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Putting the Pretty In Preschool

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Frozen 2 Inspired Sensory Bin

November 26, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin with pumpkins, apples, leaves, rocks, and craft supplies. A reindeer, snowman, and people characters complete the bin.
Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin with pumpkins, apples, leaves, rocks, and craft supplies. A reindeer, snowman, and people characters complete the bin.

When I came across the Frozen II based storybook “We’ll Always Have Each Other” earlier this year, I immediately fell in love with the fall color scheme. The rich red and orange forest colors, peppered with gold, green, and purple got me super excited about putting together a Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin.

This endearing story written by John Edwards touches on pumpkins, the changing seasons, and the close friendship between Olaf and Anna. The line “life may get harder sometimes, but we’ll stay strong for each other” seems even more relevant today than when it was written more than a year ago.


Sensory Bin Color Guide

These papers were my color guide for choosing craft supplies and loose parts for the vibrant sensory bin. I used leaf punches in two different sizes to turn cardstock into tiny leaves to sprinkle in the bin.

The color guide for a Frozen 2 inspired sensory bin.

[Read more…] about Frozen 2 Inspired Sensory Bin

Filed Under: apples, autumn, fall, friends, literacy, preschool, pretend play, sensory Tagged With: apples, Frozen inspired, looseparts, pumpkins

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

Sunflower Seed Sensory Bin Activities

November 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Three sunflower seed sensory bins. Dinosaurs, sunflowers, pumpkins, sand toys, and loose parts are highlights of the bins.
Three sunflower seed sensory bins. Dinosaurs, sunflowers, pumpkins, sand toys, and loose parts are highlights of the bins.

A sunflower seed sensory bin is a fantastic way for early learners to explore these edible seeds, and use them in play. The seed base is a natural fit for fall and pumpkin-themed accessories. Here are three sensory bin suggestions brimming with these dramatic seeds.


Sunflower And Sand Toy Bin

Sand toys, sunflowers, and fall-themed gems in a sunflower seed sensory bin.

Add shovels. pails, sieves, watering cans, leaf gems, round fall-themed gems, and craft sunflowers in different sizes and colors to a sunflower seed base. This bin works well as a spring gardening center. Or extend summer into fall by offering the bin to your little learners in September.


[Read more…] about Sunflower Seed Sensory Bin Activities

Filed Under: art, autumn, dinosaurs, fall, gardening, preschool, sensory Tagged With: dinsosuars, playdough, pumpkins, sensory bin, sunflower seeds, sunflowers

Pumpkin Playdough Activities

November 13, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Pumpkin playdough recipe and activities. Pumpkin, squirrel, and dinosaur themed playdough activities.
Pumpkin playdough recipe and activities. Pumpkin, squirrel, and dinosaur themed playdough activities.

Pumpkin playdough will send an oh, so pleasing pumpkin spice aroma around the room while your early learners have loads of fun playing with it. It is soft and rubbery, and won’t easily crumble. Here is the recipe, and a few engaging pumpkin playdough activities.


Playdough Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1/2 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

red food coloring (a little)

yellow food coloring (lots) 

a few drops of oil


[Read more…] about Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Filed Under: dinosaurs, fall, playdough, preschool Tagged With: playdough, pumpkins

Fall Scissor Skills Activities

November 12, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall scissor skills activities with invitations to cut textured craft supplies for a pumpkin collage or a forest sensory tray.
Fall scissor skills activities with invitations to cut textured craft supplies for a pumpkin collage or a forest sensory tray.

One of the things preschoolers are most excited about when starting school in the fall is using scissors. It’s an activity many early learners have not yet had exposure to, so they are delighted to have permission to cut. Offering beautiful materials with unique textures enhances fall scissor skills activities.


Fall Scissor Skills Supplies

Collect art supplies in yellow, orange, red, and brown hues, and sort them into a tray with compartments.

Fall scissor skills tray with red, yellow, orange, and brown craft supplies. Invitation to cut materials for collage or a sensory base.

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Filed Under: art, fall, preschool, science, sensory Tagged With: fine motor activity, forest, pumpkins, recycled craft

Scented Playdough Activities

October 18, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Scented playdough activities with an easy to make, two-ingredient recipe. Three dough variations and six sensory play invitations are featured.
Scented playdough activities with an easy to make, two-ingredient recipe. Three dough variations and six sensory play invitations are featured.

This two-ingredient playdough is super aromatic and has a unique consistency. It is easy and quick to make and inspires endless scented playdough activities.

Playdough Ingredients

The only ingredients needed are cornstarch and scented hair conditioner. Low cost perfumed conditioners can be picked up at Dollar stores and local grocery stores. Food coloring is an optional third ingredient.

Dreamy, easy to make scented playdough ingredients.

Below are the supplies to collect for three scented playdough variations.


[Read more…] about Scented Playdough Activities

Filed Under: apples, ocean, playdough, preschool, sensory Tagged With: apples, ice cream cones, loose parts, pumpkins

Turkey Sensory Tubes

October 3, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

"Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.
"Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.

Here are three quick and inviting turkey sensory tubes to put together for a Thanksgiving, fall, or farm theme.  I used large water bottles with wide mouths purchased at a dollar store for these activities. Offer the tubes to little learners and have them “spot the turkeys.”


Three "Spot The Turkey" sensory tubes. Split pea and lentil base, glitter water base, and craft material base sensory tube ideas.

Split Pea And Lentil Based Sensory Tube

Split pea and lentil-based turkey sensory tube with turkey counters, and leaf, pumpkin, and apple gems.

This calming turkey sensory tube features a red split lentil and yellow split pea base. Also included are:

red, orange, and yellow rubber turkey counters

pumpkin and apple gems

fall round and leaf gems


[Read more…] about Turkey Sensory Tubes

Filed Under: apples, autumn, fall, preschool, sensory, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: apples, leaves, pumpkins, turkeys

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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.

#playdough #ValentinesDay2021 #hearts #jelloplaydough #mainananak #montessori #playdoughfun #sensoryplay #toddleractivities #playbasedlearning #earlylearning #eyfs #playmatters #playtime #mainanmurah
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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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.

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Recent Posts

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  • Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities February 7, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes February 6, 2021
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