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Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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Christmas Small World on the Light Table

December 14, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Transparent Christmas trees are the inspiration for this whimsical Christmas small world on the light table. They illuminate beautifully and pair with a variety of loose parts for creative and imaginative seasonal play.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Light Table Small World Supplies

The following supplies are included in the Christmas small world setup:

  • transparent Christmas trees in green, red, pink, and clear colors
  • clear acrylic deer figurines
  • clear acrylic snowman figurine
  • acrylic clear nativity decoration
  • pink transparent pebbles
  • small wooden shelters
  • wooden peg dolls painted red, green, pink, and white

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The Christmas Small World

In this Christmas small world, transparent trees in red, green, pink, and clear hues set the color scheme.

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Wooden peg dolls painted with acrylic paints in red, pink, green, and white colors complement the trees.

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Clear acrylic deer and a snowman are beautiful ornaments to explore.

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Transparent pink pebbles are a soft touch.

A simple nativity decoration enhances the Christmas small world theme.

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Making Your Own Transparent Trees

An alternative to purchasing transparent trees is to create your own.

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The trees above are made from transparent page dividers and paper rolls. To make them, cut paper rolls into two-inch cylinders. Next, cut a one-inch slit into opposite sides of each paper roll section. Then cut triangular trees from transparent page dividers.

Feel free to download this template to create the trees.

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Paper Roll Tree PatternDownload

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Slide the bottom of the trees into the paper roll trunks and set them on your light table or another tabletop. These DIY trees also illuminate nicely.

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More Christmas Activities

Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

CD Case Christmas Craft

Plaid-themed Christmas Rice Bin

Christmas Sheep Craft

Christmas Treasure Blocks

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[Read more…] about Christmas Small World on the Light Table

Filed Under: Christmas, light table, preschool, pretend play, sensory, trees, winter Tagged With: light table, loose parts, snowmen, trees

Snowman Theme Color Experiment

February 17, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Try this magic creamer color experiment using half-and-half coffee cream. An easy-to-do science experiment with stunning results.

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It’s been a while back, but I promised to try the always-fun magic milk experiment with homo milk or cream. So here’s a post about a magic creamer snowman theme color experiment.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Watch the colors swirl and change in this stunning magic creamer color experiment. This is a crowd-pleasing science experiment.

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Supplies Collected

Collected in this winter-themed version is:

  • snowman cake pan
  • half-and-half (10% milk fat) creamer
  • red, yellow, and blue food coloring
  • liquid dish soap

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The Snowman Theme Color Experiment

Watch the colors swirl and change in this stunning magic creamer color experiment. This easy-to-do science experiment is sure to be a topic for conversation.

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To perform this easy science experiment, pour a layer of half and half (10% milk fat) creamer into a cake pan or small bin. My pick for this experiment is a snowman cake pan. It is medium-sized and fits the amount of liquid I have on hand.

Note: Half and half cream is equal parts whole milk and light cream. It isn’t near as creamy as whipping cream but is creamier than the milk I’ve featured in past experiments. It is commonly used as a coffee creamer.

Next, add drops of red, yellow, and blue food coloring around the pan.

Then add drops of liquid dish soap onto some of the food coloring patches. The colors will immediately swirl around and make new color designs.

Close up, the color changes look super stunning.

A close-up view of the immerging designs created in a magic creamer color experiment. This easy science experiment is a crowd-pleaser.

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After the color movement slows down, check back occasionally and you will see new color patterns immerge. The color designs will keep changing for at least half an hour.

Watch the colors swirl and change in this stunning magic creamer color experiment. This easy-to-do science experiment is sure to be a topic for conversation.

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At this time, try adding a few more drops of food coloring. I try to make a snowman face and buttons.

Add more dish detergent drops and watch the colors move and change again.

Try this magic creamer color experiment using half-and-half coffee cream. An easy-to-do science experiment with stunning results.

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Interpreting This Color-Changing Science Experiment

Although half-and-half (10% milk fat) creamer is made of a significant amount of water, it also contains fat and protein. These are both sensitive to changes in the liquid. When dish soap is added to the pan, it breaks up the surface tension of the half-and-half liquid and is attracted to the fat molecules. The fat molecules try to scurry away but end up bonding with the soap molecules. The movement of the food coloring makes this process visible. As more and more soap and fat molecules bond, the color movement slows down and eventually stops.

Watch the colors swirl and change in this stunning magic creamer color experiment. This is a crowd-pleasing science experiment.

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Fat content in the half-and-half creamy liquid is super important in this science experiment.

The colors in the half-and-half coffee creamer experiment move at a slightly slower rate than 2% or 1 % milk, both of which I’ve tried successfully before. All three liquids show stunning color-swirling results.

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Related:

Color Explosion Science Experiment

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[Read more…] about Snowman Theme Color Experiment

Filed Under: preschool, science, sensory, winter Tagged With: color, color experiment, science experiment, snowmen

Winter Wonderland Pretend Play

January 25, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A sparkly, kids' Winter Wonderland tablescape with snowman, snowflake, and snowball accessories for little learners to explore.

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Catching fluttery snowflakes on mittens, building a humungous snowman, and having a splattering snowball fight are all activities little learners gleefully participate in outside. This inviting kids’ winter wonderland pretend play tablescape takes snowflake, snowmen, and snowball activities indoors for further snow-themed exploration.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Kids’ Winter Wonderland Pretend Play Supplies

Let your little learners explore a sparkly Winter Wonderland tablescape with snowmen, snowflake, and snowball accessories.

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For this cozy pretend play setup, I feature snowmen, snowball, and snowflake accessories from the supplies I have available. Craft bits and other loose parts feature prominently in the resulting collection.

Items in the winter tablescape:

  • snowman-themed tablecloth, dinner plates, cups, baking dish, oven mitts, cookie tin, and bottle
  • snowflake erasers
  • foam snowflakes
  • snowflakes cut from garland
  • blue and clear gem snowflakes
  • snowflake serving utensils, cupcake liners, and tin
  • large and small styrofoam balls
  • round winter-themed gems
  • cookie sheet
  • muffin tin
  • plastic forks and spoons
  • play food buns
  • Winter Wonderland sign

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Setting Up The Winter Tablescape

Changing up the decor in our play kitchen is one of my favorite things to do. And little learners always eagerly dive into each new setup.

When it's cold and chilly outside little learners can explore snowmen, snowflakes, and snowballs indoors in a Winter Wonderland play tablescape.

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For this kids’ winter wonderland tablescape, a fabric snowman-themed tablecloth is a base.

The buns are the only real play food on the table.

A variety of loose parts add a dose of glam, and little learners can imagine them to be any number of foods. For instance, the foam snowflakes make good cookies to bake in the play oven. The large foam craft balls can be reimagined as snowball cookies.

A sparkly, kids' Winter Wonderland play tablescape with snowman, snowflake, and snowball decor for little learners to explore.

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And the smaller loose parts displayed in the snowman baking tin and scattered around the table could be candy.

A sparkly, kids' Winter Wonderland pretend play setup with snowman, snowflake, and snowball play kitchen decor for little learners to explore.

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A polar animal theme would work fabulously for winter wonderland pretend play too. Here’s a super fun penguin-themed tablescape by birdsparty.com.

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Related:

Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Painting Ice and Snow

Winter Wreath Paper Plate Craft

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

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[Read more…] about Winter Wonderland Pretend Play

Filed Under: dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, winter Tagged With: loose parts, pretend play, snowflakes, snowmen, tablescapes

CD Case Christmas Craft

December 24, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 2 Comments

Make this cozy CD case Christmas craft in a variety of festive color schemes. A fun craft for the whole family to do.

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An empty or used empty CD case can be turned into a beautiful art or craft project. There are many creative ideas to try. For this blog post, I’m choosing to feature a CD case Christmas craft.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more creative ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following for this seasonal craft:

  • clear CD jewel case
  • thin unpainted wood holiday decoration
  • festive cardstock
  • acrylic craft paint
  • scissors
  • ruler
  • glue stick
  • white glue or glue gun
  • craft bits: pony beads, holiday confetti, garland strips, sequins, punched paper snowflakes

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Assembling The CD Case Christmas Craft

Steps to making a CD case Christmas craft. An all-ages craft the whole family can do.

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Carefully remove the tray from a clear CD case.

Trim the cardstock pattern of choice to the size of the case.

With the case open, use a glue stick to adhere the cut cardstock to the bottom right section.

Paint a thin holiday-themed wood decoration with acrylic paint and let it dry. The paint and decoration can easily be found at dollar stores.

Note: Acrylic paint dries quickly and comes in a large variety of colors. It’s so fun to use!

Glue the painted wood shape to the cardstock.

Add craft bits of choice.

Close the case snugly.

Make this easy and fun holiday-themed CD craft today!

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Display on a shelf or wall in the classroom or your home.

Tips: The craft bits can be glued down so they are stationary or left movable.

These holiday-themed CD case crafts are a lot of fun to make. Have the whole family create one!

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These charming CD case Christmas crafts are perfect for displaying during the holiday season.

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If desired, add a clear seal to keep the CD case closed.

You may wish to make this CD case Christmas craft in a variety of holiday and winter themes. The craft lends itself to being showcased in groups.

Make this cozy CD case Christmas craft in a variety of festive color schemes. An all-ages family craft.

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Of course, little learners can get in on making this creative craft. The activity could be a cooperative one for a parent/teacher/caregiver and child.

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CD Case Christmas Blocks

Instead of displaying the crafted CD jewel cases, include them on a table with blocks for little learners to use in construction play. This is an idea I look forward to exploring in the future.

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Make this winter-themed snowman CD case craft today! It's easy and fun to do.

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[Read more…] about CD Case Christmas Craft

Filed Under: art, block play, Christmas, crafts, display, preschool, sensory, winter Tagged With: Christmas crafts, crafts, holiday, reindeer, snowflakes, snowmen

Snowman Sensory Play

January 17, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

These snowman sensory play ideas can be explored any time of year – winter or summer. When it’s super cold out and there is real snow on the ground, I’d rather play with these activities indoors!

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Snowman themed sensory play. Rice bins, sensory tube, and ten frame activities for early learners. Free printable included.

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Snowman Sensory Play Supplies

Collect these supplies for the activities that follow:

  • clear chunky gems
  • silver snowflake confetti, bead garland strips, and balls
  • white pom poms
  • orange beads, pom poms, and pipe cleaner pieces
  • black buttons and beads
  • snowmen buttons, ice cubes, and bottles
  • silver spoons

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Loose parts and snowman themed supplies to use in a sensory tray or tube.

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Snowman Sensory Tray

The materials are sprinkled on a white rice base in a square metal tray. The snowmen bottles are the find I was most excited about.

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Snowman sensory tray with a rice base and loose parts. Snowman bottles, ice cubes, and buttons are the highlights of the tray.

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Snowman sensory tray with a rice base and loose parts. Snowman bottles, ice cubes, and buttons are the highlights of the tray.

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An easy alternative to themed bottles is to draw snowmen’s faces on clear cups with black and orange permanent markers. Design some extra faces for snack cups…a dandy idea featured on a post from passionforsavings.com.

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Snowman sensory tray with a rice base. Clear cup snowmen, themed buttons, and snowmen ice cubes are included along with clear, orange, and black bits and baubles.

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Funnels, dessert cups, large white pom poms, and snowmen erasers would also make great additions.

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Ten Frame Activities

Ten frame activities are perfect for this snowman sensory tray. The frame makes it easy to introduce counting and adding challenges.

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Include this ten-frame printable (downloadable below) in the center and have your child find …

  • seven snowmen buttons
  • five ice cube snowmen
  • six orange beads and four black beads
  • five black parts and five orange parts
  • ten objects of any kind

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Snowman themed ten frame activity using rice bin supplies. Snowmen buttons and ice cubes with loose parts sprinkled in are ready to count in this math prompt.

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Ten FrameDownload

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An egg carton with two sections trimmed off transforms into a ten frame. A bonus is that the cups easily contain the supplies.

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An egg carton with one section cut off makes a perfect ten frame for counting snowmen buttons and ice cubes and loose parts.

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Snowman Themed Sensory Tube

Extend play possibilities by adding these snowman-themed materials to a sensory tube. You can get by with less of each supply, and variety is always nice!

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Snowman sensory tube with a rice base and loose parts. Snowman ice cubes and buttons are the highlights of the tube.

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You can never go wrong with a snowman theme, for any age! I hope these snowman sensory play activities enhance your child’s hands-on learning opportunities with this beloved topic.

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Related:

Magic Creamer Color Experiment

Try this magic creamer color experiment using half-and-half coffee cream. An easy-to-do science experiment with stunning results.
[Read more…] about Snowman Sensory Play

Filed Under: Math, sensory, winter Tagged With: rice bin, snowmen, ten frame

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