Preschool Valentine Crafts - Mouse Heart Valentine

The requests for new preschool valentine crafts ideas has been overwhelming the past few days!

This fun, creative idea was just sent to me to share here for all of you--very cute and excellent for teaching many skills.

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. Send pictures also if you have them!


Mouse Heart Valentine

Cut out two heart shapes, one larger for the body and one smaller for the ears. Fold the larger heart in half (child can write a message, their name, or leave blank), and at point end glue a very small fuzzy ball (or just make a dot with a marker) for the nose, make a few whiskers off the nose with a marker.
Then glue on a googly eye in proximity to the nose. Next place a dot of glue at the base of the small heart (leave this one open) for the ears and glue in proximity of the eye.
Use a lollipop (flat ones work best) and tape it to the inside of the larger heart with the stick end sticking out of the rounded larger heart (this is the tail). Glue or tape heart shut and you have a valentine.

This is a good craft for practicing tracing, cutting, fine motor skills with the gluing and placement of the features.



If you like these preschool valentine crafts, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html

There are Two Editions now for the Preschool Planner: Basic or Platinum.


Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them on my Blog.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html

Preschool Playdoh Activities - Fruity Play Doh

February is here and the groundhog saw his shadow this morning! Here in the US this is a fun myth that is supposed to signify a full 6 more weeks of winter. What better time to introduce some new preschool playdoh activities!

I realize that there are numerous recipes for Play-doh for preschoolers. I always find the homemade kind the most fun and creative. Check out the recipe below for one of my favorites.

Fruity Play Doh
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
Fruit drink mix (Kool-Aid)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons alum.

Combine the salt and water in a saucepan and boil until the salt dissolves. Take from the heat and add the fruit drink mix. Add the oil, flour and alum. Knead until smooth. This will last two months in an airtight container or zip lock freezer bag.


Let the children help to knead the dough and to manipulate it. This is relaxing for them and helps them to focus. I use the playdoh to teach colors, numbers, shapes, counting, fine motor skills, and letters.

Be sure to have the playdoh available with as many tools as possible. I have cookie cutters of the alphabet, numbers, shapes, objects, etc. I have small rolling pins, garlic presses, potato french fry cutters, the sky is the limit here.

BEST TIP: Practice using scissors with the playdoh. The doh slices easily and grips the scissors better than paper giving them the fine motor feel of how to cut.

If you like these preschool playdoh activities, check out the other ideas in the Preschool Planner.

http://www.preschoolplanner.com/thefullstory.html

There are Two Editions now for the Preschool Planner: Basic or Platinum.


Send me any ideas you would like to share and I will post them on my Blog.

Mary
marys.plans@gmail.com


P.S. If you would like to receive my free newsletters for ideas for your preschool class, enter your name and address at the site below:

http://preschoolplanner.com/preschool-activities.html