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Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian painter & art theorist, is often called the pioneer of abstract art. Instead of painting objects to look realistic, he used color and form to express emotion. Kandinsky believed that each color carried its own language and soul, & that shapes—especially circles—could represent balance, harmony, & even spiritual connection. To him, the circle was the most direct path to equilibrium & deeper understanding. To bring Kandinsky’s vision to life, we read these books ( Meet Wassily Kandinksy , Wassily , The Noisy Paint Box ) & the children explored some of his most famous works, including  Circles in a Circle (1923),  Several Circles  (1926),  Deepened Impulse  (1928), and  Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles  (1913). Inspired by his art, we set up 2 creative invitations for the children to explore circles through both collaboration & play: 1. Mixed Media Collaborative Circle Art: At the table, we placed black butcher paper as the canvas & provided a variety of pre-cut & recycled circles, poster paper, baking cups, texas snow flake filters, & paper towels. With pipettes &  Colorations® Liquid Watercolors , the children dripped & blended vibrant colors, working side by side to create a collaborative masterpiece full of layered circles. 2. Loose Parts Circle Exploration: On our mirrored magnetic sensory circle , children were invited to design freely with circular loose parts. Materials included acrylic circles , wooden hoops , stacking pebbles ( natural, blue ), Grappat pieces , sensory geometric shapes , & natural scene blocks ( earth , ice) . This open-ended invitation encouraged creativity, spatial awareness, & design thinking as the children arranged, balanced, & reimagined circles in countless ways. Through these explorations, the children not only learned about Kandinsky’s art but also experienced the joy of creative self-expression, collaboration, & problem-solving. By engaging with circles in so many forms, they discovered how art can be both playful & deeply meaningful—just as Kandinsky believed. Here are other ways to explore the artist: Wassily Inspired Bouquets & 3 Ways to Wassily

As fall arrives, the children have been noticing the beautiful changes in nature—especially the leaves shifting from green to brilliant shades of red, yellow, orange, & brown. To nurture their natural curiosity, we’ve been reading books about autumn & exploring the science behind why leaves change colors. During fall, shorter daylight hours & cooler temperatures signal trees to stop producing chlorophyll. As the green fades, the vibrant yellows, oranges, browns, reds emerge, giving the season its signature beauty. Here are three hands-on ways we explored the wonder of fall: 1. Create a Fall Foliage Tree:  The children captured the seasonal transformation through hands-on art. Using real foraged branches in our tuff tray , cotton pads as “leaves,” liquid watercolor leaves , they used pipettes with  Colorations® Liquid Watercolors  to drop & blend colors, designing unique autumn canopies. This activity helped children: Strengthen fine motor skills + hand–eye coordination Explore color theory through mixing & blending Practice language skills by naming & describing colors Engage in creativity, problem-solving, & experimentation Art experiences like this mirror the work of young scientists. By observing, testing, & discovering, children connect with the world around them, building curiosity & a lifelong love of learning. 2. STEAM Fall Foliage:  This STEAM invitation combined science, art, & hands-on discovery. Using branches, baking soda shaped like a tree, fall leaves, & pipettes filled with vinegar mixed with Colorations® Liquid Watercolors, the children created fizzing, bubbling “fall trees.” The activity allowed children to: Observe a real chemical reaction Strengthen fine motor skills using pipettes Explore color mixing & transformation Connect science to seasonal changes With every squeeze, fizz, & burst of color, children discovered that science is hands-on, exciting, & as beautiful as the changing seasons, where every bubble sparks curiosity and learning. 3. Fall Leaves Fine Motor Gym:  Using colorful Open Play Toys cones ( rainbow , earth tones ) & freshly foraged leaves, children created their own fall trees by carefully placing leaves into the holes of the cones. What seemed simple became a fine motor challenge, strengthening finger muscles, hand–eye coordination, dexterity, & the pincer grasp—skills essential for writing, cutting, + painting. Children quickly discovered some leaves didn’t fit on the first try, encouraging them to slow down, adjust their strategy, & persist. These moments built resilience, patience, & confidence. By the end, each cone became a one-of-a-kind fall tree—showing not just the beauty of the season, but also the growth happening in each child’s hands and mind.

This month, we are exploring the work of Piet Mondrian, a Dutch painter best known for his bold use of geometric shapes & primary colors. Mondrian believed that all shapes could be broken down into simple geometric forms, & that every color could be created from the three primaries—red, yellow, and blue. The children have been discovering his art through stories, studying his original works, and experimenting with their own unique renditions. 1. Invitation to Explore Geometric Shapes & Primary Colors on the Light Table: This exploration we took to the light table. To spark curiosity, we provided Picasso Tiles in red, yellow, & blue. To mimic Mondrian’s signature bold lines we arranged  Colorations® black masking tape on the light table . The children were invited to design their own compositions, experimenting with patterns, shapes, spatial awareness, & quadrilateral figures. This type of invitation does so much more than introduce children to a famous artist. It: Encourages problem-solving and creative thinking Strengthens spatial reasoning and design skills Promotes awareness of shapes, patterns, and symmetry Inspires children to reimagine art in new mediums Builds confidence in expressing their own ideas and perspectives Children naturally love to build, design, & experiment, which makes the light table an ideal setting for artistic discovery. By blending art, engineering, & play, this invitation challenges them to think beyond the traditional canvas, take inspiration from Mondrian, & discover that art can be created in many forms & spaces. When children engage with art in this way, they aren’t just learning about shapes and colors—they’re learning to see possibilities everywhere. 2. Piet Mondrian 3-D Abstract Art:  For this process art invitation, we took Mondrian’s style off the canvas &  turned it into three dimensions! Using recycled cardboard boxes we wrapped it in white butcher paper, & transformed simple materials into abstract sculptures. We used the same black masking tape to form quadrilateral patterns, & provided the primary colors tempera paint & brushes. The children were invited to paint. Along the way, they explored how primary colors mix to create new shades & learned to recognize quadrilateral figures in their designs. Invitations like this give children the freedom to explore art in fresh & exciting ways. Exposure to diverse artistic styles not only expands their creativity but also helps them become more curious & open-minded thinkers. Art in early childhood lays the foundation for imagination, inquiry, reflection, & critical thinking, while teaching children to see the world through many different lenses. Every brushstroke, every pattern, & every splash of color is another step toward building confident, creative learners who see beauty everywhere. Here are more ways to explore the artist: Mondrian 2 Ways ,   Piet Mondrian 3-D Abstract Ar t.

Lisa Murphy , founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc. , has over 30 years of experience in early childhood education. She’s a globally recognized author, keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for play-based learning. Lisa has brought tremendous magic and insight to the field, inspiring educators everywhere to do what’s best for children in their earliest years. Today, we tried one of her famous activities—Nylon Splat Painting! Here’s how we did it: We filled nylon stockings with rice, dried beans, and popcorn , then tied them securely. A large piece of butcher paper was laid out, and bowls of vibrant fluorescent paint were set up. Children used step stools and chairs to dip the stockings into the paint and splatter them from different heights. As the paint fell, it created the most epic splashes, patterns, and colors! Splat painting is a type of action art, where the focus is on the process, not just the finished product. These messy, joyful projects support children’s growth in so many ways: Builds motor skills: Big movements strengthen muscles and coordination, while also developing fine motor skills for writing later. Encourages creativity: Open-ended exploration with colors and textures sparks imagination and problem-solving. Supports sensory & emotional growth: Provides healthy outlets for energy and emotions while engaging multiple senses. Promotes teamwork: Group projects foster cooperation, sharing, and communication. Makes learning joyful: Active art keeps children engaged and builds a lifelong love of creating. Messy? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely! Activities like this help children learn, grow, and have fun all at the same time.

This month, our Artist of the Month is none other than Pablo Picasso—the Spanish artist who forever changed the world of art. We’ve been diving into beautifully written picture books about his life and work, exploring the many ways he created, experimented, and inspired generations. Picasso is often celebrated as a pioneer of Cubism—a style where objects and faces are reimagined through geometric shapes and unexpected angles. His portraits often looked like whimsical, “funny faces,” full of personality and surprise. To bring this style to life for our young learners, we set up an invitation inspired by Picasso’s Cubist portraits. We provided: Images o f Picasso’s cubist works for inspiration, face outlines as a canvas , Loose parts including grapat pieces, acrylic cubes , translucent and colored pebbles, acrylic shapes , wooden gem rocks, and more. The children were invited to explore these materials and design their own playful renditions of Picasso-style portraits. Working with loose parts offers endless opportunities for exploration and growth: Spatial awareness, arranging pieces inside, outside, or around shapes builds an understanding of space and proportion. Art appreciation, children are introduced to different forms of art while learning to look closely at details. Language development, conversations naturally flow as children describe what they see, how they are building, or the “story” behind their portrait. Fine motor skills, manipulating small pieces strengthens hand–eye coordination and dexterity. Color & shape recognition, sorting, choosing, and layering parts encourages visual discrimination and design thinking. Most importantly, since loose parts are dynamic by nature. There is no right or wrong way to use them, which gives children the freedom to experiment, reimagine, and express themselves—just like Picasso. Here are other ways to explore the artist 2 ways , one way.

Teaching children about the beauty of diversity is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and understanding world.By introducing children to at a young age to different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, we can help them develop empathy, respect, and a sense of global citizenship. This early exposure to diversity equips children with the skills to navigate an increasingly interconnected world and appreciate the richness that different viewpoints bring.  We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America  by   Lisa Westberg Peters    (Author),  Victoria Tentler-Krylov    (Illustrator) is a  lyrical and extremely timely picture book that  illuminates the many different migrants who have made their homes in North America through the centuries.  After reading this story we wanted to further extend the literacy experience by teaching them how " Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together, make this world a beautiful garden. Rumi This  saying  is a lovely and widely shared sentiment that emphasizes the unique beauty and value of each child.Like a garden with diverse flowers, the world is enriched by the individuality and different qualities that children bring.  We set an invitation to celebrate all children of the world and highlight the importance of embracing diversity and nurturing each child's unique beauty. In our Discount School Supply tuff tray we placed expired beans that we have been using for years, pots , gardening tools, flowery sensory stones , flower garden building set , wooden photo blocks of multicultural people , & differently abled play people . The children were invited to create and explore the beauty of how our differences can make a beautiful garden.

We are exploring diverse cultures & places around the world, so we read The Shape of Home written and illustrated by @rashin.kheiriyeh. This story follows an Iranian girl’s 1st day of school in America. Through Rashin’s eyes, everything she encounters feels different—the foods, the letters in the books, & even the children and families. When her teacher asks the class to imagine the “shape of home” on a map, it opens up a conversation about where each child’s family originally comes from. This book was a wonderful way to spark discussion about respecting & celebrating differences, learning about cultural traditions, & appreciating where people come from. After reading, we extended the literacy experience by providing tools that encouraged the children to both honor their differences & recognize that we all share the same home—planet Earth. Together, we saw our diversity makes the world beautiful. The children were invited to collaborate on an art project: painting the shape of our shared home, Earth. Using recycled cardboard boxes, packaging materials, & paper rolls, the children created a large globe. They were given @colorationsart tempera paint with easel brushes to bring it to life. Next, they decorated cut-out figures to represent the diverse children of our school using Colors Like Me shape cut-outs & tempera paint sticks. Teaching young children in collaborative ways that highlight our differences—while reminding them that we are all human—is crucial for fostering empathy, understanding, and inclusivity. It helps children develop a positive sense of self because they feel seen, appreciate diversity as they are introduced to new experiences, and learn to challenge biases when they encounter them. Early exposure to meaningful conversations and diverse representation in their environment sets the foundation for positive interactions in the world we share. Here is another way to explore the same book through STEM.

Since rice is a staple food for over half of the world’s population, it provided a wonderful and relatable medium for exploration during Master Chef Week . We set up the tuff tray station with rice, bowls, measuring cups, pitchers, food dispensers , and sensory food stones representing fruits , vegetables, breads , foods of the world, and multicultural foods . The children loved imagining, creating, mixing, measuring, and “cooking” their favorite recipes. Pouring stations offer endless opportunities for engagement and learning. As children pour, scoop, and transfer materials from one container to another, they naturally develop an understanding of capacity while exploring concepts such as more/less, same/different, many/few, empty/full, before/after, and greater than/less than. This activity also strengthens cognitive skills through cause and effect, while supporting hand-eye coordination as children carefully maneuver the materials. Children begin grasping measurement concepts as early as infancy, often without formal instruction. Their minds naturally apply measurement in daily activities. By building on these early, intuitive understandings—both formally and informally—we help them expand vocabulary and deepen comprehension of measurement and comparison through hands-on exploration. Experiences like this lay a strong foundation for mathematics at a young age, because children are free to experiment and learn in their own way. Hands-on activities engage multiple senses and learning styles, leading to better retention of new concepts and stronger mathematical thinking. Play like this activates and strengthens neural pathways as children use and develop multiple skill sets. That’s why we say play builds brains —providing open-ended, playful opportunities fosters curiosity, creativity, and higher-level thinking in young children.

We're excited to share five versatile ways we use our Children's Factory flexible seating cube chairs in Early Childhood Environments! These chairs are available in both primary , neutral colors ( elements pictured here ), + more. All are great inclusve doptiosn and can serve different classroom styles and needs of all children. They offer a 3-in-1 design, where they can be a 6-inch tall chair for younger children, a 9-inch tall seat as kids grow, or flipped on their side to serve as a table or stool. Made from durable yet lightweight material, they come fully assembled, and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use all year long. Here are some ways we incorporate them into our daily Early Childhood  Environments. 1. Sensory Table: Their adaptable features make them perfect for any sensory or tuff tray table setup. 2. Large Scale Art: We use them as stools when children need to reach higher areas during large-scale art projects. (They are SUPER easy to clean) 3. Comfy Corners: They are ideal for creating cozy reading nooks or quiet corners, functioning as both chairs and tables. 4. Dramatic Play Area: They are a fantastic addition to any dramatic play space, offering flexible seating and surfaces. 5. Lego Table: You can easily integrate them into various activity areas, such as a dedicated Lego table. Or any other center.

The  delightful story The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, shares the journey of a girl named Vashti who discovers her inner artist through a single dot. Inspired by her story, we invited the children to express their creativity by painting dots in three unique ways: Today after reading the story we invited the children to  " Just make a mark and see where it takes you."   Here are the  three different ways to they sparked their free spirited creativity just like Vashti.  1. Freeform Dots:  On our first wall, we used tan butcher paper as a base, tempera paint , paint cups, easel brushes , and encouraged the children to paint a variety of dots in different sizes. 2. Negative Space Exploration: For the second wall, we used construction paper with a cut-out dot, inviting the children to paint around it and explore the concept of negative space. 3. Dot Collage: Our third wall featured an assortment of paper plates, bowls, and cupcake liners, where children could create their own dot masterpieces on various circular surfaces.

Freezing any type of toys, loose parts, nature, or special ingredients always makes for a great way to explore science. We froze acrylic ice rocks in water & provided an array of tools to invite the children to become miners & gemologists. In our C osy Direct White Tuff Tray we placed the mirror insert to provide a more reflective setting. In our Learning Resources beakers we placed pipettes, jumbo droppers , wooden mallets, colorations brushes , magnifying glasses , & water. The children worked together using different techniques with the tools to release the gems from the ice.  Ice excavation is a hands-on, fun sensory educational activity that not only teaches scientific concepts but also promotes important life skills like patience, problem-solving, and a greater appreciation for the natural world. This hands-on activity, deeply rooted in experiential learning, supports various areas of growth during a child’s formative years. Through tactile stimulation (cold ice, warm water enhances sense of touch) + the visual engagement (gradual unveiling hidden objects stimulate their senses) all helps their sensory development. Through observing the objects going from a solid to liquid states it helps cause & effect. Deciding between the tools and what techniques (melting, chipping, burshing) challenges their cognitive thinking. Utilizing the tools helps refine their fine motor skills. Witnessing how the water and tools interact introduces basic scientific concepts (temperature + state changes). They expand and build their vocabulary using words like melt, freeze, excavate, gems, mining, etc. Successfully excavating the gems provides a sense of accomplishment and when done in a group setting promotes collaboration which all helps their social emotional development. Through all of this discovery invitations such as this fosters a sense of wonder and creativity through imaginative play.

We learned all about the fascinating reptiles with unique features SNAKES. They slither on the ground, are covered in scales, smell with their tongues, & can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Below are some more cool facts that we talked about after reading some books and then we explored this sensory filled small world play of what a snake habitat is like.   Snakes can't blink because they don't have eyelids. Snakes can swallow prey that is bigger than their heads thanks to flexible jaws.  Snakes are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature changes with their surroundings. Snakes shed their skin regularly, like a snake-shaped sock. Snakes smell with their forked tongues, which they flick in & out to gather information.  Venomous snakes often have a triangular head, elliptical (cat-like) pupils, & heat-sensing pits between their eyes & nostrils. Non-venomous snakes usually have round pupils & a more uniformly shaped head.  Constrictors  kill by squeezing their prey, not by venom. Snakes don't hibernate, they enter a state called brumation, where they slow down & conserve energy during cold weather. There are over 3k different types of snakes in the world. They are important for the ecosystem by helping control populations of rodents & other pests.   To set up this tuff tray we placed  Excellerations® Spectacular Sensory Sand , which is a unique textural sand that molds easily and holds its shape while providing a satisfying tactile experience that oozes through fingers like liquid, while leaving fingers dry. Other items we placed in the snake habitat were: snake figurines, branches, log, rocks, eggs, flat marbles & succulents/cacti. They had a slithering good time.