​Click HERE for the Jingle Bell Painting Lesson Plan ​

Materials:

• bells
• paint
• paper
• cardboard tube with removable lid
• duct tape

Procedure:

1. Bend a piece of paper into the cardboard tube. Add in a few drops of desired paint along with the bells.
2. Secure the lid using the tape to prevent the child from opening the tube. Introduce the tube to the child, showing them how to make noise by shaking it.
3. Allow the child to create for several minutes.

 **Be sure to monitor child during the entire activity to prevent them from opening the lid.
 

• When they are finished, remove the lid and piece of paper. Allow the paper to dry and then cut it into a bell shape.

 
** This activity can be adapted for preschool students by having them use a box to manipulate the bell instead of the cardboard tube. 

Click HERE for the Valentine’s Pom Pom Sorting Lesson Plan ​

Materials:

• Colored pom poms
• Paint
• Toilet paper tubes
• Tongs
• Tape

Procedures:

1. Prepare for the activity by painting the cardboard tubes. Allow to dry.
2. Tape the tubes onto the wall at child height.
3. Place a bucket under the tubes and fill with different colored pom poms
4. Introduce the sorting station to the child.

Click HERE for the Salt Dough Mitten Lesson Plan ​

1. Prepare for the lesson by creating the dough. Combine the salt and flour in a large bowl. Gradually add in the water until you get a dough-like consistency 
2. Roll out the dough and cut into mitten shapes using your cookie cutter. Press the child’s hand into the center of the mitten, leaving a print behind. Remember to make a small hole at the top so it can be used as an ornament. 
3. Cook at 200 degrees for 1-3 hours (depending on thickness) or until completely cooked through
4. Allow to cool 
5. Present the mittens and edible paints to the infant and encourage them paint
6. As they are creating, introduce new vocabulary words, repeating them several times
7. Allow to dry and tread ribbon through the small hole. ​

​Click HERE for the Penguin Egg Transfer Lesson Plan

1. Begin reading the non-fiction penguin text with your students. Explain what the difference is between non-fiction and fiction. See if they can give examples.
2. After reading about how penguins transfer eggs, pair students up and instruct them to practice transferring the plastic eggs themselves. 

Click HERE for the Christmas Tree Geoboards  Lesson Plan

1. Encourage students to create different shapes on their “trees” using the rubber bands and tacks.
2. As they are creating, have students name the shapes they are making.
3. You can ask them to explain how they know it is a particular shape.

 
**This lesson is designed for students that have previous knowledge about shapes and their names. It is not intended to be an introductory activity.

Click HERE for the Candy Cane Hunt Lesson Plan

1. Hide candy canes all around an outdoor space
2. Encourage students to find as many as they can​

Click HERE for the Love Potion Sensory Table Lesson Plan

Prepare for activity by creating the sensory bin. Fill large bin with water and add a few drops of red or purple food coloring. Cut foam into heart-shaped pieces and add put in water. Place measuring cups and spoons into the bin as well. Place the bin in an appropriate area and invite child to come play with you. Show them how to scoop the water and pour it using the measuring spoons. Allow child to try. Talk with them about what they are doing while playing. ​

Click HERE for the Q-Tip Hearts Lesson Plan

Prepare for activity by cutting cardboard into a heart shape. Tape this piece to the middle of a piece of paper. Provide the student with Q-tips and paints. Encourage them to dot the Q-tip around the edge of the cardboard (don’t worry if they get paint on it, it will be removed later). When child is finished, allow paint to dry. Remove the cardboard heart. Show the finished piece to the student and talk with them about what they did. 
You can ask questions like: 

• How did you create this? Tell me about it. 
• Which colors did you use? Are any of these your favorite color? 
• Who are you going to give your Valentine Heart to? Why them?

Click HERE for the Touch and Feel Sensory Hearts Lesson Plan 

1. Create the sensory cards by cutting the paper into hearts and gluing the different materials onto them.
2. Allow to dry
3. Introduce the cards to the child and give new vocabulary words to describe the different textures.

Click HERE for the Heart Stamping Lesson Plan 

1. Bend the cardboard tube into the shape of a heart. Secure with tape.
2. Lay out the materials in an appropriate area.
3. Encourage child to explore the materials and create a piece of artwork

Click HERE for the Musical Hearts Game Lesson Plan

​Turn on music and have students walk around the heart “track” until you stop the music. Whatever color the student lands on is the gross motor activity they should do. Stop and start the music several times so that students have the opportunity to land on a variety of colors. ​​

Click HERE for the Five Hearts Finger Play Lesson Plan

Prepare for lesson by creating the Heart Glove. Cut different colored foam into heart shapes and glue onto the fingertips of the glove. Allow to dry. 

When child is ready, put on the glove and sing the following song to them:
I love my little valentines,
I love to watch them grow.
The first little valentine
Has a little button nose,
The second little valentine
Has fingers that can wiggle,
The third little valentine,
Has feet to run and giggle
The fourth little valentine,
Has little hands that clap
The fifth little valentine
Loves sitting in my lap
** Put up fingers as the song goes along.

Click HERE for the Coffee Filter Hearts Lesson Plan

In an appropriate area, invite child to draw on the coffee filter using markers. When they are finished, spray the coffee filter with the child to show them the new “tie-dye” technique. Allow their work to dry. Cut the coffee filter into a heart shape and string along the room to showcase the child’s artwork. ​

Click HERE for the Q-Tip Snowflakes  Lesson Plan 

0 Comments

1. Place all of the materials in an appropriate area to create.
2. Do not supply the student with an example piece. This is an open-ended art activity.
3. As the student is creating, ask them questions about their artwork such as:
   1. What is special about your snowflake?
   2. What do you like about your artwork?
   3. How were you feeling when you made your snowflake? Why? 

Click HERE for the Building Winter Dens Lesson Plan 

1. After learning about various arctic animals, encourage students to create a den using the toothpicks and marshmallows.
2. As they are creating, ask them questions to get them thinking about their work. Here are some examples:
   1. Why do you think an animal would choose your den?
   2. How would it keep them safe?
   3. Did you stick to your draft or make changes as you went? Why? 

Click HERE for the Hibernation Den Lesson Plan 

Click HERE for the Penguin Footprints Lesson Plan 

1. Find a comfortable spot to read That’s Not My Penguin with the child. Show them how to hold the book upright and turn the pages. Encourage them to feel the different textures in the book.
2. Paint the child’s foot and press it down on the paper. Allow to dry. Finish the body using a marker. Add a beak and googly eyes. 

Click HERE for the Polar Bear Hands Lesson Plan 

1) Find a comfortable spot and sing the following song with the child: 

​“The polar bear lives in Alaska,
He never gets cold in a storm,
He swims in cold icy water,
His heavy coat keeps him warm.
Warm, warm, warm, warm,
His heavy coat keeps him warm.
Warm, warm, warm, warm,
His heavy coat keeps him warm”
(sung to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)

2)  When finished, create the memory craft by painting the child’s hand with the white paint. Press it down on the paper and allow to dry.
3)  Add a bear face to the thumb of the print. Add paws on the other four legs. 

Click HERE for the Christmas Shaving Cream Sensory Bin Lesson Plan 

1. Create the colored ice cubes that will go into the sensory bin by adding a few drops of food coloring to water in an ice cube tray. Place in the freezer until hard.
2. Fill the large plastic bin with shaving cream and add the colored ice cubes.
3. Place in the bin in an appropriate are for sensory play and encourage students to explore.

Click HERE for the Let’s Build a Snowman: Fine Motor Development Lesson Plan 

1. Create the snowman bottle by cleaning the inside and removing any stickers or labels
2. Draw a face on the bottle along with buttons using the permanent markers and/or small cotton balls. You can use a small piece of orange paper for the nose
3. Pop the cap open and show the child how to insert the cotton balls into the bottle
4. Allow the child to try it on their own

**Monitor children during the activity to prevent them from eating the cotton balls