Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

skulls

Skeleton Sunflower Seed Bin

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If you need an easy sensory bin idea for a skeleton theme, this skeleton sunflower seed bin is for you. Set it up in minutes, and you’ll have a super engaging sensory invitation your little learners will be happy to explore.

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Supplies To Collect

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The following supplies are in the sunflower seed sensory bin:

  • sunflower seeds
  • skeleton figurines
  • skeleton arm scoops
  • toy bones
  • skull reusable ice cubes
  • toy eyeballs in different colors
  • skull treat holders
  • skull cups
  • clear non-breakable jars
  • silver bowls and serving spoons

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The Skeleton Sunflower Seed Bin

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Striped sunflower seeds are the base for this seedy skeleton bin. They are economical to buy and provide a unique sensory experience. In my active world tray, two large bags of seeds work nicely. For a smaller bin such as a bus tub or saucer sled, one large bag would be enough.

The sunflower seeds bring plenty of color, so there is no need to dye anything. This saves a lot of preparation time.

The toy skeletons, skulls, and bones are supplies easily scooped up at dollar and party stores, or the seasonal section of a big box store.

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It’s always nice to see the excited look of children when they discover a new sensory bin invitation, and their reaction to this bin did not disappoint. There was lots of imaginative and creative play.

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Skeleton Lentil Bin Sensory Play

To keep the interest in skeleton sensory play going, offer the same supplies in a lentil-based bin. The red lentils are another base ingredient that brings its own color to the sensory invitation.

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More Sunflower Seed Sensory Play

After children have had plenty of time to explore the skeleton-themed accessories, swap them out for a pumpkin or sunflower and dinosaur-themed bin using the same striped sunflower seeds as a base.

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More Skeleton Activities

Skeleton Preschool Theme

Glam Skeleton Sensory Bin

Skeleton and Eyeball Waterplay

Glam Skeleton Playdough Tray

Floral Decorated Skeleton

Skeleton Treasure Blocks

Spaghetti and Eyeball Sensory Bin

Q-tip Skeleton Craft

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Spooky Hands Craft

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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.

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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.

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Supplies To Collect

  • 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

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Taste safe corn syrup paint ingredients.

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

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Making The Spooky Hands Craft

Using a permanent felt pen, help your early learners trace their hands on a sturdy piece of white paper. Stitches can be drawn on one of the hands. Assist with cutting the shapes out.

Together, mix a few drops of food coloring into containers of white corn syrup with spoons. A bit of yellow food coloring added to green makes it lighter and brighter. A few drops of yellow and red can be stirred to make orange. Combining red and blue makes purple.

Set out the paper hands, corn syrup paint, and paintbrushes. Invite your little learners to decorate each hand in one shiny color.

Add fake nails, Q-tips, and spiders. Let your little learners stick the loose parts into their tacky, painted hands.

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Supplies needed to create a green skeleton-themed painted hand.

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Supplies needed to create an orange, spider-themed hand.

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Supplies needed to create a purple spooky hand with stitches.

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Allow the sticky projects generous time to dry.

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Green painted hand, decorated with Q-tip bones and orange skull-themed nails.

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Orange painted hand, decorated with spiders and spider-themed nails.

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Purple painted hand with stitches drawn on and polka dot nails.

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Other paint colors and nail art can be used to take advantage of seasonal supplies and make the craft project your own.

This spooky hands craft is easy and fun…the perfect combination! Which hand theme is your favorite? Share in the comments section below.

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Spooky hand art using shiny, taste-safe paint and spider and skeleton-themed loose parts.

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Skeleton Preschool Theme

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Non-scary preschool theme featuring art, math, science, manipulative and dramatic play activities.

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Skeleton preschool theme? It’s only something I considered doing recently. In the latter part of October, my activities usually focus on pumpkins…bright orange, happy ones! My preschoolers are encouraged to dress up in non-scary costumes. Skeletons are not on the list to plan a theme around for my little students.

But I couldn’t help notice a glammed-up skull one fall day. Inspired by its beauty, my thoughts turned to “Yes, I can introduce some skeleton activities, and do it in a way that is non-threatening to preschoolers.”

Glam skull pillow.
My Skeleton Theme Inspiration

A focus for fall purchases became skeletons of all kinds. They were not hard to find … or expensive. Here’s what I bought and here’s what to do.

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Introducing The Preschool Skeleton Theme

COLLECT:

books about human bodies

X-rays of body parts

ADD:

light table or a DIY lightbox (plastic tub with led lights)

Books featuring human bodies with detailed pictures of skeletons.

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Set out a variety of books featuring human bodies and skeletons.

Display x-rays of human bones on a light table.

View x-rays on a lid covered, clear plastic tub with led lights inside.

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Led string lights inserted in a covered, clear tub can serve as a DIY lightbox.

A lid covered clear plastic tub with led lights inside works as a small light table.

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Stress that our bodies have skeletons and bones in them.

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Felt Skeleton Activities

THE FINDS:

  • felt skeleton (without bones)
  • felt, hinged skeletons (with bones)
  • cardboard skeleton (with bones)
  • toy bones

ADD:

  • Q-Tips
  • paper fasteners

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ACTIVITY ONE: Add Bones To A Skeleton

Cut a few Q-Tips in half, and others into thirds. Leave some whole. Let children add toy and Q-Tip bones to the felt skeleton, using the cardboard one as an example.

Felt skeleton decorated with plastic and Q-Tip bones. A cardboard skeleton serves as a model.

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ACTIVITY TWO: Skeleton Poses

Take turns moving a hinged, felt skeleton in different ways. Discuss what it might be feeling and communicating.

Adorable skeletons with movable limbs put in poses to create different expressions.

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ACTIVITY THREE: Put A Skeleton Back Together

Take apart the sections of a hinged, felt skeleton. Offer paper fasteners and invite children to put it back together, using the other skeleton as a model. This activity is great for enhancing fine motor skills.

A felt skeleton unhinged. Paper fasteners and a model skeleton aide in helping children put the skeleton back together.

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Plastic Skeleton Activities

THE FINDS:

  • three large, plastic hinged skeletons
  • pet costumes
  • adult fingerless gloves
  • children’s gloves and socks
  • beaded jewelry strands
  • stuffed animal
  • candy bag

ADD:

  • sticker gems and pearls
  • large roll of paper
  • felt pens

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ACTIVITY ONE: Compare Height With A Skeleton

Decorate one skeleton with sticker and pearl gems to “glam it up.”. Add some jewelry strands. Hang the skeleton on a wall with the caption: “ARE YOU TALLER THAN THIS SKELETON?”

Invite children to stand next to the skeleton. Measure and record who is taller.

A decorative wall decor skeleton hung on a wall. Invitation for children to compare their height with the skeleton.

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Take a picture of each child next to the skeleton for a unique photo op.

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ACTIVITY TWO: Dress The Skeleton

Set out a skeleton along with clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Invite children to dress the skeleton, offering help as needed.

Large, plastic skeleton dressed up in seasonal clothes.

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ACTIVITY THREE: Traced Body With Skeleton

Trace each child’s body on a large section of paper cut from a roll. Take a hinged skeleton apart and set the bones near the body tracings. Encourage children to add bones.

Body tracing with skeleton bones added.

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Jumbo Skull Activities

THE FIND:

jumbo felt skull

ADD:

  • calendar pictures of animal heads
  • 12 x 18 pieces of paper
  • pastel crayons

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ACTIVITY ONE: Guess The Animal

Slide the skull over each calendar animal head picture and ask children to “Guess The Animal.”

Guess The Animal activity using an oversized felt skull and calendar pictures of animal heads.

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ACTIVITY TWO: Trace The Skull

Place the skull on a table along with large pieces of paper and pastel crayons. Encourage children to trace and decorate the skull.

Traced skull activity using a large piece of paper, jumbo felt skull, and padstel crayons.

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ACTIVITY THREE: Jumbo Mask Photo Op

Take pictures of children holding the skull as a “jumbo mask.” The wall skeleton can be part of the backdrop.

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Glitter Skull Math Activities

THE FIND:

two tree branches decorated with metallic skulls 

ADD:

plastic, rubber, or wooden numbers

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ACTIVITY ONE: Make Patterns

Take the skulls off the tree branches. (The branches can be saved for other activities.)

Glitter skulls cut from a decorative tree branch.

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Have children make patterns with them.

Glitter skulls used for counting, sorting, and patterning activities.

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ACTIVITY TWO: Count And Sort Skulls

Set out the skulls, and numbers 1 – 9. Invite children to count them and add the correct number. Encourage skull sorting.

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Neon Skull Activities

THE FIND:

neon skeleton party favors

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ACTIVITY ONE: Sort And Match Skeletons

Have children sort and match skeletons according to their color.

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ACTIVITY TWO: Make Patterns

Invite children to make patterns with the neon skeletons.

Neon plastic skeleton party favors are perfect for making patterns.

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Skull Printable

Download this cute skull printable that features basic shapes. Discuss the shapes. Invite children to glam it up with their favorite art medium and sticker gems and pearls.

Skull activity sheet suitable for all ages for cutting, coloring, painting, collage and decorating.

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Download the skull printable here. (This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.)

Skull PrintableDownload

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My “go-to” activities for late October are still pumpkins. But I’m sticking a few skeleton preschool theme activities in with the mix!

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How do you feel about doing a Skeleton preschool theme with young children?

Are there some activities you would choose? Are there others you would stay away from?

Are there new activities you can suggest? Share below!

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