February is a special month where we celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. This year, why not combine learning with creativity by making a Black Invention Collage Craft? It’s a fun, interactive way to explore some of the incredible inventions by Black inventors that have changed the world. Plus, it’s a great craft for kids to get hands-on with history and express their creativity.
Activity Overview
- Age Suitability: This craft is good for toddlers aged children 2 years old and up with adult assistance.
- Mess Level: The mess level for this craft is medium.
- Difficulty to Create: Low.
Materials You’ll Need
- White card stock
- Pom Poms
- Washable paint
- Clothes pins
- Black inventions printable (download images for free below)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Black Construction Paper
Step by Step Instructions
- Prep Your Painting Tools: Clip a pom pom with a clothes pin to create a DIY paintbrush. Make several of these with different colors of washable paint. This is where you can get colorful and creative!
- Paint the White Card Stock: Use your pom pom brushes to dab paint all over the white card stock. Feel free to mix colors or keep it simple with just one or two. This is your chance to make a unique backdrop for your collage.
- Let It Dry: Set your painted card stock aside to dry. Depending on how much paint you used, it might take a little while. Patience is key!
- Prepare the Black Inventions Printable: While your paint is drying, cut out the inventions from your printable. These will be the main features of your collage, so make sure you cut around them carefully.
- Glue Your Inventions: Once your card stock is dry, start arranging your cut-out inventions on the paper. Play around with the layout until you’re happy with how it looks. Then, one by one, glue them in place. Once complete glue your collage to a sheet of black construction paper to create a border.
Tips for Success
- Layer Your Paint: Don’t be afraid to go back and add more paint layers for a textured look. Just make sure each layer is dry before adding another.
- Research Together: Before starting the craft, take some time to learn about the inventors and their inventions. This will make the activity more meaningful and educational.
- Display Your Work: Find a spot in your home to display the finished collage. It’s not just a craft; it’s a conversation starter about the importance of Black inventors in history.
Skills Learned
This craft is not just about having fun with paint and glue; it’s also a fantastic learning opportunity. Here’s what kids can learn:
- Creativity and Expression: Mixing colors and designing their collage allows children to express themselves creatively.
- Fine Motor Skills: Cutting with scissors and handling small objects like pom poms and clothes pins help improve fine motor skills.
- Historical Awareness: By featuring Black inventions, this craft introduces children to important figures in history and their contributions to society.
- Reading and Comprehension: Reading about the inventors and their inventions enhances reading skills and comprehension.
Creating a Black Invention Collage Craft is a wonderful way to celebrate Black History Month. It combines the joy of crafting with the importance of remembering and honoring the contributions of Black inventors. So, grab your materials, and let’s get crafting!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
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Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
Black Invention Collage Craft
Materials
- White card stock
- Pom Poms
- Washable paint
- Clothes pins
- Black inventions printable (you can find these online or in educational books)
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions
- Prep Your Painting Tools: Clip a pom pom with a clothes pin to create a DIY paintbrush. Make several of these with different colors of washable paint. This is where you can get colorful and creative!
- Paint the White Card Stock: Use your pom pom brushes to dab paint all over the white card stock. Feel free to mix colors or keep it simple with just one or two. This is your chance to make a unique backdrop for your collage.
- Let It Dry: Set your painted card stock aside to dry. Depending on how much paint you used, it might take a little while. Patience is key!
- Prepare the Black Inventions Printable: While your paint is drying, cut out the inventions from your printable. These will be the main features of your collage, so make sure you cut around them carefully.
- Glue Your Inventions: Once your card stock is dry, start arranging your cut-out inventions on the paper. Play around with the layout until you're happy with how it looks. Then, one by one, glue them in place.
