You know what kids like? Giant boxes! For my pre-school class’s hibernation theme, a washing machine box transformed into a bear cave where the kids could hang out and, when the lights were turned out, make their own shadows. Fun! Shout out to Ilene, my college friend and also a preschool teacher, who shared the Easy DIY Kids Craft for Popsicle Stick Hibernating Bear she found on Glued To My Crafts. An added bonus? Shape recognition. The kids held up our triangle instruments to the triangle dens and realized they lined up.
Our new bulletin board “Hot Chocolate Weather” inspired fingerpainted mittens (younger class) and painted and glued hot cocoa mugs (slightly older class). Flames and logs–ummm-light up the fireplace. Now all we need is some real snow.
Easy DIY Kids Craft, Hibernating Bear
Supplies:
construction paper
craft sticks
cotton balls
felt, sticker or cut-out leaves
marker
scissors
white glue (optional–hot glue gun and glue)
Directions:
Draw sleeping bears. Cut out.
Create a triangle out of craft sticks and glue to construction paper.
Glue bear in middle of the den.
Add cotton ball “snow” and leaves.
Optional–for extra adhesion, secure cotton balls to paper with hot glue.
Preschool Winter bulletin board with fingerpainted mittens and painted hot cocoa’s w/cotton ball marshmallows.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our theme was Kindness. Our project? Tzedakah boxes! Prevalent in Jewish homes, Tzedakah boxes collect extra coins to be donated to those in need. What an important lesson, in addition to a hands-on, tactile activity, for preschoolers.
The children painted glue on containers, chose colors of tissue paper, and stuck the tissue paper to the gluey containers. They practiced dropping coins in the coin slots, listened it jingle, and discussed the kind acts that they–even as young as they are–can do.
Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for philanthropy and charity. It is a form of social justice in which donors benefit from giving as much or more than the recipients. So much more than a financial transaction, tzedakah builds trusting relationships and includes contributions of time, effort, and insight.
In this charming picture book for young children, Ann D. Koffsky presents the concept of tzedakah through the characters of a kitten and her mother. With kinetic images and bright colors, children learn that a simple box provides not only an opportunity to climb and play, but is also a means to contribute to charity. The book’s simple text mimics the way a child learns from her parents about an important mitzvah.
For parents and caregivers considering the most effective way to introduce the concept, Tuli the kitten provides one answer: concrete experiences and few abstractions. Tuli is as active as a toddler, and just as focused on exploring her world. Koffsky begins with Tuli becoming interested in a box labeled tzedakah. Neither this nor its slit for depositing a coin means anything to her. Through touching, pushing, and listening, she discovers the box’s physical qualities, while her mother offers more information. The box is not a toy, she comes to find, although the clinking sound of a coin dropping would seem to suggest that it is.
Koffsky combines feline and human characteristics with subtle humor. While the characters look like real cats, their facial expressions of curiosity and affection, coupled with the mother’s purple pocketbook, add a different visual element to the story. Gentle explanations from Tuli’s mother confirm what the kitten has learned, but also extend the possibilities. Tuli is finally ready to hear that the coins are meant to help those in need. As mother and child rest their heads against one another, young readers finish the book with a sense of satisfaction. Tuli’s energetic activity has become a path to empathy, and to the reward of her mother’s pride and love.
Shout out to my co-teacher Hannah who found inspiration for our Doodlebugs (a little younger than 2 yo’s) and Seedlings (2 yo’s) classes on Pinterest.
The Doodlebugs made Paper Plate Menorahs by painting paper plates gold, painting a big piece of paper blue (which we cut into candles), and scrunching orange tissue paper to make flames. We stapled the flames and candles to the paper plates and added yarn for hanging.
Yarn Wrapped Menorahs required hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. The Seedlings wrapped yarn around popsicle sticks to make candles, painted cardboard gold to make menorah bases, brushed glue on flames, and sprinkled glitter on the glue. You know what we found out? Covering glitter with Modge Podge cuts down on glitter shed. Yay!
If you think math is too told for preschoolers, think again! We spent the last few weeks counting candles and flames in addition to going over the calendar and days of the month. When you get to the end of a month, there are a lot of numbers to count. Our little sweethearts are wide-eyed and enthusiastic about the calendar and the songs that go with it.
Preschool is on break for now. When we come back we’ll transition to all-things-winter.
New pre-school year = new batch of DIY play dough.
The kids love its’ texture and elasticity, and so do I. (Is that a surprise, coming from a potter?) Sure, name-brand, non-toxic Play-Doh can be purchased, but I find the substance I make handles better and doesn’t dry out as quickly.
The easy recipe from The Best Ideas for Kids is made with only a few ingredients: flour, cream of tartar, salt, vegetable oil, and water. This year, I added yellow food coloring and vanilla flavor.
Whenever the kids play with play dough–and I mean, every single time, all year long–this is the conversation:
Another Adult: “What will happen if they eat it?”
Me: “Don’t worry, it’s non-toxic.”
Another Adult: “Seriously, will the kids get sick?”
Me: “We could make cookies out of this stuff!”
Hon, do you think this year I should make a sign that says “Add eggs and bake!“?
Gather ingredients.Stir ingredients in pot over medium pot.Knead Play Dough
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 cup salt
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
food coloring
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and cream of tartar. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, add food coloring to the water. Then add the colored water and vegetable oil to a large pot. Mix together.
Add the dry ingredients to your pot and mix.
Cook over low to medium heat until the dough starts to form and becomes drier, stirring often.
Once the mixture starts to form a body and looks fully cooked, take it off the heat. (Tip: Spoon it onto a plate or surface to cool.) Let the dough cool first before touching.
Once cool, knead the dough for 5 minutes to make the dough soft. If your dough is not soft, continue kneading for another 5 minutes. If you find it is still too dry add a little bit more oil and knead in.
First wrap your playdough in saran wrap then store in an air-tight container. You’ll notice that playdough will go hard if left out – so the less air that can get to the playdough when storing, the longer it will last!
How Do I Make Playdough Soft Again?
If your playdough dries out and turns out to be a little dry after making it, try adding in a little more oil first. You can knead the oil in with your hands. You can also knead in a little bit of water.
One of my preschool classes made Father’s Day cards with handprints, while the other made Father’s Day cards with footprints. This Easy DIY Kids Craft is a homemade greeting card is so cute for preschoolers and elementary age children.
The footprints were a challenge. When the kids stepped on the paper without assistance, their feet slid. When I held the paper to their feet, the print didn’t get their toes. What worked? Making sure paint was evenly distributed (it tickled!) and guiding each child’s foot to the paper to make a quick print. Whew!
If you have texture mats (as a potter, I have a collection of them) kids can make impressions of bricks or pebbles. If not, they can draw or color a path to be cut out and placed next to the footprint.
Add the message, “Thanks for making a path for me to follow” and “Happy Father’s Day,” sign name and date and the card is ready to go!
Sweet Feet!
Supplies:
construction or cardstock paper in white and another color
paint and paintbrush
magic markers, colored pencil or crayons
glue or double-stick tape
optional: brick or pebbles texture mat
Directions:
Using paintbrush, paint foot. Make footprint on white paper. Let dry. (Note–it may take several tries to get a full footprint.)
optional: using colored pencil and texture mat, create a brick or pebbles impression. OR, draw or color a path.
Cut a strip out of path. Glue or tape path by footprint.
Write or print out, “Thanks for making a path for me to follow” and “Happy Father’s Day!”
Preschool may have ended, but my students still have a present to give–adorable, easy DIY Father’s Day cards where their handprints transform into leaves on a tree. This idea is fun for preschoolers and elementary age children. I think my students’ dads will like the message, “No matter how tall I grow, I will always look up to you.” Sweet!
Supplies:
construction or cardstock paper in white and another color
green paint and paintbrush
magic markers, brown and other colors
scissors
glue or double-stick tape
Directions:
Using paintbrush, paint child’s palm green. Make two handprints on white paper. (Note-it may take a few tries to get a good print.) Let dry.
With brown marker, draw tree trunk and branches.
Add “No matter how tall I grow, I will always look up to you.” Write child’s name and year.
The Mother’s Day cards my preschoolers made are sooooo cute! One class decorated their cards with flowers and the other with hearts. Although me and my co-teacher assembled the cards, the two and three year-olds participated by painting, coloring and letting us know what they love most about their moms. These Mother’s Day cards are quick and easy to create, and they translate easily into cards for other people and holidays–think Father’s Day, grandparents, note to teachers, caregivers, etc.
Flower Card Supplies:
construction paper
non-toxic paint in two colors–green and whatever color the flower will be
paintbrush
markers
scissors
crayons
Flower Cards Directions:
Fold construction paper in half. Inside, write personalized note in marker. Child colors inside of note with crayons.
Paint child’s hand the flower color. Make a handprint on front of card. Wash hand.
Paint a separate piece of paper green. Let dry.
When green paper is dry, cut out two leaves. Draw stem. Glue leaves to base of stem.
Write or print out, “Your love and care helps me bloom.”
Heart Card Supplies:
construction paper in two colors
scissors
markers
crayons
glue
Heart Card Directions:
Fold construction paper in half. Inside, write personalized note in marker. Child colors inside of note with crayons.
Cut a heart out of contrasting construction paper. Child color with markers.
Glue heart to front of card.
Write or print out, “I love you with all my heart.”
At preschool, we were asked to come up with an Easy DIY Kids Craft or Activity using only supplies found at home. Our ideas were compiled into a “Cooped-Up Activities” resource for parents.
Hon, hoping Spring blooms very soon.
RAINY DAY SPRING SCENE
Supplies:
paper
aluminum foil
cotton balls
baking cup
markers
scissors
glue
Directions:
To make a grey sky, cut aluminum foil and glue to top of paper.
To make rain clouds, glue cotton balls on top of and below grey sky.
To make an umbrella, fold baking cup in half and glue together. Place umbrella on paper and glue down. Count to 20 while pressing so umbrella sticks to paper.
Draw outline of umbrella handle and color in.
Cut raindrops out of aluminum foil. (This is challenging as they are small and stick to fingers.) Glue raindrops under clouds.
Credit for this “foot-tastic,” Easy DIY kid’s craft goes to Etsy’s “Mama Don’t Blink.” My pre-school class was used to hand crafts, but taking off shoes and socks was new. Painting feet elicited a bunch of, “That tickles!” Fun!
Step 1. Gather supplies: paint, white paper and either construction paper or cardstock, hard surface such as a clipboard, newspaper to catch drips, paintbrush (a foam paintbrush worked well), chair, washcloth or wipes to clean feet, glue or double-stick tape, marker.
Step 2. Sit child down. Paint bottom of feet. Clip paper to clipboard to create hard surface. Press feet against paper, angling feet to create a heart. Let dry.
Step 3. Glue or tape dried feet-heart to construction paper or cardstock.
Step 4. Write, “I” above feet-heart and “you DADDY from the tip of my nose to the tip of my toes!” under feet-heart. Date.
Step 5. Add fun messages to the back of the picture.
This week at preschool, the theme is Senses. What better way for young children to engage with touch than playing with Play Dough? I’d never actually made Play Dough before, but it was easy! I added cinnamon to the recipe on The Best Ideas for Kids. We’re going to smell “spicy.” Fun!
Gather ingredients.Stir ingredients in pot over medium pot.Knead Play Dough
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 cup salt
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
food coloring
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and cream of tartar. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, add food coloring to the water. Then add the colored water and vegetable oil to a large pot. Mix together.
Add the dry ingredients to your pot and mix.
Cook over low to medium heat until the dough starts to form and becomes drier, stirring often.
Once the mixture starts to form a body and looks fully cooked, take it off the heat. (Tip: Spoon it onto a plate or surface to cool.) Let the dough cool first before touching.
Once cool, knead the dough for 5 minutes to make the dough soft. If your dough is not soft, continue kneading for another 5 minutes. If you find it is still too dry add a little bit more oil and knead in.
First wrap your playdough in saran wrap then store in an air-tight container. You’ll notice that playdough will go hard if left out – so the less air that can get to the playdough when storing, the longer it will last!
How Do I Make Playdough Soft Again?
If your playdough dries out and turns out to be a little dry after making it, try adding in a little more oil first. You can knead the oil in with your hands. You can also knead in a little bit of water.
Naomi M. Gruer 