• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Putting the Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

  • About Me
  • Sensory Play
  • Holidays
  • Places
  • Picture Book Themes
  • Growing Things
  • Ocean
  • Contact Me

Places

Dark Sky Festival preschool activities.

Jasper National Park

Situated on the western side of the province of Alberta are the beautiful world renowned Banff and Jasper National Parks.  Both parks are a beautiful places to visit any time of the year.
In 2011 Jasper National Park was named a Dark Sky Preserve, and it is the largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve in the world.  A dark sky preserve is an area with no artificial light.  Many more stars can be seen in the sky than in areas with urban light.
Every year in October there is an event called the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, which celebrates the night sky.  Visitors to the town of Jasper can take in various events such as
– listening to space talks by keynote speakers and other astronomy experts
– stargazing and aurora-gazing at some of Jasper’s famous landmarks
– looking through powerful telescopes in the area
– attending a photography workshop about taking night sky pictures
– taking in a planetary dome shows and sessions
– viewing museum art inspired by the Dark Skies
– listening to a Symphony orchestra performance under the stars

New in the year 2018 was a Food Lab, where gourmet food meets Science demos.

The Jasper Dark Sky Festival has grown to be one of North America’s biggest astronomy events of the year.  For the latest information about this festival, visit the stunning and informative website jasperdarksky.travel .

Preschool Activities Inspired By The Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Deep Space Sensory Table

Space themed water table with sun, moon, star and planet shapes to use with scoops and sorting trays.
Space Themed Water Table

Turn a water table into a deep space adventure.  This table has
– small space vehicles
– astronauts
– space themed erasers
– jewel suns and stars
– button stars
– marbles (various sizes)
– rubber balls
– plastic pet balls
– moon rocks (that light up in the night)
– small rocks sprayed with silver metallic paint
– rubber bracelets (rings for planets)
– plastic muffin tins
– ice cube trays
– tongs
– gravy spoons

Space Table Diorama

Space themed table diorama with objects to rearrange.
A Space Themed Diorama

A batik star patterned piece of fabric is the base for this center.  It showcases a collection of astronauts and spaceships, plastic planets, star jewels, and various sizes of marbles and small balls.  A transparent bath mat serves as a cratered moon, and moon rocks and crumpled foil shapes complete the center.

Space Kitchen

Clear and shiny silver serving dishes, plates and cutlery arranged on an aluminum foil table covering.
Space Play Kitchen Tableware

Large pieces of foil secured with duct tape cover the table. The kitchen supplies are:
– pie plate dinner plates
– clear plastic trays, serving bowls, and dessert bowls
– metal pans, bowls and serving utensils
– plastic metal silverware
– grey oven mitts
– play food

Sorting Stars At The Light Table

Transparent star shaped ice cubes to sort at a light table.
Star Shaped Ice Cubes

Clear plastic egg cartons and ice cube stars work well for sorting activities at a light table.

CD: P.J. Perry And The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

The CD "P. J. Perry And The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra."

In October 2017 P. J. Perry and the late Tommy Banks joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at their performance “Symphony Under The Stars”.   This CD by P. J. Perry and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra makes great background music for preschool activities.

 

 

 

 

Follow me on social media for more ideas:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Primary Sidebar

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!

Instagram

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?

#drums #ice #musicalinstruments #musicforkids #musiceveryday #musicoutside #musicmaking #musical #preschoolmusic #kindergarten #homeschool #preschool #tots #eyfs #drumming
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. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#snowyday #bookinspired #blackhistorymonth #picturebook #readaloud #classicbooks #favoritebook #winterbooks #preschoolteacher #teacherofig #kindergarten #homeschooling #tots #eyfs #Canadianteacher #teachersfollowteachers #instateacher
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 .

❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️💚💙💛🧡💜❤️

#jewelry #jewellery  #jewelrytray #ricebin #sensorytray #hearts #heartjewelry #tactileplay #playtolearn #tots #prek #kindergarten #homeschooling #erasers #looseparts #trayfortheday #playtray #playtrayideas
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. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#dinosaurcraft #dinosaurvalentines #rawr #pompomcraft #ValentinesDay2021 #kidscrafts #crafter #craftersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #eyfs #papercraft #preschoolcrafts #homeschooling #totsschool #Sundayvibes #teacherofig #Canadianteacher
Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Make a last minute purchase at this Valentine’s Day store! 😍

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#ValentinesDay #pretendplay #dramaticplay #hearts #playtolearn #prek #preteacher #teachersfollowteachers #playallday #playingislearning #playing #totsschool #eyfs #preschool #kindergarten #homeschooling #schoolathome
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 .
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰

#ChineseNewYear #lunarnewyear #trees #treeprintable #invitationtocreate #money #gold #sensorytray #waldorf #reggioinspired #playtray #prek #eyfs #moneytree #festiveplaylearn #trayfortheday
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.

❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑❤️🐑

#keepsake #valentinesdaycraft #kidscrafts #craftykids #artoftheday #heartart #celebratinglove #finemotorskills #artwithkids #craftswithkids #crafting #craftingwithkids #valentine #valentines #preschoolathome #preschoolactivities
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. 😅😅😅

#erasers #minierasers #looseparts #hearts #prek #lovenothate #kindness #kindergarten #homeschooling #totsschool #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #schoolsupplies
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.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

 #polardinosaurs #dinosaurs #dinosaurfossils #earlylearning #paleontology #playdoughtray #prek #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #playdough #winterplay #sensory #tactile #handsonlearning #playandlearn #learningthroughplay #Canadianblogger
Sensory tray inspired by polar ornaments.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

#sensorytray #sensorybin #trayforrheday #playtray #polaranimals #narwhal #seal #letsplay #playtolearn #earlylearning #itscoldoutthere #preschool #kindergarten #homeschool #iteachprek #teachersfollowteachers #Canadianteacher #Canadianblogger
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.

#ChineseNewYear #yearoftheox #ChineseNewYearsensorybin #sensoryplay #colourful #redandgold #earlylearning #playtolearn #playing #handsonlearning #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #playsetup #iteachprek #tots #multicultural #Chineseholiday
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Subscribe Via Email

Recent Posts

  • Ice Drum Musical Instruments February 26, 2021
  • Arctic Animal Facts And Sensory Trays February 25, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies February 18, 2021
  • Jewelry Sensory Tray February 15, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments February 14, 2021
  • Dinosaur Valentine Craft February 13, 2021
  • Scissor Skill Heart Collage February 10, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities February 7, 2021
  • Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes February 6, 2021
  • Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts February 6, 2021

Categories

Topics

apples Arctic block play bunnies Christmas Christmas craft Christmas tree color construction dinosaurs eggs experiment family fine motor activity flowers Frozen inspired gifts Happy New Year holiday keepsakes leaves loose parts multicultural painting paper crafts playdough printables pumpkins recycled craft rice bin Santa scissor skills sensory bin sensory play sensory tray skeletons skulls spiders sunflowers tastesafe Thanksgiving Day trees Valentine's Day valentines water play

Copyright © 2021 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in