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There's no sweeter way to welcome summer than with playful ice cream-themed invitations that inspire creativity, sensory exploration, and imaginative play. From colorful art experiences to hands-on sensory play, these activities will delight little learners while celebrating everyone's favorite frozen treat. 1. Popsicle Watercolor Painting: Invite children to create vibrant popsicle masterpieces. Cut popsicle shapes from poster board and glue Epsom salt onto the surface. Once dry, provide Colorations® Liquid Watercolors + droppers and let children paint as they watch the colors spread and blend across the textured salt, creating a magical watercolor effect. 2. Cloud Dough Ice Cream Shop: Create soft, scoopable "ice cream" by mixing 2 cups cornstarch with 1 cup hair conditioner. This silky cloud dough holds its shape beautifully and is perfect for scooping and filling ice cream cones and cups. Add colored rice, pipe cleaners, beads, pom-poms, or other loose parts to create realistic-looking frozen treats and encourage imaginative pretend play. 3. Shave Ice Station: Transform sensory play into a colorful shave ice stand using Steve Spangler Insta-Snow® as the "ice" & Colorations® Liquid Watercolors as the flavored syrups. Children will love scooping, pouring, mixing, & creating their own colorful frozen creations in bowls while exploring texture and color. Soft Serve Ice Cream Sensory Play: Whip up pretend soft serve by combining shaving cream with liquid watercolors and serving it in ice cream cones or cups. This simple invitation offers endless opportunities for sensory exploration, creativity, and dramatic play as children swirl, scoop, and serve their colorful ice cream creations. These ice cream-inspired invitations combine art, sensory play, literacy, and imaginative exploration while capturing all the fun of summer. Whether children are painting popsicles, scooping cloud dough, or creating colorful frozen treats, each activity offers playful opportunities to create, discover, and celebrate the season. Here are the books that inspired these invitations: Paletero Man Shave Ice Saffron Ice Cream Ice Cream Man Ten Scoops On Top Curious About Ice Cream Should I Share My Ice Cream Counting with Wayne Thiebaud Here are other Ice Cream Invitations from the past: Summer Kick Off Party Invitation to Create Saffron Ice Cream Sensory Play Invitation to Explore Wayne Thiebaud

Children love all things that go! Car play offers endless opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, imaginative play, & early STEM learning. Here are four simple invitations that kept little learners engaged & exploring. 1. Car Wash Two Ways: Create a miniature car wash on a Tuff Tray using storage organizers, mop heads, spray bottles, sponges, towels, dish soap, & toy cars. Then take a ride-on car using buckets and the same cleaning supplies. They loved scrubbing, spraying, & making their vehicles sparkle. 2. Paint a DIY Recycled Cardboard Car: Transform recycled cardboard boxes into a car ready for a new paint job. With Colorations® Tempera Paint, paint cups, & brushes, children customized their vehicles while expressing their creativity through art. 3. Auto-Body Shop Dramatic Play: Set up a child-sized car with toy tools & invite children to become mechanics. They loved inspecting, repairing, & maintaining their vehicle while engaging in imaginative role-play. 4. Ramp Races & Engineering Challenges: Using a race track & Excellerations® Engineering with Ramps, children experimented with different heights & angles to see how far & fast their cars could travel. These simple invitations support fine motor development, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, & early engineering concepts. Most importantly, they encourage children to learn through hands-on play while exploring a topic they naturally love. Here are other ways to explore cars through play: Cardboard Roadway with Magic Drawing Cars 3 Ways to do Process Art with Transportation What Kind of Car Does a T. Rex Drive? Invitation to Color Cars Workin' at the Car Wash Whatsit DIY Roadmap Old MacDonald Had a Truck Diggersaurs Dig Pit

From bestselling author and illustrator Rachel Ignotofsky, Dinosaurs: Exploring Prehistoric Life and Geological Time is an incredible resource for young dinosaur lovers and curious learners alike. Beautifully illustrated and filled with fascinating facts, maps, infographics, and scientific discoveries, the book takes readers on a journey through more than 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history, from the earliest life forms to the age of dinosaurs and beyond. Through engaging visuals and accessible information, children are invited to wonder, question, and discover the incredible creatures and environments that once shaped our planet. To extend the learning and creativity even further, the book now has companions: Rachel Ignotofsky’s Dinosaurs Coloring Book and Dinosaurs Stickerology. The coloring book invites children to bring prehistoric life to life through detailed illustrations of dinosaurs, ancient creatures, and scenes from prehistoric Earth. The sticker book, filled with over 500 vibrant prehistoric stickers, encourages children to creatively explore the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras through hands-on play and storytelling. Since we love dinosaurs so much over here, these resources quickly became favorites and inspired us to extend the experience through open-ended dinosaur STEM play. After reading, coloring, and exploring the stickers, the children were invited to see if they could recognize different dinosaur species, recreate prehistoric environments, and reenact scenes inspired by the stories and illustrations. To set up our dinosaur STEM invitation, we used our Discount School Supply Tuff Tray, Explorer Tuff Tray Grass Playmat, Earth Natural Scene Set 20P, Tender Leaf® Dinosaur Blocks, TickiT® Jurassic Discovery Dividers, to create an immersive prehistoric world for building, storytelling, imaginative play, and exploration. Through this invitation, children were able to combine literacy, art, science, engineering, and imaginative play while deepening their curiosity and connection to the fascinating world of dinosaurs.

After learning about rivers, river habitats, and the animals that call them home, the children were invited to create their own flowing river world filled with opportunities for imaginative play, engineering, storytelling, and sensory exploration. Using the beautifully designed Explore Nook™ Water Way & Mill Kit and Plastic Water Channeling Guttering from Discount School Supply, children worked together to design winding waterways, build bridges and pathways, and experiment with how water moved through their habitat. The Explore Nook materials are thoughtfully designed to encourage hands-on STEM learning through concepts like gravity, water flow, motion, and cause-and-effect while supporting open-ended, collaborative play. To create this invitation, we combined the water systems with wooden blocks, sticks, leaves, rocks, flat marbles, river animal figurines, beverage jugs, and water tinted with Colorations liquid watercolors. The loose parts transformed the space into a rich sensory small world where children could construct habitats, direct water through different channels, and imagine rivers flowing through forests, mountains, and animal homes. As they poured, transferred, scooped, and redirected the water, they naturally explored early engineering concepts, problem-solving, spatial awareness, and scientific thinking through play. One of the most magical parts of this invitation was watching how differently each child approached the experience. Some carefully engineered long winding waterways and tested how changing the height of the channels affected the water's speed. Others focused on storytelling and imaginative play, creating homes for the river animals using sticks, stones, and leaves collected from nature. Some children became deeply engaged in sensory exploration, fascinated by the movement of the colored water as it traveled through the channels, spun the water wheel, and pooled into different areas. Open-ended invitations like this encourage children to think creatively, collaborate with peers, test ideas, problem-solve, and connect with the natural world in meaningful ways. By combining sensory play, loose parts, engineering, and imaginative storytelling, children explored the beauty and complexity of river habitats while engaging in rich hands-on learning experiences rooted in play.

After reading The Quiet Ocean written by Charlotte Offsay and illustrated by Abi Cushman, we were inspired to explore the beauty, wonder, and interconnectedness of life beneath the sea. This playful and beautifully illustrated story begins with one tiny “pop” from a curious pufferfish that sets off a humorous chain reaction throughout the ocean. As the sea creatures experience an increasingly noisy and chaotic day, the story gently introduces themes of cause and effect, community, and finding calm again through rhythmic repetition, humor, and vibrant underwater scenes. The Quiet Ocean is also a companion book to The Quiet Forest. In our tuff tray, we created an ocean-inspired small world invitation using water mixed with Colorations® Fluorescent BioColor Paint, aquarium seaweed and rocks, sea life figurines, seashells, mosaic tiles, and two cups filled with liquid watercolors and metallic paint paired with Learning Resources® Twisty Droppers to be the "Squid Ink." Children were invited to reenact scenes from the story through imaginative sensory play. As they mixed colors, explored the materials, and brought the ocean creatures to life, they deepened their connection to the story while exploring movement, sound, creativity, and the beauty of the underwater world. Bringing stories to life through hands-on play helps children form deeper and more meaningful connections to literacy. Interacting with characters, settings, and story elements through sensory-rich experiences strengthens comprehension, language development, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Small world play also encourages storytelling, problem-solving, collaboration, and open-ended exploration while giving children the opportunity to process stories in a way that feels engaging and developmentally appropriate. By combining literature with play, children build a lasting connection to stories through curiosity, imagination, and meaningful learning experiences.

Marie Curie is best known for her groundbreaking research on radioactivity and for discovering the elements polonium and radium. A trailblazer in science, she became the first person ever to win two Nobel Prizes, one in Physics and one in Chemistry. Her curiosity, perseverance, and passion for discovery changed the world of science forever and continue to inspire generations of young learners today. After reading a story about her life and achievements, the children were invited to step into the role of scientists and explore chemistry just like Marie Curie. To set up this invitation in our @discountschoolsupply Tuff Tray, we included the @learningresources Science Experimentation Lab Set, Splashology! Water Lab Science Activity Kit, Graduated Cylinders Set, Jumbo Plastic Droppers, and Twisty Droppers. In some containers, we mixed vinegar with @colorationsart metallic paint, while other containers held a combination of @armandhammer baking soda and @dawndishwash soap. Children were invited to experiment freely with the ingredients, observing the bubbling chemical reactions unfold right before their eyes. When vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) combine, they create carbon dioxide gas. As the gas escapes, it forms the exciting fizzing and bubbling reaction the children observed during their investigations. Children are naturally curious and constantly seek to understand how the world around them works. Through open-ended science invitations like this, they ask questions, make predictions, test ideas, and observe outcomes in meaningful hands-on ways. Experiences such as these help build a strong foundation for future scientific thinking while nurturing creativity, confidence, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. By encouraging children to explore, experiment, and discover through play, we help foster a lifelong love of learning and support the development of future innovators, thinkers, and scientists.

Last week, I created a STEM invitation for my son’s school multicultural event. It became such a meaningful and engaging experience that we’ve continued exploring it at home. Watching children immerse themselves in the beauty, creativity, and architecture of Golestan Palace, while also sharing and celebrating a place special to our culture through hands-on play, made this invitation truly unforgettable. This STEM invitation invites children to design, build, and engineer their own version of Golestan Palace, one of Iran’s most breathtaking architectural treasures. Located in Tehran, Golestan Palace is known for its dazzling mirrored halls, intricate tile work, colorful details, elegant archways, and beautiful gardens that reflect centuries of Persian art, culture, and craftsmanship. Using loose parts, building materials, and reference images of the palace, children are encouraged to explore architecture through hands-on creativity and open-ended play. As they construct, problem-solve, and experiment with different designs, they begin to think like engineers, architects, artists, and storytellers all at once. This invitation goes far beyond building a structure. It encourages critical thinking, spatial awareness, collaboration, perseverance, and creative problem-solving. Children naturally explore important STEM concepts such as balance, stability, symmetry, design, measurement, and engineering while engaging in meaningful play. By introducing children to world architecture and cultural landmarks, invitations like this also foster cultural appreciation, curiosity, and global awareness. Exploring the beauty of Golestan Palace allows children to connect with history, art, and design in a tangible and inspiring way. Open-ended STEM invitations are especially powerful because there is no single “right” outcome. Each child brings their own ideas, interpretations, and creativity into the experience, strengthening confidence and independent thinking along the way. We love creating invitations that combine creativity, culture, architecture, and hands-on learning while allowing children to fully immerse themselves in the process of exploration and discovery. Discount School Supply Materials Used: Earth Natural Scene Set 20Pk Ice Natural Scene Set 20Pk Excellerations® Wooden Gem Blocks Excellerations® Giant Stacking Gems - Set of 20 Excellerations® Mini Stacking Gems - Set of 30 Mirror Blocks - 24 Piece Set Marvelous Metallics™ Silver Boulder Blocks - 12 Pack Excellerations® Window Blocks Excellerations® Acrylic Mirror Trays Excellerations®Translucent Rainbow Octagon Other Materials Used: open-play toy cones Rock Blocks Recycled CDs Amazon Materials Used: iridescent cups, Acrylic Display Risers Hexagonal shelves Grapat Loose Parts Mini Disco Balls Acrylic Gems Acrylic Blocks Acrylic Circles Acrylic Mirrors Mandala Style Sticker Tile

When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by @felicita.sala, is a lyrical & heartfelt picture book that celebrates the quiet magic of nature & the special bond children can form with the world around them. Through gentle, poetic storytelling & richly expressive illustrations, the book explores how something as simple as a rock can become a source of comfort, wonder, imagination, & belonging. It encourages young readers to slow down, observe closely, & discover meaning in everyday natural treasures, reminding us that nature can help children feel grounded, curious, creative, & deeply connected to their surroundings. To extend the literacy experience after reading the book we explored two hands-on invitations designed to complement the story and deepen children’s connection to rocks, nature, and creativity. Invitation to Create a Rock Collage: First, the children painted rocks onto white construction paper using Colorations® Shiny and Regular Tempera Paint. Once their paintings dried, the rocks were cut out and glued onto black construction paper to create unique rock collages. This process encouraged creativity, fine motor development, artistic expression, and a deeper appreciation for the different shapes, textures, and beauty found in rocks. Invitation to Explore Rocks with Playdough: On our trays from Discount School Supply, we set out white playdough, wooden tools, and a collection of rocks for children to explore, create, and play with. Children pressed, rolled, stacked, imprinted, and sculpted with the materials, using their imaginations to investigate the textures, patterns, and unique characteristics of rocks through hands-on sensory and loose parts play. Through both invitations, children observed, created, and connected with the natural beauty of rocks while discovering, much like in When You Find the Right Rock, how something as simple as a rock can spark wonder, imagination, comfort, and a deeper connection to the world around them.

After reading Light Makes a Rainbow by Sharon Coan, we were inspired to look beyond the beauty of a rainbow and uncover the science behind it. This engaging read introduces children to concepts like light waves, energy, and prisms, showing that sunlight, though it appears white, is actually made up of many colors. When sunlight passes through tiny water droplets, it slows down and bends (refraction), spreads into different colors, reflects inside the droplet, and bends again as it exits, revealing the full rainbow spectrum. We brought this learning to life by exploring how to bend sunlight using real prisms. On two mirrored Mirrored Magnetic Sensory Circle & Deep Spot Tuff Tray Mirror, we thoughtfully arranged prisms, acrylic cubes, a translucent rainbow, ,Excellerations® Color Paddles, bowls, a three-panel folding mirror, and a rotating mirror to invite discovery from every angle. As we tilted and repositioned the prisms in natural sunlight, children watched in awe as light refracted and stretched into vibrant bands of color, uncovering the hidden rainbow within. The additional materials acted as visual anchors, helping children connect their observations to the familiar sequence of rainbow colors, while the reflective surfaces enhanced light, movement, and perspective. This immersive invitation blended science with wonder, encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and meaningful exploration. Through hands-on discovery, children not only learned how rainbows form but also experienced the magic of light working together to create something truly extraordinary.

Had the honor of decorating my son’s 1st grade teacher’s door to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week ! During Back-to-School Night at the beginning of the year, I was completely in awe of her classroom library, it was truly one of the most magical spaces I’ve ever seen. Every detail felt intentional, inviting, & filled with a deep love for learning & reading. It instantly left an impression on me. From that moment, I knew I wanted to find a meaningful way to celebrate that magic. The only thing I felt could add to her already beautiful space was plush storybook characters from MerryMakers (Creepy Pair of Underwear, Amy Wu, Pete the Cat, Island Born, Dog Man, Pout Pout Fish, Last Stop on Market Street, Dragons Love Tacos), bringing some favorite beloved classics & popular characters to life. The door design was inspired by the very same books as the stuffies gifted to her, tying everything together in a thoughtful & cohesive way. Since she loves bumblebees, I leaned into that theme with sweet touches throughout. Lastly I had signage made for her library that reads: “Reading Gives You Wings” & “In The Library, We Have Wings.” It also wouldn’t be complete without a book, so A Teacher Like You, written by Frank Murphy & Barbara Dan, illustrated by Kayla Harren. Just a little buzz of love and appreciation for a teacher who helps her students soar, creates everyday magic in the classroom, and leaves a truly lasting impact on every child she teaches .

For this invitation, we explored the works of Claude Monet by reading The Magical Garden of Claude Monet and Meet Claude Monet. We also shared an image of his famous Japanese Water Lilies painting to spark curiosity and inspire the children’s building experience. Using STEM as our approach, we transformed the painting into a hands-on learning invitation by setting up our Discount School Supply Tuff Tray with black and white Cosy Direct Ones, Plastic Water Channeling Guttering (6-pack), open-play toy cones, jumbo craft sticks, iridescent cups, Acrylic Display Risers Hexagonal, shelves, water lilies in purple & white, flat marbles, and Colorations Metallic Green Paint to represent the water. The children were invited to create their own interpretation of Monet’s painting through building, designing, and open-ended exploration. Experiences like this allow children to extend their learning beyond simply viewing art, they begin to think like artists, engineers, and problem-solvers all at once. Preschool STEM activities are especially valuable because they encourage children to ask questions, test ideas, and stretch their creative thinking skills. Introducing the engineering and design process feels natural in early childhood because children already love to build, experiment, and solve problems. This invitation transformed a simple building activity into an opportunity for deeper thinking, helping children explore perspective, creativity, and their own interpretation of Monet’s work. There was no right or wrong way to approach this experience, which made it so meaningful. The possibilities were truly endless. By providing open-ended materials and the freedom to explore, children could create, imagine, and build in ways entirely their own. The magic of Claude Monet truly came to life through their creations, as the children transformed simple materials into their own beautiful interpretation of his peaceful water lily gardens.

I had the absolute privilege of creating the invitations for my delicate flower bestie Justine’s milestone 40th birthday celebration. She had a vision of elegance, beauty, and blooms everywhere—and she brought it to life so effortlessly. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, making this celebration feel like stepping into a dreamy garden party. From beautiful florals by @bloomandboard_bydanielle to hands-on activities, every moment was designed to make guests feel part of the magic: Flower Bar – Create your own bouquet to take home, because every guest deserves to leave with flowers in hand. Flower Bar Sign Flower Stand Vases - Dollar Tree Flowers -Trader Joes DIY Flower Crown Station – Because it simply wouldn’t be a blooming celebration without a flower crown fit for the occasion. Headbands Gem Flowers Rainbow Flowers Neutral Flowers Wireless Glue Gun Gardening Sensory Bin – A playful sensory experience filled with beautiful blooms, where little hands could dig, plant, and pretend in their own tiny garden world. Flower Sensory Stones Sensory Sand Plastic Pots Shovels Can you tell we love a good theme? Because when it comes to flowers, there’s no such thing as too much bloom.