Arctic, light, northern lights, painting

0ctopus Theme Activities

April 20, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky 2 Comments

Octopus theme facts, crafts, and small world play. The stunning feature art activity uses kitchen supplies. Art and science fun with learning for all ages.

The octopus is a fascinating creature with no shortage of unique characteristics. It makes a cheery topic for art projects. And after learning a few surprising facts, your family may even choose one for a pet!

Octopus theme facts, crafts, and small world play. The stunning feature art activity uses kitchen supplies. Art and science fun with learning for all ages.

[Read more…] about 0ctopus Theme Activities

Filed Under: art, ocean, science, sensory Tagged With: octopus, painting, tastesafe, water play

Painting With Chocolate

February 8, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fingerpainting, ice cube painting, and brush painting with chocolate. The process art hearts can be turned into valentines to give away. Art and Science activities for all ages.

You read it correctly: this blog post is about painting with chocolate. It’s easy, it’s fun, and your workspace will smell divine. The activities featured have a process art focus. A few embellishments will make the art display-worthy or ready to give away.

Fingerpainting, ice cube painting, and brush painting with chocolate. The process art hearts can be turned into valentines to give away. Art and Science activities for all ages.

Materials To Collect

hot chocolate powder

cocoa powder

chocolate sprinkles

bowls and spoons

sturdy white paper

waterproof felt pen

ice cubes

tray for ice cubes

paintbrush

container of water

doily heart

decorative 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock

ribbon

plastic (or real) rose

small plastic pouch

chocolates


Activity One: Painting With Chocolate And Ice Cubes

Freeze different sizes of ice cubes.

Cut a piece of sturdy paper into a large heart shape. Optional: Write the words “You and Me + Chocolate” on the heart with a waterproof felt pen.

Scoop hot chocolate powder and cocoa into bowls. Add spoons.

Set out a tray of slightly melted, very wet ice cubes along with the paper heart and bowls of chocolate ingredients.

Invitation to paint with ice cubes, cocoa, chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles. An all-ages art and science activity.

Start the activity off by saying that the powders are “mystery paints.” Ask your child to guess what the paints might be. Smelling the powders will give the answer away pretty quickly.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate powder and cocoa on the heart-shaped paper. (Chocolate sprinkles can be added later.)

Painting activity using ice cubes to swish around cocoa, hot chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles.

Cocoa and hot chocolate added to a heart shape. Ice cubes can be used to swish the powders around.

Ask your child to swish the powders around the heart with ice cubes, which will make spreadable chocolaty paint.

Offer a paper towel to dab on wet spots if desired. The pattern on the paper towel will add texture to the heart painting.


Heart painting made by swishing ice cubes through cocoa and hot chocolate powder.

Optional: Near the end, your child can add chocolate sprinkles to the heart. This will lead to a discovery that they make it harder to move the ice cubes around.


Activity Two: Brush Painting With Chocolate

Painting with cocoa and hot chocolate powder. The powders are moved around with a paintbrush dipped in water.

Brush painting is a less messy option if there isn’t much time for cleanup.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate and cocoa on a paper heart.

Offer a container of water and paintbrush. Encourage your child to add water to the dry ingredients and paint the heart.

A paper towel can be used to soak up excess liquid.

Gorgeous chocolate heart paintings made with water and hot chocolate and cocoa.
Swoon-worthy hearts painted by preschoolers.

[Read more…] about Painting With Chocolate

Filed Under: art, sensory, Valentine's Day Tagged With: chocolate, gifts, keepsakes, painting, taste safe, valentines

Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

September 11, 2018 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.
Color mixing paint project with red, white and yellow paint.

Paint Mixing

Preschoolers love, love, love to mix paint colors, and I like some unique art for memory albums and/or classroom display. The orange/fuchsia diptych art quilt entitled “Now” by textile artist Laurie Brainerd provides just the right inspiration for children to color mix and have an interesting finished project. The unique paper shapes add interest to the painting project.


[Read more…] about Artist Inspired Paint Mixing Project

Filed Under: art, preschool Tagged With: artists, color, painting

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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?

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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. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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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 .

❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️

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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. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Day store! 😍

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

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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 .
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

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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.

❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑

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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.

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Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers fo Sometimes you just want to use designer erasers for their original purpose. 😅😅😅

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

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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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

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