St. Patrick's Day

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

March 17, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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They say “variety is the spice of life,” and it is certainly true in this art project. The crayon resist watercolor shamrock features variety in line, shape, and color. The project is easy for little learners to do, and is great for language development.

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Supplies to Collect

12 inch x 18 inch manila paper
crayons in shades of green
tempera blocks (paint pucks) in gold and shades of green
paint cups
paint brushes and pots
scissors

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The Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock Process

Cut large shamrocks out of manila paper. (This is a sturdy cream-colored paper that comes in larger sizes and is economical to buy.)

Note: Cardstock or construction paper can be substituted for manila paper.

Use crayons in shades of green to decorate a sample shamrock with dots, lines, and shapes.

Explore variety in line and shape through a crayon resist art technique.

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In my demo, there are wavy and curvy lines and straight ones. There are dots and circles, and stripes and dashes. A heart fills the center.

Show the crayoned shamrock to your little learners, highlighting the variety of lines and shapes.

Invite little learners to draw their own crayon designs on a shamrock.

A tempera block paint set-up for a crayon resist art technique.

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Then have them add watercolors using tempera block paints in yellow and shades of green. Encourage children to rinse their brushes in water between colors.

Draw attention to darker and lighter paint shades. Discuss hues with words such as lime green, apple green, emerald green, and forest green. Use descriptive words that match the paint colors you have available.

Offer this simple crayon resist watercolor shamrock activity that explores variety in line, shape, and color.

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Note: Liquid watercolors or water with food coloring mixed in can be used instead of tempera paint blocks.

After the paintings dry, you could add on an Irish St. Patrick’s Day blessing.

This is a simple two-step art activity that all children can do. A younger child’s paint added scribble drawing looks just as stunning as an older child’s project with more defined lines and shapes. This is especially true if a variety of shades of crayons and paints are used.

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Related: Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

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St. Patrick’s Jewelry Bin

March 8, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This St. Patrick’s jewelry bin lets children explore the bling in an additional way to wearing it on the official celebration date, March 17th each year. It makes a great discussion starter about the world-renowned St. Pat’s celebration and the significance of shamrocks and the color green. And it introduces the tricky leprechaun, most entertaining for children!

St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland and started out as a religious one. It evolved into a celebration of Irish culture, and people around the world take part in it. One of the biggest ways people do this is by wearing green on March 17, or at festive events that take place near this date. They may wear t-shirts, socks, hats, glasses, and/or jewelry with a green theme. Irish sayings and shamrocks are a huge part of the designs. Touches of orange, gold, and white also make an appearance.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this sensory bin, gather the following economical and easy to find supplies:

white rice
gold coins and bells
green and rust necklaces
yellow and green gem rings
shamrock-themed bracelets
green bowl, spoon, and tongs
leprechaun legs
sensory tub

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The St. Patrick’s Jewelry Bin

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Pick a sensory tub for the activity. A serving tray will work for one or two children. I feature a food and tableware tub here, large enough for a few children to participate together.

Generously spread white rice on the bottom of the tub. The neutral base allows the accessories to “shine.”

Next, layer in the loose parts.

Lastly, press in the leprechaun legs.

Note: The leprechaun legs are taken from a St. Patrick’s Day wall plaque. A figurine would make a great substitution.

Early learners can explore the colors and textures of the jewelry, and wear it if they like. They will have fun with the gold coins and bells in the bin. And they may decide to find a way to trap the somewhat exposed leprechaun!

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To learn more about St. Patrick’s Day, view the blog post “St. Patrick’s Day” by National Geographic Kids.

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Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

March 5, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Try this stunning, easy-to-perform shamrock dissolving candy science experiment today! It brings a WOW factor.

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Lately, I cannot get enough of candy color science. So, in addition to previous endeavors, I tried a shamrock dissolving candy experiment. It’s got all the WOW factor similar experiments offer.

Since it is difficult to find a clear or white shamrock-shaped plate or pan, a shamrock outline taken from a St. Patrick’s Day wall decoration helps create the aesthetic appeal. And it does the job beautifully!

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Supplies for a science experiment couldn’t be any easier to gather. Just four items are needed:

shamrock outline
striped green and white candies
round, square, or rectangular leak-proof tray
measuring cup

Steps to perform a shamrock dissolving candy science experiment that delivers a WOW factor.

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Performing The Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

First, set the shamrock outline in the center of a tray that is a little larger than the clover shape.

Next, position the striped candies next to each other around the inside of the shamrock.

Then, fill a 500 ml measuring cup with warm water.

Slowly pour the warm water into the tray, aiming for the area near the rim. Cover just the bottom of the tray with liquid.

Watch what happens!

This stunning, easy-to-perform shamrock dissolving candy science experiment delivers a WOW factor.

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After the color has spread from the candies into different patterns, a leprechaun could be floated in the center of the shamrock outline for added visual appeal.

The leprechaun is the finishing touch to this stunning, easy-to-perform shamrock dissolving candy science experiment.

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Participants may wish to taste the colored water. It will likely have a noticeable mint flavor. The candies will slowly dissolve, but a few could be scooped up for tasting as well.

Note: The shamrock outline can be washed and dried afterward, and used as a tracer.

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The Science Behind This Candy Science Experiment

The candies are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar (the center and rim of the tray.) When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

Water temperature is a variant in this experiment. Sugar dissolves quicker in warm water, and food coloring moves at a faster pace.

This science experiment is so easy to set up and has immediate results, perfect for little learners. And participants get to use their senses of sight, smell, taste, and touch. Try it today!

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Heart-Shaped Dissolving Candy Science

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Leprechaun Sensory Jar

March 4, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Leprechauns are notoriously hard to catch, but your little learner will be up to the task by making this leprechaun sensory jar. It has all the loose parts leprechauns love-especially gold!

Leprechauns are small, bearded legendary creatures who live in forests and woodlands. If you capture one of these sneaky, solitary men, he must grant three wishes to be let go again. For more leprechaun facts, visit my blog post “Leprechaun Sensory Play.”

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

To make this leprechaun sensory jar, gather the following loose parts:

wide-mouth plastic jar
green and yellow crinkle paper
rust and green necklaces
green beads cut from garland
foil shamrocks and pots of gold
shamrock, leprechaun hat, rainbow, and pot of gold erasers
small gold coins
jute twine string
leprechaun figurine

A tiny leprechaun is the highlight of this ready-to explore St. Patrick's Day loose parts tray.

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The jar I feature is a container saved from an acrylic gem purchase. A plastic mason jar would work well too.

The leprechaun figurine may take a little time to find (just like legendary ones!) Mine is a plant poke topper. If procuring one is difficult, a leprechaun sticker glued to a popsicle stick will do fine.

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Making The Leprechaun Sensory Jar

Gotcha! The mini trickster is caught in this leprechaun sensory jar.

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Set a clear plastic jar on a table, along with a tray of loose parts.

Invite your little learner to layer loose parts in the jar, saving the leprechaun for last.

Then have your little one tuck the leprechaun in the middle of the jar. Or leave the jar out overnight and secretly add the leprechaun later.

Screw on the lid and wrap jute string around the neck.

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This St. Patrick’s Day sensory jar can be made over and over again. The loose parts can be sorted back into the tray, and then layered back into the jar. Or when complete, the jar can be part of a tablescape and will make a great conversation starter.

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Related: St. Patrick’s Day Activities

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[Read more…]

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

March 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland and around the world each year on March 17. It is a special day to remember St. Patrick, a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5^th century and to celebrate Irish culture.

So how does this St. Patrick’s Day sheep craft fit into the celebration?

Patrick was born in the British Isles. His father had a key position in the Roman government. Patrick’s life was comfortable until age 16 when he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland. There he was forced to live a rugged life working as a sheepherder until he escaped six years later.

As for Irish culture, there are tons of sheep who roam the countryside in oh-so-green Ireland. Hardy breeds are raised. The sheep need to be able to handle the hilly land and tolerate cold, rainy, windy water.

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