“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Hasbro. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

I try to set out  a Play-Doh invitation to play at least once a week.  This invitation to play includes a variety of colors and one or two additional materials to explore. Sometimes I include stamps, tools, small toys, beads or plastic cookie cutters.  

 My kids love to roll snakes and smash it through the garlic press to make fake spaghetti.  When I’m not looking, they mash it together to see what new colors they can make.

Today, we are sculpting to show our National Pride!

Connect literacy, social studies and creative expression in this 30 minute lesson plan for kids of all ages.  

World Play-Doh Day & National Symbol Lesson Plan

Join in the fun! Try this lesson with YOUR children, snap a picture and share it for World Play-Doh day.

Learning objectives: 
The students will identify a minimum of 3 national symbols that are unique to our country. They will also be able to verbally explain that a symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something else.

A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something else.

National symbols do not just represent physical objects and historical events, but thoughts, feelings, and emotions for ones country as well.

Materials Needed:

• Play-Doh

• 2-3 Books on National Symbols

National Symbols Lesson Plan with Play-Doh

Statue of Liberty Play-Doh Sculpture

1. Read and Discuss

Sit down and read your selected books with your child.  Explain that the books are non-fiction, meaning that they tell facts about a person, place or event.

“These books are a special kind of book called non-fiction.  They were written to teach people more about a particular topic.  Today, we are learning about National Symbols.”

Talk

• about the images and the words in each story,
• what the pictures and words represent, and
• why they are important to your family.

2.  Select a National Symbol

Encourage your child to select one National Symbol to sculpt with playdough.  Look at the image and examine the shapes and colors.  Remind the child that their Play-Doh sculpture will be an artistic representation of the actual item.  It is OK for it to look a bit different in size, shape, and color.

Bald Eagle Play-Doh Sculpture

3.  Sculpt

Spend time creating a Play-Doh representation of a National Symbol.

Teacher and Parent Notes:

Although knowing the USA symbols is a kindergarten foundation, the review is great for older children as well!   

For Younger Learners:

• Sculpt along side, modeling how to roll and shape the Play-Doh.  Watch me do it, now you try.> Encourage the child to roll stripes. (Adult makes the stars) assemble all into one sculpture.
• Make the sculpture together! (both contributing to the final product, not the adult doing it all!)

For Advanced Learners:

• Consider selecting a particular state to study for older children.
• Have them sculpt and create the state symbols such as the state’s bird, food, and flower.Have them summarize these symbols in paragraph format.
• Encourage them to sculpt a variety of symbols and photograph each one. Print the pictures and create a mini DIY book on National Symbols.  

Join in the World Play-Doh Day – September 16th!

Sculpt Share

• a landmark, 
• cultural icon, 
• a food, or
• patriotic symbols

We can’t wait to see what you create!

Have you brought glue and paper outside to the sandbox yet for some fun sand art? If not, today is the day to have some outdoor fun and learning!

Sand Art | Outdoor Fun and Learning

Materials needed:

• Sand
• Paper or Card Stock
• School Glue

It’s craft projects like these where it may be beneficial in investing in the refill 1 Gallon Jug of glue.

Directions

1. Bring the paper and glue outside.

2. Let the kids make any design or image they want to with the glue. * Squeezing the glue is a great fine motor strengthening activity.

3. Lightly poor sand on the top of the glue image.

4. Gently shake off.

5. Set on a table to dry. If it’s a windy day, use rocks to hold it down.

6. Repeat as many times as desired.

Literacy Connections

While your projects are drying, connect this Sand Art activity with a cute book about Sand:

Llama Llama Sand and Sun

Sand Cake (A Frank Asch Bear Book)

The Sand Castle Contest

If you enjoyed this Sand Art Activity you may also enjoy these….

Here’s how we created ours.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make Your Own Birthday Party Decorations

It was Birthday Weekend at our house!  My oldest daughter turned 7!  Can’t believe she’ll be starting Second Grade next Monday. It’s no secret that we love having birthday parties at our house and I’m always looking for fun way to involve the kids.  

Supplies Needed

• Permanent Markers
• Washable Kids Paint
• Drawing Paper Roll
• Scissors
• Masking Tape

How to Create Ocean Themed Animal Decorations

This year her party was an Ocean Theme.  I wanted to share with you a fun way to get your child involved with their birthday party. 

Yes, you can go onto Etsy and pay quite a bit of money for coordinated party supplies, but I love parties with a kid’s touch that are made from the heart too.  

Our Little Mermaid

She created her own wall hangings from the party that was ocean themed.  

We jumped onto the computer and found a few clip art images that we liked and then copied those ideas onto large pieces of paper using our new markers.  

The paper we used is the leftover paper that we got from our local newspaper for free!   

Using Markers we sketched out our shapes and then she used Poster Paint to paint the pictures. She chose to paint a Mermaid, Whale, Dolphin, Sea Turtle and fish. Both my daughters worked on this project together which was fun to do for preparing for a sibling’s birthday too.  

My daughter had so much fun preparing all week for her party and it really made it a memorable event for her and her friends that was budget friendly for me.  

Mermaid Craft with Clothespins

Here’s a fun little Mermaid craft that we made at the birthday party with her friends. 

Supplies Needed

• Clothespin Pegs
• Craft Glue
• Foam Sheets
• Fine Tip Sharpie Markers
• Scissors
• Multicolor Yarn
• Sequins

We were inspired by transforming the concept of a clothespin doll into a mermaid by using colorful foam and Permanent Markers to add the details. The girls then selected yard hair to glue on and some sequins to decorate!

Worked out to be super easy and fun, I love how different they each looked at the end of it!  

We also created Mermaid Necklaces too!

What are ways that you personalize your child’s birthday? 

You may also enjoy these Ocean inspired ideas for your child…

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Make a Jeweled Shell Necklace A.K.A. Mermaid Necklace

Supplies –

• Ribbon or cording
• Scissors
• Glitter glue and other sparkly objects
• Scissors
• A shell with a hole at the top

Prep Work –

This craft project will require the use of a small to medium size shell with a hole at the top. Take a walk along the beach with your child and look for the best shell for this project. If for any reason, you are not able to find one with a hole, wrap the shell with a thin jewelry wire so that it can easily attach to the ribbon.

Directions –

1. Wash the shell with warm soapy water and gently towel dry it.
2. Measure and cut a ribbon or cording 30 inches long.

3. Thread the ribbon through the hole in the shell. Tie the ends together to make a complete circle.

4. Using your favorite color of glitter glue, fill up the inside of the shell. While the glue is still wet, add any other small sparkly objects such as sequins or beads to the inside portion. Set the shell upright in a safe place. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

5. When the glitter glue has dried, put the necklace on and admire your creation.

Want more ideas, try these mermaid crafts for kids!

Extensions –

Gift for Family Member: When the glitter glue has dried, put the necklace on and admire your creation. This jeweled necklace would also be a great gift for a friend or family member that came with you on your beach walk adventure. Consider making several jeweled shell necklaces and wrapping them in a special paper for a lucky recipient.

Seashell Books

What Lives in a Shell? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Seashells: More Than a Home by Melissa Stewart

It’s a Seashell Day by Dianne Ochiltree

The Beachcomber’s Companion by Anna Marlis Burgard

A Shell Is Cozy by Dianna Hutts Aston

The Mother’s Day Shell by Amelia Grantham

Writing Connection: Since this necklace is also a keepsake of a special adventure, you may want to write a little note to keep with it. Include the date and name of the beach you visited, who you went with, and anything special you observed that day.

You may also enjoy these activities with seashells…

• Sight Word Sea Shells
• Alphabet Fun with Shells
• Storytelling Shells
• Ocean Themed Playdate
• Ocean Books for Kids
• Storytelling Seashells
• Writing Game with Sand and Seashells

Which musical instrument will you make first? 

It’s the middle of the summer and it’s always a lot of fun to add a different element to your free playtime! Why not add musical opportunities for fun!

Turn up the music for a little afternoon dance party. Pull out some instruments or even make your own and learn to play one!

DIY Musical Instruments for Music with Kids

• Water Play with Music by Childs Play Music
• Teaching Kids How Sound is Made by Kids Activity Blog
• Incorporating Music into Your Daily Life by Mama Smiles
• Exploring Acoustic Sounds with Science from Science Sparks
• Outdoor Learning Station from My Nearest and Dearest
• Create a Simple Outdoor Music Play Area from Play Dr. Mom
• How to Make a Music Wall from Pre K and K Sharing

Did you know that March is celebrated as Music In Our Schools Month®? This DIY Musical Instrument ideas are a fun way to extend learning at home with your child.

Spin Hand Drums by Alice and Lois

DIY Instruments

• DIY Craft Stick Harmonica
• DIY Rainstick from I Can Teach My Child
• DIY Xylophone  from Relentlessly Fun Deceptively Educational
• DIY Hand Drum by Alice and Lois
• DIY Stick Piano
• DIY Palm Pipes
• DIY Bongo Drums
• DIY Straw Flute
• DIY Guitar
• Music Measure of Math Printables
• Mini Lid Banjos by The Craft Train

Mini Lid Banjos by The Craft Train

For two summers my daughter had the opportunity to attend a Music Summer Camp and our Kindermusik Teacher. It was fun to see them learn to play bells one year and the xylophone the other year.

For even more fun here are some tips for How to Teach Piano to a 5-Year old.

What Music Goal could you set for your child this summer?

Music Activities for Kids

Here’s a few posts on The Educators’ Spin On I that we’ve shared with our readers of how to incorporate music at home.

• Making your Own Instruments from Recycled Containers
• Action Songs for Kids
• Parenting Tips for Making Music Everyday
• Outdoor Music Station
• Songs for Teaching Kindness
• Exploring the Northern Lights with Art and Music
• Growing music: Growing Instruments
• Music with Children Pinterest Board

And then this is one of those times when it’s super hot outside or raining and lightning that you can play a movement video game. The Just Dance Kids video games are super fun to do with just one child or quite a few!

So what are you waiting for, get up a DANCE, SIGN and MAKE MUSIC!

What Instrument will you make first with your child?

You may also find these activities fun for your child…

Pick a time of day and invite your friends.  

Prepare the activities ahead of time and set in different areas of the room.

When the children come – play, learn, craft, and connect!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to products

Ocean Themed Playdate for Kids

We’re sharing 4 simple ideas that you can do at your next playdate. Fun and easy hands on ideas all about the ocean. These ideas are best for ages 3-7.

Ocean Themed Playdate Craft: Paper Plate Seashell Craft

Materials Needed:

• Paper Plates
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Watercolor paint
• Stickers (optional)

Directions

1. Have parents pre-cut the shells or let the children, depending on the age and comfort level of the parents.
2. Examine the lines in the real shells and talk about their direction  Encourage children to draw the vertical lines with a crayon on their shells. Remember to have them go from TOP to BOTTOM in order to encourage good early writing habits.
3. Watercolor paint over the crayon lines. The paint should resist the lines and show through.
4. Let dry. Decorate with ocean theme stickers if available.

You could also make this adorable paper plate crab!

Ocean Themed Playdate Books

DK Eyewitness Books: Ocean Discover more about the plants and animals that live in the oceans.  Although geared for ages 8-12, I like to select a page to share with my younger children. This exposes them to new vocabulary and science concepts without being too overwhelming. 

Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor.  I love these stories for helping kids connect to science topics with a mix of fiction and non-fiction.  Depending on the age of the kids attending your ocean themed playdate – you may want to paraphrase some of the longer texts. I find when my child is alone, they are able to listen to longer stories. When in a group – short and sweet tends to do better!

National Geographic Weird Sea Creatures. This book is just COOL. My kids adore looking at and reading about the unusual sea creatures.

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach. Join a kid-favorite character as he spends the day collecting shells and making sand castles on the beach.

Ocean Themed Playdate Learning Activity: Shell Sort

Kids love to sort shells and this activity is a great way to combine math and science.

Materials Needed:

• Shells

Directions

1. Set out the shells on a flat surface. Encourage children to look at the size, shape, and colors of the shells.
2. Sort the set of shells based on one attribute such as size.
3. Re-sort the set of shells using another attribute.

Ocean Themed Playdate Sensory Activity: Ocean in a Tub

Materials Needed:

• Large container
• Ocean animals
• Beach towel
• Cups

Directions:

1.  Fill the large container with water. Set on flooring that will be ok if wet. Put a towel underneath.
2. Set cups and ocean animals in the tub of water.
3. Let children splash, pour, and play with their ocean tub.

For More Ocean Themed Activities:

• 30+ Ocean Activities For Summer Fun
• 38 Play and Learn Ocean Kids Activities
• Exploring the World with Kids
• A House For Hermit Crab Activities
• Beach Themed Syllable Game – Printable
• Make Rainbow Sea Shells
• Alphabet Fun with Sea Shells
• Hunting for Sharks Teeth with Kids
• Sea Shell Sight Word Game
• Water Activity Ideas for Kids
• Shark Books and Activities
• Ocean Books for Kids

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Have you ever thought about what to do with the leftover Easter egg dye that you use for eggs every year?

Rainbow Sea Shells Science Experiment

I’m going to be honest I never have until this Easter, I guess just because we’re always busy doing other things on Easter with our extended family. This year after we finished my 6 year old daughter asked me what else she could use the Egg Dye for?

I turned to the interest and found that you can color coffee filters, clothespins, yarn, and even Tie Die and paint with your leftover vinegar based egg dye.

However, we wanted something similar to eggs…

We both thought about it and this is what we came up with…Seashells

Now I’ll admit we have quite a few seashells in our sandbox from our many trips to the beach, we’re very lucky to live a few hours from the beach since all of my kids were born. So in 20 years we’re gathered quite a few and use them for playtime.

You’d be amazed at how many ways you can use seashells for imaginary play.

We’ve painted them like these Storytelling Shells but I never thought about dying them.

We brought our containers outside and gathered up our seashells. We washed them off first and let them dry out so they could absorb as much of the vinegar based dye as they could.

That’s ok we have fun playing outdoors in our gorgeous spring weather in the south this weekend.

Coloring the seashells worked out to be a great sibling activity too!

How to Dye Seashells with Kids

Once our seashells were dry we set them inside of the various colors of Egg Dye and watched to see what happened. I wasn’t sure if they would change due to their surface, so it was so much fun to observe and watch as they change. A little science and discovery at home is always a good thing!

We left them in the colored water for around 30 minutes, but honestly experiment to see the variety of results you get… it’s a science experiment with your kids so enjoy!

Here’s how our Dyed Seashells turned out, a rainbow of fun!

Did you throw your dye away already, no worries you could think about grabbing a few egg dye kits on clearance this week and making your own Rainbow Shells this spring!

I think we must just try rocks next!

What would you color next with leftover egg dye?

Want more rainbow ideas? Get our list of Colorful Rainbow Books for Kids.

• Sight Word Sea Shells
• Alphabet Fun with Shells
• Storytelling Shells

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Story Telling Sea Shells

Since fairy tales often take place “Once Upon A Time,” and began as oral stories, we decided to make a set of storytelling stones for each book. I’ve seen several amazing tutorials and was inspired by others such as this story stone post.

These stones can be used for retelling the story or making up a different story using the same items.

Of course, as luck would have it, we couldn’t find a single rock or stone near our house. We even walked around the neighborhood and found two single stones. A little bummed we headed home and got to talking about the book.

Somehow, the conversation switched to sea shells (which we have a ton of) and the kids decided to make Story Sea Shells… which of course can be used in the same way!!!! And I thought connected even better with the text than stones!

Materials Needed:

• Clean shells
• Newspaper
• Acrylic paints
• Plastic lid
• Paintbrush

Directions on how to make the storytelling sea shells.

1. Set the clean shells insides up on the newspaper.

2. Pour a small amount of paint onto a plastic lid. Set near the shells.

3. Encourage your child to paint pictures of characters and places from the fairy tales they know.

4. Allow the shells to dry.

We had mermaids, fish, green treasure box, a crown, a horse drawn carriage and many more.  

It was wonderful that as the kids painted, the discussed the details in the book and tried to add shells to represent some of these details. Of course, they added their own ideas too!

Directions on how to make the storytelling sea shells.

• Select a few shells.
• Make sure to grab at least one character and one place.
• Write your favorite stories down on paper.
• Share these stories with a family member.

We LOVE fairy tales! Click here to see our Whatever After Book Launch Party

If you liked this sea shell craft idea, you may also like these… Save

Ahoy there!  It’s the theme of BOATS at our Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids 

A boat theme can be so much fun with your preschooler.  There are so many fun books and imaginary play ideas that they will adore.  

Plus you can sneak in some learning with games likes this Pool Noodle Alphabet Boat Matching Game or Sight Word Boat Races.

This post contains affiliate links to amazon. 

Toy Boat by Randall de Seve

Sail Away (Rise and Shine) by Donald Crews

Paint Resist Toy Boat Art Project

Your child to work on their fine motor writing skills with the paint resist toy boat art project, plus create a gorgeous piece of art to create as a keepsake for this special book Toy Boat by Randall de Seve.  

It just takes a few materials from around your house to make with minimal set up!  Let’s get painting! 

Materials Needed for Toy Boat Art Project

• Paint (Blue, White, Yellow)
• Cotton Swabs
• Cotton Balls
• 2 sheets of Plain White Paper
• Printable Boat Outline
• Scissors
• Tape
• Paint tray for mixing colors of paint
• Book: Toy Boat

Directions for Paint Resist Toy Boat Art Project

1. Print out the outline of the toy boat OR drawn your own on a sheet of white paper.

2. Cut out the outline of the boat and attach it to a separate white sheet of paper with small pieces of tape below.

3. Place paint onto the paint tray.  The goal is to create different shades of blue and blue green for the ocean colors.  Create different shades of very light blue for the sky.

4. Have your child start with the yellow paint to create the sun in the sky by placing the cotton swab into the paint and dabbing it onto the paper.

5. Now move onto where you want the ocean and skyline to meet, around where you’ve taped the toy boat.  Start with the darker blues and blue greens to create the ocean and waves.

6. Next once the ocean is complete move to the sky and use a very light blue to create it.  Just dab the cotton swabs into white paint mixed with blue.

7. Now that you’ve made the ocean, waves and sky you can create your clouds!  Use just white paint and a cotton ball to create a few clouds in the sky above the toy boat and ocean waves.  Allow to dry.

8. Once all of the paint is dry it’s time to reveal your paint resist toy boat by removing the sailboat that you taped onto the paper at the beginning.  Carefully pealing it away you’ll see that after all of the dabbing with the cotton swab of blues you’ve created a beautiful outline of the toy boat using a technique called paint resist.

9.  To add a little customization you could draw in a self portrait on the boat, just for fun.

For more book themed ideas be sure to join our Book Newsletter!

There are some adorable boat books for kids that go along with this the Toy Boat by Randall de Seve.  One of my favorites is the Ten Little Ducks by Eric Carle.

Boat Themed Books for Preschoolers

• Toy Boat
• Boats! by Anne Rockwell 
• Boats by Byron Barton 
• Little Tug by Steven Savage 
• The Boat Book by Gail Gibbons 
• Who Sank the Boat by Pamela Allen 
• Ten Little Ducks by Eric Carle 
• Row Row Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera 

Here are a few fun ideas all about Boats for you to do with your child too.  Go check them out below after you make your Toy Boat Art Project.

Boat Themed Activities for Preschoolers

• Fishing for Letters (with a FREE printable) – Preschool Powol Packets
• Toy Rubber Band Boats– Teach Beside Me
• How to Make a Boat with Recycled Materials- JDaniel4’s Mom
• Geometric Shapes boat– Mama Smiles 
• Boat Building Shape STEM Challenge – Rainy Day Mum
• Sight Word Boat Races with Pool Noodles
• Letter Boat Matching with Pool Noodles
• Boat Making Station by Toddler Approved

CLICK HERE FOR MORE BOAT ACTIVITIES featured at the Virtual Book Club for Kids.

We’ll be sure more boat themed activities in the Weekly Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook group plus you can share your boat ideas too.  

Join 9000+ Moms sharing their book fun with their child HERE.

Here’s what happened when I had both my 2 year old and my 6 year old created their very own artwork for their Daddy.

Click here for an easy Mother’s Day Craft Idea

*This post contains affiliate links

Easy Father’s Day Craft for Kids to Make 

Supplies Needed

• Paint
• Construction Paper
• Printed DAD
• Shape of Dad and Child(ren)
• Scissors

Instructions 

Grab a big sheet of construction paper and some DAD colored paints.

Print and cut out this outline of DAD.  Click here for FREE Printable 

Tape it down and let your kids Paint over it making sure to keep the sides down on the taped images.  You can also use rubber cement for this step to make it a smoother surface when complete.

You can see how each age did a varied version of the Father’s Day Art Work. We still keep them both up on our walls to remember their creativity!

My 6 year old have fun making this one using her own individualized drawing of her and Daddy!

My 2 year old have fun making this version using just circles for the heads that we drew on together at the end of her and her big brother, big sister and Daddy. I love how this project works for various ages!

Looking for more? Print out our Father’s Day Poem Idea to complete with your child as a Father’s Day Gift too! Make an adorable DIY Papasaurus T-shirt !

Fathers Day Books

Here’s a sweet collection of books about Daddy for your child to enjoy this father’s day with their Dad.

This idea was inspired from our Mother’s Day  Painting and Poem!

Here are some additional ideas to do with your child this Father’s Day…

This post contains affiliate links to amazon.