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Thanksgiving Day

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Pumpkin Anatomy

Display a cross-section of each variety collected, and talk about pumpkin anatomy.

Pumpkin anatomy diagram showing the stem, skin, pulp, seeds, and fibrous strands.

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Notice that some pumpkins have larger cavities than others, and certain pumpkins contain more seeds. Study flesh colors together, and invite little learners to feel the pumpkin insides.

Black pumpkin cross-section showing pulp and seeds.

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Yellow pumpkin showing pulp and seeds.

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Green pumpkin showing pulp and seeds.

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Spider Web Crayon Rubbings

Have children do a spider web crayon rubbing on a uniquely colored paper pumpkin. A few spiders hanging around add excitement to the activity.

Crayon rubbings of spider webs on colored pumpkins. An all-ages art activity.

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Pumpkin Painting

Offer tempera paint for little ones to slather on a small pumpkin. Have everyone generously sprinkle on gold glitter for a finishing touch. The decorated pumpkins make showy take-home art, perfect for displaying on front steps or a porch.

Tempera painted pumpkins sprinkled with gold glitter.

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10 Fast Pumpkin Facts

  • Pumpkins are native to Mexico but have been embraced all over the world.
  • Pumpkin harvest season peaks in October.
  • Pumpkins come in various shades of orange, but can also be white, black, deep green, light green, yellow, blue, soft pink, cream, striped, or speckled.
  • Uniquely colored pumpkins have different purposes. White pumpkins are perfect for art projects.
  • Cinderella, Blue Doll, Baby Bear, Crystal Star, and Midnight Black are some of many creative pumpkin names.
  • Some pumpkins are smooth. Others feel rough and may have warts.
  • The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed 2323 pounds.
  • Water makes up 90% of pumpkins.
  • Pumpkins are treated as a vegetable in many recipes but are actually a fruit.
  • Pumpkins are a source of vitamin A, C, and E, and zinc, folate, potassium, and fiber. They contain antioxidants.

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Pumpkin Vocabulary List

Download a list of pumpkin vocabulary words to use with your early learners.

Pumpkin Vocabulary ListDownload

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To get more ideas for pumpkin color activities, view a slideshow from Better Homes And Gardens entitled: Types Of Pumpkins.

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[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

Beet Science And Sensory Activities

November 22, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Beet science and sensory activities. Beet washing station, ordering beets by size, and growing new greens and roots. Links to two festive recipes.
Beet science and sensory activities. Beet washing station, ordering beets by size, and growing new greens and roots. Links to two festive recipes.

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This fall at a greenhouse a display of golden beets caught my attention. They weren’t on my list to buy, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them after I got home. So on my next visit to the garden center, I purchased golden beets and a red bunch too. The showy vegetable-inspired beet science and sensory activities can be introduced on the fly.

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Beet Washing Station

Set one or both kinds of beets in a tray with water and a vegetable brush. Invite your early learner to scrub the beets to make their color shine.

Beet washing station with red beets.

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Red and golden beets in a beet washing station.

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Size Ordering With Beets

Encourage your little learner to order golden beets from largest to smallest.

Size ordering golden beets from largest to smallest.

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Growing Beet Greens

After removing the greens, set two beets upright in a small, clear bowl of water. In the following days, observe the earthy vegetables with your early learner. You will be amazed to see glossy new beet leaves growing, and a tangle of roots!

Science experiment to see if red beets can grow new greens.

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New greens and roots growing on beets placed in a container of water.

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Related: Carrot Theme Activities

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Beet Recipes

Beets are filled with nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, manganese, folate, and potassium. They are a source of fibre and contain antioxidants that are especially good for the eyes. And… the greens are equally nutritious. After your little one participates in beet science and sensory activities, try the following recipes:

Thanksgiving Beets Recipe

Christmas Beets Recipes

Cooking is science too!

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[Read more…] about Beet Science And Sensory Activities

Filed Under: autumn, fall, gardening, preschool, science, sensory, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: beets, Christmas, measurement, Thanksgiving Day

Butterfly Sunflower Papercraft

November 15, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A butterfly sunflower papercraft that is sure to wow. The sunflower head has a scrunched tissue center surrounded by paper butterflies.
A butterfly sunflower papercraft that is sure to wow. The sunflower head has a scrunched tissue center surrounded by paper butterflies.

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This butterfly sunflower papercraft is easy to make and is sure to be a parent pleaser. It’s an all-around showy harvest craft. I did it with my preschoolers this fall and sent it home around Canadian Thanksgiving Day. I’ve included a downloadable pattern for the craft in the post.

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Supplies To Collect

Paper supplies needed to make a butterfly-themed sunflower craft.

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  • 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper in various shades of yellow
  • 9 x 12-inch green and yellow fade-resistant construction paper
  • 12 x 18-inch fade-resistant construction paper in shades of blue
  • brown construction paper
  • brown tissue paper
  • butterfly paper punches
  • white glue
  • glue stick
  • scissors

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Making The Butterfly Sunflower Papercraft

Punch butterflies from different shades of yellow cardstock paper.

Cut large circles from yellow construction paper, and smaller ones from sturdy brown paper.

Cut stems and leaves from green construction paper.

Snip brown tissue paper into small squares.

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Here’s a downloaded sunflower pattern:

Pattern to make a papercraft butterfly.

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Sunflower Pattern DownloadDownload

This printable is for individual and one classroom use only.

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Set up stations with a brown circle, tissue paper squares, and white glue. Have your early learners scrunch tissue paper squares, dip them in glue, and press them onto a brown circle.

Set up to scrunch tissue paper and dip it in glue to add it to a circle.

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Brown scrunched tissue glued on to a circle.

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After the tissue paper circles dry, ask your little ones to stick theirs on the center of a large yellow circle with a glue stick.

Set out a variety of shades and sizes of yellow paper butterflies for gluing all around the brown circle.

A sunflower head with a scrunched tissue center surrounded by paper butterflies.

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Guide each child in gluing a stem and two leaves onto a 12 x 18-inch piece of construction paper, and then adding the yellow and brown circular sunflower head.

Easy to make butterfly sunflower papercraft. The sunflower head has a scrunched tissue center surrounded by paper butterflies.

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Words such as Happy Thanksgiving or Gratitude could be added to the sunflower picture. I chose to leave the craft wordless and tell parents it was a Thanksgiving Day craft.

Thanksgiving Day inspired easy to make butterfly sunflower papercraft. The sunflower head has a scrunched tissue center surrounded by paper butterflies.

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The butterfly sunflower papercraft makes an attractive harvest or “Happy Thanksgiving” bulletin board display.

Happy Thanksgiving bulletin board display with butterfly-themed paper sunflowers.

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Related: Handprint Turkeys

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[Read more…] about Butterfly Sunflower Papercraft

Filed Under: art, autumn, display, fall, preschool, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: harvest, paper crafts, sunflowers, Thanksgiving Day

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. I am a preschool teacher who loves to share easy and fun early learning activities. Thanks for visiting my blog. Feel free to stay awhile!

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puttingtheprettyin.preschool

This little bunny is engaging in a little self car This little bunny is engaging in a little self care after a very busy season. Notice the saved jelly beans for the necklace! 🌺🌸🌼🌷💐

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Another set of eggs that won’t be stored in the Another set of eggs that won’t be stored in the Easter bin! 
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I may have been a little obsessed with leprechauns I may have been a little obsessed with leprechauns the past few weeks. This one’s having a hard time hiding in this St. Patrick’sDay light table tray. Details for the bin are on the blog…click the link in profile to get to it. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️☘️☘️

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It’s “clover” for this little leprechaun who It’s “clover” for this little leprechaun who has been caught in a St. Patrick’s Day sensory jar. ☘️☘️☘️

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Dragon necklace craft my preschoolers will do this Dragon necklace craft my preschoolers will do this coming week. We meant to fit it in earlier in the month, but time got away on us. I’m 100% sure they will enjoy making and wearing the craft anyways. Instructions and free template are on the blog. Link in profile leads to the post. 

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Ladybug and Lovebug Valentine’s Day crafts that Ladybug and Lovebug Valentine’s Day crafts that can be put together at the last minute. Link in profile leads the the blogpost. A host of ladybug facts are included. 🐞❤️🐞❤️🐞❤️🐞

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Monsters and Valentine’s Day treasure blocks. Is Monsters and Valentine’s Day treasure blocks. Is this a good pairing? ❤️❤️❤️

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Chinese New Year chickpea bin. 2022 will be the “Year Of The Tiger.” Link in profile leads to the blogpost about how to put together this sensory bin. 

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Embrace the “winter blues” with these winter-t Embrace the “winter blues” with these winter-themed treasure blocks. Link in profile leads to a blogpost about these see through fillable blocks. ❄️❄️❄️⛄️❄️❄️❄️☃️❄️❄️❄️☃️❄️❄️❄️☃️❄️❄️❄️☃️❄️❄️❄️

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Easy and fun winter playdough. Link in profile for Easy and fun winter playdough. Link in profile for the recipe. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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Cozy sheep craft perfect for the holidays. Link in Cozy sheep craft perfect for the holidays. Link in profile leads to the blogpost with a free printable. 🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🎄🐑🌲🐑🌲🐑🌲🐑

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