Easter Sensory Bin with Learning Activities

Time to change out the sensory bin from March to April. Since we are doing a full-on regarding holidays this year, since the bigs are heading off to kindergarten in the fall, Easter is the theme.

I wanted to use birdseed as our fill-n-pour, but the girls insisted that we use the red/white/blue rice.

There are many learning activities available with this sensory bin.

What's in it?

1 egg carton

18 plastic eggs*

18 colored feathers

1 set of egg dying baskets*

1 package of small/medium/large colored pom poms*

3 bunny plastic eggs*

1 package pink/green/blue styrofoam glitter eggs*

8 chick plastic eggs*

1 package Easter erasers*

crimped paper shreds

colored rice

*From the dollar store

Additional: tools, baskets, containers

The Learning Games

Number Matching 1-18:

At the bottom of the 18 egg carton, I wrote the numbers in colored Sharpie. The colors give a visual clue of the color of the egg for those children less skilled. For the more advanced, they usually grab an egg then look for a number, often disregarding the color coordination. 

Color Matching - Eggs:

For children who don't know their numbers, the egg carton can be used a simple color matching game with the color of the written number to the color of the eggs.

Color Matching - Feathers:

18 colored feathers are included in the bin, allowing for the same color matching activity, but with feathers.

Which Chick Has the Egg?

One child places a small egg into a chick and puts it back into the "nest." The other child[ren] take turns picking out a chick by number, and looking inside to see if that the one. If not, the chick gets closed and replaced and another turn is taken until the egg is found. Works prediction and number recognition 1-8.

Color Sorting Bunny Tails:

Sorting the pom pom "bunny tails" into the egg dying cups. These cups aren't that sturdy, so I've wrapped them in packing tape this year to see if they hold up. If not, I'll be buying small metal buckets for this activity in the future. They count how many are in each cup after sorting. Since they can't usually find all of them, or appropriate them, at every session, the quantities should change every time. 

The feathers can be sorted into the cups as well, but there are only 3 feathers of each color on purpose for the egg carton, and there isn't an orange cup in this set. So sorting the feathers in this cup set has limited value.

Sorting Bunny Tails by Size:

These bunny plastic eggs came as a set of 3. It works, as the pom poms came in small/medium/large and this is a good observation, logic/reasoning, and fine motor activity. They fill up the bunny bottoms then count how many were in each one as they take them back out. A good volume measurement introduction as well.

Bunny Color Sorting:

These styrofoam eggs only come in the blue/pink/green, so sorting them in the bunnies works. Again, counting how many once done.

Matching:

This set of Easter erasers just happens to have two of each style. Perfect for a simple matching game.

When I introduce the new sensory bin, I let them go at it for a while, then I introduce the learning games that I don't see them incorporating into their play. I simply do them while we play, and they pick up on any they are interested in and developmentally ready to perform.

They also make baskets, do fill-n-pour and have fun.

You may also be interested in our Spring Sensory Bin.

Follow Connie -'s board Easter Theme on Pinterest.
Tags: daycare, child care, preschool, pre-k, sensory, sensory bin, math, early math, science, gross motor, fine motor, homeschooling, kids, child, Easter, holiday, spring, egg, eggs, theme, curriculum, unit

Easter Bunny Sack Puppets

The older ones were able to use google eyes and a pom pom for the nose. If we had more time, they would have traced and cut out their own pieces, but since we did that yesterday, and I didn't have templates ready, I just cut everything so they could assemble. 

The little ones used circles for the nose and eyes and added a white dot to each eye that I punched with the hole punch.

If you want to create a bunch of pieces for a group, you can get 8 ears out of one sheet of construction paper if folded in half short side to short side, then folded in twice.

Since I was wishing I had templates pre-made, I went ahead and made one. Then I thought about large groups and elementary kiddos who could make these in class if it was a coloring/cut/paste sheet, so here it is...

This one also wouldn't have any choking hazards for the under-3 crowd and wouldn't have items falling off, as much, in backpacks.

Coloring Page/Template FREE on TPT

My inspiration for these came from a craft share site where Karolina Slater owner of DayKare posted these cute bunny puppets. I gave my children the option of putting the cotton balls on as paws and adding one to the back for a tail, but they chose not to.  

Follow Connie -'s board Easter Theme on Pinterest.

Tags: Easter, chick, chicken, bunny, rabbit, craft, cut, paste, color, coloring, puppet, glue, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, elementary, spring, farm, nature, kid, kid's, paper, bag, paper bag, paper sack, sack

Duck / Bunny Easter Preschool Puppet Craft

We also made these darling ducky/bunnies.

I looked at several printables for these, and this one, FREE from Kay Sommer on TPT, I felt was not only the best of the lot, but that I couldn't create one any better. 

I did, however, resize them to fit on a single sheet of paper. You could simply change your printer settings to print 2 pages on 1 sheet landscape.

The poems read: 

"My little duck is really funny, turn him over and he is a bunny."                        "My little bunny brings me luck, I turn him over and he is a duck."

The older children could read these through fine. A lot of their sight words are included, which I loved.

These were surprisingly successful. 

The older children did a remarkable job of coloring in the lines and cutting out their own. They were also able to add a yellow feather for the duck's wing and a cotton ball for the bunny's tail. the little ones didn't get those choking hazards.

We did several rounds of "5 Little Ducks" as a puppet show. It works out great since we have 6 students here. Five ducks and one momma. Everyone had to have a turn playing momma.

They randomly played with them throughout the day, and I hear at home as well.
Tags: Easter, chick, chicken, bunny, rabbit, craft, cut, paste, color, coloring, puppet, glue, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, elementary, spring, farm, nature, kid, kid's, 

Chicks Hand Print Preschool Easter Craft

This ended up being a DARLING craft project, and I loved that it had so many different elements.

It was also easy to differentiate for the older and little ones. For instance, the 4s had the option of tracing and cutting out their own circles. They also were allowed to use google eyes, and the littles used fingertip prints.

We started out with 1 sheet of white construction paper and 1/2 sheet of yellow.

I found two lids that would fit appropriately on the paper. These were 5 inches and 3 inches.

After gluing down the yellow circles with glue sticks, we did yellow handprints for the wings and orange handprints for the feet.

The older children cut yellow and orange yarn snips about 1 inch long and glued them on with white glue. The little ones helped me cut them with teacher-assist scissors. I helped them place the glue and they laid the yarn pieces down themselves.

While these are cute like this, I felt it needed some more.

So we used some of our crimped paper Easter grass to add to the bottom. They patted it onto a bed of white glue. After it dried, I trimmed the pieces even with the paper.

To make the black eye finger prints on the little one's chick look less soulless, I added in a small circle to each eye with a silver sharpie, since I couldn't find my white-out. 

I found this idea on Pinterest from funhandprintart.com. Other great ideas are available on my Pinterest Easter Theme board.
Tags: Easter, chick, chicken, bunny, rabbit, craft, cut, paste, color, coloring, puppet, glue, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, elementary, spring, farm, nature, kid, kid's, 

Bird's Nest Cookies MAKING WITH CHILDREN

These were all over Pinterest, FB and the web for Easter. However, I never saw anything discussing the finer points of making them with children. I know this post is late for Easter, but they are also good for a bird, spring, dinosaur or reptile theme/unit. If you've been living under a rock and don't know how to make these easy peasy cookies(?)/treats, here's a run down...

3 ingredients: 

• 12 oz. bag of butterscotch or peanut butter chips
• 12 oz. bag of chow mein rice noodles
• Egg shaped candies

Heat chips 30 seconds in the microwave, stir, repeat. Add in noodles, stir and drop by about 1/4 cup portions onto parchment paper, silicone mat or other non-stick surface. Indent the middle and add 3 candies or an appropriate number depending on the size of your chosen candies. We used Whopper Mini Robin Eggs. Let harden before attempting to move.

When I make them for an occasion such as Easter, I use my large scoop which holds a little less than 1/4 cup, mash the mixture in tight, release onto a silicone mat, and use the back of the scoop to make an indentention for the eggs. I get about a dozen good-sized treats. You could double that with a small scoop and using jelly beans.

Now here's the kiddo particulars. 

For children 3 and up, this is a great autonomous activity. I could have easily sat down several children over 3, given a demonstration, then put 3-4 portions in the microwave at a time, let them scoop out their own 1/4 cup portions of noodles from a bowl and provided a bowl of candy eggs in the middle of the table and let them go at it. I think it is a perfect supervised preschool activity.

"We have these eggs. Where do eggs belong? ...Yes, in a nest. So we are going to make some nests for these eggs today. What kinds of animals could these eggs be from?" [Ours had no pointed end, so no open rock layers, and they weren't perfectly round, so no turtles, etc...]

Discuss the ingredients and tools. Let them handle each.

"What do you think will happen to these chips when we put them in the microwave?"

I placed 1/4 cup chips into a microwave safe bowl [won't be hot to touch after heating]. It took the exact same time to heat the smaller quantity as it did to heat a whole bag...still 30 seconds, stir, 30 seconds. I let them stir the chips. While they may not look melted when you bring them out, they are. Just stir. I stuck my finger in a batch to see if they would burn, and though they were pretty warm, they were not to the point of uncomfortable for me so I don't think they get hot enough to burn, but microwaves can create hot spots in cooked food, so if letting 3 and ups do independently, caution to not touch while stirring at first. We discussed how the chips were no longer hard, but soft and could be stirred together.

As soon as they got the chips stirred just a little, I had them add the noodles and keep stirring.

  After mixing, I sprayed some non-stick spray onto their hands and they rubbed it over their palms. I don't think it did all that much to keep the mixture from sticking to their hands, but it was worth the try. Added an additional sensory element at least.

The smaller amount of chips seemed to cool much faster and be much safer than letting children help form cookies from a full batch. They patted it into a circle on a plastic oatmeal container lid.  

  Why a plastic lid you say? Well they are FREE, just the right size, can be marked and spread apart for individual project identification, and above all they are FLEXIBLE...

 I told them to push down in the middle with just one finger to make a spot for the eggs. Then said to choose 3 eggs for their nests. I was surprised about the exactness of the placement of the eggs. This was serious craft making.

As for younger than 3s, all it takes is doing it individual with the teacher, but as long as they can stir and have a pincer grasp, the little ones can do it all as well. Just watch the temp of the mixture to make absolutely certain that it is not too warm for handling. Before serving to eat, I smashed up the candy eggs for the under 3s.

SKILLS:

Math measuring, measurements, volume, shapes: circle, oval, ellipse

Fine Motor stirring, forming cookies, placing eggs

Gross Mostor stirring

Science heat, solid/liquid changes before/during/after, mixture

Language indent, indentation, mixture, volume, hard, soft, crunchy
Sensory texture: chips, noodles, eggs, warm mixture, stickiness, non-stick spray if used; smell of the chips; taste and texture while eating

Tags: Easter, egg, egg theme, egg unit, dinosaur, reptile, theme, unit, preschool, childcare, daycare, pre-k, prek, kindergarten, cookie, cooking, bird's nest, bird's nest cookies, nest, nests

You're a Good Egg!

Our take on a classic...tissue paper covered eggs. 

I created this blank for our craft. 
FREE on TPT

I collect tissue paper from birthday parties and Christmas celebrations. So, we get what we get as it's FREE! They really liked this pink polka dot. 

We used watered down glue, 2 parts glue to 1 part water to paint small areas of the egg at a time.

 They tore up the tissue paper at will, the littler ones producing larger pieces than the older girls. The younger ones used a two-fisted pull-apart technique and the older ones ripped it with dexterity.

 They ended up looking like this.

 We cut them out, using teacher-assisted scissors. For older preschoolers this would be a wonderful opportunity for scissor practice, as it has simple, large lines to follow.

 We punched the holes. 

We cut 2 pieces of yarn, one 12" long to attach the bottom card, and one 6" to tie at the top for a hanging loop.

 They threaded the yarn through with guidance and assistance. I tied a knot where I wanted it so that the card would hang a little below the egg. I tried just tying a bow, but it kept pulling the yarn too taught, so I found I had to knot it tight first and then tie the bow. 

Then I clipped the ends to the same length as the bow loops. I couldn't trust these children to not clip the bow, they are too unpredicatable with scissors in hand still, so this one thing I did myself. I tied the top hanging loop and clipped the ends close to the knot.

SKILLS:

Arts and Crafts tissue paper media, cut, paste, creative expression, colors

Math oval, rectangle

Fine Motor tearing, ripping, pulling, cut, paste, writing name, threading yard, punching holes

Gross Motor tearing, ripping, pulling

Language reading, vocabulary, names 

Tags: childcare, daycare, preschool, kindergarten, pre-k, prek, Easter, egg, egg theme, egg unit, spring, science, art, crafts, cut, paste, glue, scissors, yarn, tissue paper