No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

  • Blog
  • About
    • Terms Of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
    • Advertise
    • In The Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Preschool Activities
  • crafts for kids
    Preschool Crafts
  • Preschool Books
  • sensory alphabet activity
    Letters & Numbers
  • For Teachers
  • Toddlers
  • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary

August 3, 2010 | 7 Comments

Sand Paper Cactus Craft

crafts for kids

I know I have already started getting ready for back to school but I am not ready to give up on the sun quite yet !  I was flirting with the idea of cleaning my art closet out while my son was at summer camp last week, and found a big piece of sand paper and this idea popped in my head.  Sand paper make such a perfect cactus and since you are finger painting this is a wonderful craft for multi-age groups too.

  1. Gather your materials. You will need some paper, sand paper, crayons or markers, scissors, glue and green paint.
  2. Start by drawing a cactus on your sand paper.
  3. Using the green paint finger paint your cactus. Talk about textures, how it feels, does your child like the way it feels?
  4. Let dry. While it’s drying draw a sun with crayons or markers on your paper.
  5. Cut the cactus out when dry.
  6. Add glue.
  7. Glue the cactus on!

Books About 5 Senses

my five senses

My Five Senses Big Book by Aliki is a great non fiction book about the 5 senses for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s simple but informative with clear pictures to help support the text . The author uses common things to help teach about the 5 senses like ice cream for taste, feeling a soft bunny for touch and hearing sirens. I like that is explains that sense can be used alone or all together and that the gift senses give us is awareness about the world around us.

five senses

Green Start: The Five Senses by IKids is a sweet book that focuses on the senses we use throughout our day as we explore our home and nature. Although the text covers all 5 senses it is not discussed overtly as “And when you smell this you are using your sense of smell” it’s a great little book to share with a toddler or young preschooler not ready for the more fact based non fiction books.

Look, Listen, Taste, Touch, and Smell: Learning About Your Five Sensesby Pamela Hill Nettleton is a really great find. The book doesn’t separate the senses, instead the author explains all the ways the senses work in specific situations. My son was intrigued by the ideas of smores and kept telling me “I want to smell and taste some smores Mommy, please!” I liked how it explained the connection between the areas of our bodies we associated with the senses ( mouth, eyes, nose, skin and ears) and the brain. The author succeeds in making it accessible for young kids but not boring for older ones. Good Find!!

Filed Under: 5 senses, Age Preschool, Age: Toddlers, Cactus, Preschool Crafts, Sandpaper Activities, Sense of Touch, Sensory Activities, Texture Activities | 7 Comments

Like this post? Share it with a friend!

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

nursery rhymes for preschoolseptember preschool activities for 3 year olds, 4 year olds an 5 year olds
Next Post: Character Memory Game
Previous Post: DIY Geoboard

7 Comments

  1. butterfly wishes and wonderland dreams says

    August 3, 2010 at 5:26 am

    that is such a cute idea we just got the book: catcus hotel now we can make this afterwards! 🙂

    to butterfly wishes and wonderland dreams" aria-label='reply to this comment to butterfly wishes and wonderland dreams'>reply to this comment
  2. Pawan says

    August 3, 2010 at 9:33 am

    Great idea! Very effective & I love how sensory it is.

    to Pawan" aria-label='reply to this comment to Pawan'>reply to this comment
  3. Amber says

    August 3, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    I love this idea, and I know my kids would, too.

    In fact, I bet you could use sandpaper for a bunch of other sensory crafts, too. Like a sandy beach, or the back of a dump truck. So many possibilities!
    .-= Amber´s last blog ..Soccer Mom =-.

    to Amber" aria-label='reply to this comment to Amber'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      August 4, 2010 at 7:58 am

      Ooh Amber I love the dump truck idea, my son would dig it!

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
  4. Sheri says

    July 22, 2012 at 11:30 am

    Wow, your blog is such an inspiration! Although my LO is just 6 months old and way too young for most activities, I have been browsing and admiring your amazing ideas for days now. Can’t wait to try all the wonderful crafts and art projects.
    I do have a question though: In one of the projects I saw your son biting happily in the plate with paint on it and I so could see my little daugther in it^^ So I was wondering, what kind of paint do you use that is toddler-safe?

    to Sheri" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sheri'>reply to this comment
    • admin says

      July 22, 2012 at 12:27 pm

      I use only non toxic paint both crayola, melissa & doug for the most part. Both conform to non toxic standards so while I wouldn’t encourage paint eating you don’t have to freak out if they decide to explore with their lips. However even better would be to make your own. A great one is this recipe: http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/03/homemade-edible-finger-paint-recipe.html

      to admin" aria-label='reply to this comment to admin'>reply to this comment
      • Sheri says

        July 22, 2012 at 1:49 pm

        Hey, thanks so much for your really fast answer 🙂 I guess I’ll try the selfmade paint then for now.

        to Sheri" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sheri'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search For Activities

Now In Paperback!

Buy NOW

All Activities

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flash Cards posts directly in your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Copyright © 2008-2023 • No Time For Flash Cards - ACM Media LLC • Site Design by Emily White Designs