Putting The Pretty In Preschool – Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Salt Painting Sensory Bin

June 15, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This gigantic salt painting sensory tray is inspired by the many eye-catching salt trays I’ve seen online over the years. In this activity, children are invited to color salt in a huge sensory tray and draw, design, and sculpt with the wet salt.

Salt is inexpensive and has a sand-like texture. It is taste-safe, non-perishable, and easy to color in many beautiful hues.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this silky salt-based sensory bin:

4 boxes of salt
food coloring
paint pots
eye droppers or pipettes
small bowls
clear storage containers
tablespoons
toothed scraping tools

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Setting Up the Salt Painting Sensory Tray

This low-cost sensory activity is effortless to set up and works splendidly indoors or outdoors.

If doing the activity indoors, set a large, low-edged sensory tray on a table or stand made for the tray. This light, transportable active world tray, also called a tuff tray, is up to the task. Outside, if a table isn’t available, it rests on four stackable stools or patio end tables. So easy!

Tip: Outside, I recommend placing the sensory tray away from plants and grass since salt harms them.

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Next, add food coloring in a few hues to paint pots filled with water. Thinned tempera paints also work fine. Add eye droppers to the pots.

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Then add bowls and tablespoons for scooping and mixing, and toothed scrapers for creating designs.

Lastly, pour three boxes of salt into the tray. Reserve one box to sprinkle in more doses of salt periodically to add interest to the sensory invitation as children are playing.

The salt tray is ready to explore.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Exploring the Salt Painting Sensory Tray

This salt painting sensory tray is suitable for a group of children to explore. Invite participants to drip paint onto the salt and mix it in. They will love the coloring process and delight in mixing colors in the bowls and clear containers.

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They’ll naturally pick up the tools to make designs in the salt.

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Periodically add more salt to the bin so they can continue mixing and changing the colors.

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As the salt gets wetter, children may mold cakes and other items from the salt. When this happens, the scrapers make excellent slicers!

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When children are finished investigating the salty tray, have a water source nearby so they can wash up easily.

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Benefits of the Salt Painting Sensory Tray

Exploring a salt tray and mixing colors is a relaxing and satisfying science and sensory activity. Salt trays are also popular as prewriting invitations. Children experience a novel way to practice tracing and writing lines, letters, numbers, and shapes, using at least two of their senses. They develop eye-hand coordination and refine fine motor skills.

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More Sensory Activities

Salt and Glue Moon Art

Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Salt Painting Planet Art

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[Read more…]

Dandelion Sensory Tray

June 3, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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With their cheery, bright color and ability to grow profusely in many different places, dandelions are super noticeable during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. All parts of dandelions are safe for handling and are edible, so the weedy flower is suitable for many educational activities.

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Young children delight in an early spring sighting of a field of dandelions, and the first thing they often excitedly do is make a bouquet of fluffy yellow flowers for their mom or teacher. After the petals fall off, a puffball forms on each plant, which children love to blow. This dandelion sensory tray allows early learners to explore the fast-growing, nutritious plant in another way.

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Supplies to Collect

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Since dandelions grow on lawns, in parks, and in many other environments, collecting them for a flower nature sensory tray is quick and easy. Gather a bunch of dandelion flowers and leaves from an area where no pesticides have been used. Include large plants if available. As shown in many of my other nature sensory bins, the following supplies make suitable accessories:

non-breakable vases or storage jars
pitchers with water
mortar and pestle sets
baking tins
spoons
scissors
small rocks

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Preparing the Dandelion Sensory Tray

Sensory bins are often one of the most effortless play invitations to offer, and this dandelion sensory tray is no exception.

First, set dandelions in small non-breakable vases or storage jars with water added.

Note: Wash the dandelions first if you have children participating who may put them in their mouths.

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Next, add two or more pitchers filled with cool water.

Then arrange place settings with baking tins and spoons.

Add a few mortar and pestle sets, and two or more pairs of scissors.

Lastly, sprinkle small stones and more dandelions around the bin. The tray is now ready for participants to investigate.

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Exploring the Dandelion Sensory Tray

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Children welcome sensory experiences of any kind, and this dandelion play invitation is sure to delight. The flower-filled tray offers the following benefits:

Smelling fresh dandelions exercises the sense of smell.

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Hand and finger muscles are strengthened when children pluck and separate the flower petals.

Using a mortar and pestle to crush and grind dandelions improves eye-hand coordination and strengthens arm and shoulder muscles.

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Cutting dandelions into bits facilitates skill in using scissors.

Exploring the supplies in the bin and including water in the experience is a calming activity that helps children regulate their emotions and focus their attention.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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More Nature-based Sensory Bins

Tea Party Water Play

Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

Lilac Flower Sensory Trays

Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]

Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

May 31, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Bergenia plants are easy to grow, and the beautiful bell-shaped flowers pop up in early spring. Before the dainty blooms die, consider using them in a sensory bin. The bell-shaped flowers and glossy evergreen leaves offer a unique sensory experience in this Bergenia flower nature bin.

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Before including it in a sensory play activity, it’s always good to check if a plant is toxic. I was happy to learn that NO part of the Bergenia plant is toxic for humans to touch or consume. The plant is also non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

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Supplies To Collect

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Gather the following supplies for this flower-themed sensory bin:

Bergenia flowers, stems, and leaves
small rocks
twigs
mortar and pestle
bowls
spoons
scissors
large sensory tray

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Preparing the Bergenia Flower Nature Bin

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The setup for this bloom-themed sensory bin is super simple. If offering the bin to a group, add place settings with bowls, spoons, mortar and pestles, and scissors to a large sensory bin. Active world trays are a great choice for the bin.

Next, place a non-breakable pitcher or vase with water and Bergenia flowers in the center and spread the large glossy leaves around it.

Then set in twigs and small rocks. The bin is now ready to investigate.

Exploring the Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

Invite participants to smell, feel, cut, mix, and grind the supplies in the sensory bin.

Explain that the Bergenia plant is also called “elephant ears” (because of the shape of the big, waxy leaves), or “pigsqueak” (because of the sound two leaves make when rubbed together.)

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Encourage children to rub two leathery Bergenia leaves together to make pigsqueak sounds.

Don’t be surprised if your little charges describe the leaves as being lettuce, and call the stems rhubarb, as this plant bears a resemblance to both.

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[Read more…]

Salt and Ice Science Experiment

May 20, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This salt and ice science experiment is simple to set up and fun to do. Just a few supplies are needed for this ice-cold science activity. It’s perfect on a hot day, and makes a good pirate theme or Mother’s Day activity.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this ice and salt science experiment:

food storage trays
food coloring
acrylic gems
bowl with salt
teaspoons
paint pot with water
eye droppers or pipettes
play tweezers
tray
safety glasses
waterproof table cover

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Preparing the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

To prepare this science experiment, freeze gems in ice for two or three days.

Start by adding a layer of water with a few squirts of food coloring stirred in to the bottom of a food storage tray. Liquid watercolor paint also works well to tint the water.

Next, spread a handful of acrylic gems in the liquid. Then, carefully set the tray in the freezer.

Remove the tray from the freezer and add more water and gems the following day. Freeze the tray overnight again.

The third day, the ice is ready for the science and sensory activity. Many gems will be near the surface of the ice, and some may be sticking out a little. This is fine for younger children.

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To add more challenge for older children, pour a thin layer of water over the frozen gem-filled ice and freeze the tray again before setting out the activity.

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The Salt and Ice Science Experiment

When the layers of water are frozen, remove the ice from the food storage tray and set it on a large, edged tray placed on a table protected with a waterproof table cover.

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Add a bowl of salt with a teaspoon, an eye dropper or pipette in a paint pot filled with water, and a small bowl ready for freed gems. Include a set of play tweezers and a second teaspoon on the tray.

Drip water and sprinkle salt on the ice, and pry out the gems using teaspoons and tweezers. The salt and ice help melt the ice, making the removal of gems quicker and easier. Note: Safety glasses are recommended for this activity as gems may pop out of the ice. Check freed gems for broken edges and discard them.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Variations of the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

For variety or to use supplies on hand, replace the acrylic gems in this salt and ice science experiment with pom poms or animal figurines. Ocean animal figurines are a popular choice for this activity.

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Skip adding food coloring to the water during the freezing process. Note: The ice will be a little clearer if you use filtered or distilled water.

Offer the activity to a group of children by freezing four or more trays of gem-filled water and setting the supplies for each participant in a large active world tray.

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Explaining the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Salt lowers the temperature of water. For this to happen, it must be in a solution with liquid water. The salt and water solution created in this experiment melts the ice quicker than letting the ice liquify on its own.

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Tying In Mother’s Day

This salt and ice science experiment is a perfect Mother’s Day activity. After freeing gems from ice, allow participants to pick one to glue to a Mother’s Day greeting that says “Mom, you’re a gem.” Allow them to save more gems in a small container to add to their treasure collection.

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More Activities With Ice

Hockey Game Small World

Paint Pour Ice Cake Sensory Play

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Painting Ice and Snow

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[Read more…]

Airplane Rice Sensory Bin

May 16, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This airplane rice sensory bin is easy to set up and pleasing to the eye. Putting it together is the perfect opportunity to practice how to dye rice in gorgeous blue hues.

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How to Dye Rice

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The process of dying rice is super simple and very satisfying! Gather the following supplies:

white rice
blue food coloring
vinegar
measuring cup
closable sandwich bags
teaspoon
parchment paper
large tray

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The Rice Dyeing Process

Dyeing rice is a quick process as rice doesn’t need much drying time. I feature basmati rice for the task, but any kind of white rice will work.

The first step in dyeing the grain is to measure one cup of rice into a closable sandwich bag.

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Next, drop in a teaspoon of vinegar.

Afterward, add three generous drops of blue or turquoise food coloring.

Seal the bag and shake and squeeze the contents until the blue color distributes evenly.
Note: An alternative to this method is to add a few teaspoons of vinegar to a jar and stir in the food coloring. Then spoon a teaspoon of colored vinegar into the rice-filled sandwich bag.

If the blue shade of the rice isn’t as dark as you would like, simply add a little more food coloring and vinegar to the bag and shake it some more.

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Lastly, spread the colored rice on a large serving tray covered with a sheet of parchment paper and leave it to dry for about twenty minutes. If you do not have parchment paper, just spread the rice on the tray. Any excess food color should wipe off pretty easily with a wet cloth.

The closable sandwich bag is reusable, and more batches of rice can be colored in it.

To add variety when dying multiple batches of rice, add a little more vinegar and food coloring to some bags. The mix of lighter and darker hues will add interest to a sensory bin. Using blue and turquoise food colors in different batches also adds contrast.

This activity is perfect for children to participate in, and it is bound to be a hit. Give each child a closable sandwich bag to measure in rice and color it. Or offer them a plastic storage container with a lid to dye the rice. As the ingredients are mixed, the container makes a shaker, adding a musical experience to the activity.

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The Airplane Rice Sensory Bin

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Putting together the airplane rice sensory bin is as easy as dying the rice. Simply pour the rice into a small storage bin. Add a few airplane figurines and some cotton balls for clouds. Or instead of the figurines, add popsicle stick or mini paper planes.