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Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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polar bears

Polar Scene Snow Painting

February 6, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This polar scene snow painting activity was a last minute set up after a group discussion about igloos and the possibility of making one. We just happened to have a lot of snow in our city that week, so it was a good fit. Save this idea for the next time you have snow…the art and sensory activity is sure to be a hit.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

Supplies to Collect

Just the following few supplies are needed for this polar scene snow painting activity:

  • sensory tray
  • bus tub
  • large bowl
  • polar animal figurines
  • ice cubes or acrylic ice cubes
  • snow
  • paint pots and paintbrushes
  • neon food coloring or liquid food colors
  • stage light (optional)

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Polar Scene Snow Painting

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To set up this snowy sensory set up, the first thing to do is to select a sensory tray. For this activity, I picked a large active world tray. It is gernously-sized, and has room for six to eight children to paint at a time. For three to four children, a smaller tray or bin would work just fine.

Next, fill a bus tub or similar-sized utility box with snow and pour it into the bin.

Afterward, pack a salad bowl-sized metal bowl full of snow and let it sit for a few minutes.

Then tip the bowl over in the center of the snow-filled tray to create an igloo. Pack more snow around the dome if necessary to ensure a rounded shape.

Dig a little hole in one part of the igloo to become an entrance.

Then add ice cubes or acrylic ice cubes around the snow house.

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Next, generously squirt neon food colors such as green, pink, and purple into paint pots half-filled with water. Add a paintbrush to each pot.

Note: The food color choices are inspired by hues displayed in northern lights, which frequently flood the arctic skies and illuminate the land.

Finally, invite your little charges to paint the igloo and snow.

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To extend this transient art invitation and add ambiance, set up a stage light and position it to shine on the igloo and animal figurines while the children are participating in the polar scene snow painting activity.

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Children may wish to paint the animal figurines during the art and sensory experience. The paint washes off easily with a little soap and water.

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More Northern Lights-inspired Activities

Igloo “Glamping” Pretend Play

Polar Bear Small World

Northern Lights Squish Painting

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[Read more…] about Polar Scene Snow Painting

Filed Under: art, preschool, science, sensory, winter Tagged With: northern lights, painting, polar animals, polar bears, snow

Polar Bear Small World

February 22, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A professional stage light adds ambiance to this inviting northern lights-inspired polar bear small world.

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Two of the most majestic things to see in the Arctic are polar bears and northern lights. It is not uncommon to spot them depicted together in far north artworks. A memory of an award-winning painting of polar bears trekking across a snowy landscape lit up by northern lights is what inspired this lighted polar bear small world.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

This polar bear small world is inspired by northern lights, which are often visible in Arctic skies at night.

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To set up a mesmerizing polar bear small world, gather together the following supplies:

  • polar bear figurines
  • LED stage light
  • white pompoms
  • acrylic snowflakes
  • clear acrylic ice cubes
  • silver placemat
  • turquoise placemat
  • toy igloo, ice floe, tent, and snow vehicle
  • white tablecloth
  • scissors

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The Polar Bear Small World

A professional stage light adds interest to this northern lights-inspired polar bear small world.

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To put together this polar bear-themed small world, start by covering a table with a white tablecloth to create a “snowy” base.

Next, add placemats to represent ice and water. A silver placemat suggests ice. A turquoise placemat trimmed with scissors becomes “a body of water.”

Then set up a LED stage light at one end of the table.

Afterward, add polar bear figurines, pompom “snowballs,” acrylic snowflakes, and clear ice cubes.

If available, include arctic toys such as an igloo, ice floe, research tent, and snow vehicle. These will add imaginary play possibilities to the small world.

Finally, turn on the LED stage light to illuminate the scene. You can set the stage light to one color, or have it project alternating colors such as green, blue, red, and purple.

A professional stage light adds interest to this northern lights-inspired polar bear small world.

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For a stunning art activity and facts about northern lights, view the blog post “Northern Lights Squish Painting.”

To learn facts about polar bears and other arctic animals, visit the blog post “Arctic Animal Sensory Trays.”

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A professional stage light adds ambiance to this inviting northern lights-inspired polar bear small world.

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Related:

Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Winter Wreath Craft

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

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[Read more…] about Polar Bear Small World

Filed Under: dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, science, sensory, winter Tagged With: light, northern lights, polar bears, small worlds

Winter-Themed Treasure Blocks

January 15, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Winter-themed treasure blocks your little learners will be excited to play with. The blocks add beauty and interest to small world activities.

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Winter-themed treasure blocks add interest and beauty to any block play activity. Pick a winter color palette, scrounge around for loose parts in your chosen hues, and add them to the blocks. It’s that easy!

Treasure blocks are a fairly recent addition to my block collection, and I love adding seasonal supplies to them. There are eight see-through blocks in different sizes and shapes in the featured set, allowing various kinds of loose parts to be displayed. I highly recommend getting a set. They are so versatile.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more winter activity ideas.

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Winter-Themed Supplies To Collect

An online search reveals a variety of beautiful winter color combinations. For this post, I use loose parts in silver, white, cream, and shades of blue.

Winter-themed loose parts to use in treasure blocks or art activities.

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Here’s what’s in the blocks:

  • blue, silver, and white pom poms
  • turquoise snowflake gems
  • white and shades of blue round gems
  • clear and shades of blue ice rock crystals
  • silver and teal metallic snowflake confetti
  • white paper punched snowflakes
  • cream and shades of blue potpourri
  • snowflake and snowman erasers

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Winter-Themed Treasure Block Activities

These winter-themed treasure blocks pair well with polar animals. Offer the blocks on a table along with animal figurines such as polar bears, seals, arctic foxes, narwhals, and walruses.

Pair these winter-themed treasure blocks with polar animals and additional loose parts.

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Or go extreme south, and set out the blocks with penguin figurines.

These winter-themed treasure blocks make the perfect backdrop for a pair of penguins.

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After using the blocks in setups with polar animals, I look forward to pairing them with “Disney Frozen” sets.

Do you have a favorite way to use treasure blocks? Share below.

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More Winter Activities

Winter Playdough Recipe

Snowman Sensory Play

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

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[Read more…] about Winter-Themed Treasure Blocks

Filed Under: block play, dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, sensory, winter Tagged With: block play, loose parts, penguins, polar bears, small worlds

Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays

February 25, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Arctic animal sensory trays featuring seals, narwhals, and a polar bear and igloo. Luxurious loose parts accent the trays.

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These Arctic animal sensory trays are inspired by a set of polar decorations spotted at a local hardware store. I saw them before Christmas and restrained myself from buying them. It was tough! I didn’t think of them again until just into the New Year, but then I just had to have them. Thankfully, one hardware store in the chain still had a full selection and I was able to buy the decorations for winter displays and sensory play.

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Polar Animal Sensory Tray Loose Parts

A large round tray, silver plastic table mat for water or ice, and the following loose parts work well with arctic animal figurines:

Polar loose part tray inspired by an igloo, seal, and narwhal figurine.

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  • pearl bead garland
  • large pearl beads
  • clear gems in various sizes
  • ice cube gems
  • silver bells
  • silver beads and bead garland
  • blue gems

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Seal and narwhal-inspired loose parts tray.

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Arctic Animal Sensory Trays

The polar decorations featured in these trays are breakable, so should be handled carefully. After discussing and exploring figurines such as these with your early learners, replace them with unbreakable Arctic animal and igloo toys for further learning and play.

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The first two sensory trays showcase seals and narwhals. Here are some facts about these aquatic polar creatures:

Narwhals are small whales nicknamed sea unicorns. Males have a tooth that grows through their lip to form a spiraling ivory tusk. The tusks grow throughout the whales’ lives. Narwhals live in groups in the cold icy waters of the Arctic. They have been overhunted for their sought-after tusks so are hard to spot.

A glittery seal and embellished narwhals are the highlights of this luxurious sensory tray.

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Six kinds of seals live in the Arctic. The seals spend much of their time in the frigid waters on or under the ice.  When the ocean freezes each year, they chew breathing holes through the ice with their teeth. They come up for air every few minutes, trying to avoid predators in the process.

Glittery seals take center stage in this aquatic polar animal sensory tray.

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This next tray features a polar bear, seal, and narwhal.

Polar bears are large, creamy white bears that weigh up to 1100 pounds. They have black noses and eyes and can walk and swim long distances. Polar bears live on ice floes, rocky shores, and islands in the Arctic. Their tiny bear cubs are born in December in dens on land or ice. The cubs live with their mothers for about two years.

Polar bear and seal sensory tray with luxurious loose parts.

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Below is a narwhal, seal, and igloo sensory tray.

Igloos are dome-shaped snow houses that can be large or small. They are made with slanted rectangular blocks of packed snow cut by skilled carvers. In times past, igloos were used as a winter home or temporary hunting shelter. The igloos were super strong and able to withstand fierce winds and polar bear attacks. The snow homes were heated with oil lamps and could get pretty toasty. Furs lined sleeping areas and covered doorways.

Arctic sensory tray featuring a seal and narwhal, and an igloo.

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The penguin below adds a cuteness factor. Penguins live in the Antarctic on the opposite side of the world but are also polar animals.

Polar sensory tray with a penguin, seal, narwhal, and igloo. Luxurious loose parts accent the tray.

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[Read more…] about Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays

Filed Under: display, ocean, preschool, sensory, winter Tagged With: Arctic, narwhals, polar bears, seals, sensory tray

Winter Sensory Trays

January 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Snowflake confetti rules in these three winter sensory trays featuring polar bears, penguins, and shiny accessories.

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Snowflake confetti makes an eye-catching base for three simple winter sensory trays. Combined with a few accessories, it sets the stage for sparkly sensory play experiences your little learners will delight in.

The find: shiny snowflake and dot confetti in a blue, silver, and white color scheme.

Basic Winter Sensory Tray

Supplies to collect:

Winter sensory tray loose parts.

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  • snowflake confetti
  • turquoise gems
  • silver and white bead garland strips
  • large silver snowflakes
  • star cups
  • clear spoons

Set in a tray, these pieces make the perfect hands-on sensory activity for your little ones to celebrate winter with.

Snowflake studded winter sensory tray filled with shiny pieces.

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Shiny pieces rule in this snowflake confetti based winter sensory tray.

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Polar Bear Sensory Tray

In this tray, the star cups and spoons are replaced with cube-shaped “ice cube” acrylic gems and an ice floe cut from styrofoam. Polar bear figurines are set on and around the ice floe.

Polar bear winter sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base and shiny loose parts.

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Polar sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base and shiny loose parts.

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Polar animal-themed loose parts tray.
Polar Sensory Tray Loose Parts

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Penguin Sensory Tray

The bears are out and a variety of penguins are in! Styrofoam packing chips are added to the mix. The penguins are propped on the ice floe and ice chunks, or swimming in the water. Cotton balls would also be a good fit for this tray.

Penguin sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base.

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Penguin sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base.

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Penguin sensory tray with a winter-themed loose parts in a snowflake confetti base.

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White rice or paper snowflake confetti can be substituted as the base in these glitzy, easy-to-set-up winter sensory trays your little learners will love.

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Related:

Winter Playdough Recipe

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Polar Bear Small World

Painting Ice and Snow

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

Snowman Sensory Play

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[Read more…] about Winter Sensory Trays

Filed Under: ocean, preschool, pretend play, sensory, winter Tagged With: loose parts, penguins, polar bears, sensory bin, sensory play, snowflakes

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