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Colors of Fall Sensory Bin

October 13, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall is full of bright and bold hues, and so is this Colors of Fall sensory bin. Brilliant flowers and vibrant, plentiful leaves star in the gorgeous sensory invitation. The autumn sensory bin celebrates the end of our growing season, as the weather is about to become a lot colder, and leaves and flowers will soon dry out.

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Supplies in the Fall Sensory Bin

The following are the supplies used in this autumn-themed bin:

fall leaves
flowers
small rocks
twigs
squirt bottles
liquid watercolors
pitchers of water
mortar and pestle sets
eye droppers
bowls and spoons
cups

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The Colors of Fall Sensory Bin

As displayed in many of my other sensory invitations, the bin for this fall sensory activity is a large active world tray. It’s great for a group of children to explore together. The activity would work equally well in a smaller bin, with children taking turns to participate.

The many leaves in the octagonal bin come from the trees and plants in my yard. Lots have turned red, orange, yellow, or brown. Others remain green in the fall season.

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The flowers are also from my yard, picked just before the freezing nights that end their growing season.

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Clear squirt bottles hold water with a little orange, magenta, green, or blue liquid watercolors mixed in.

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Paired with the squirt bottles, pitchers filled with water offer many opportunities for color mixing and potion making in bowls and clear cups.

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Including eye droppers allows for more fub colored water squirting.

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Mortar and pestle sets are always a hit.

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Beautiful red and yellow Bergenia leaves are quickly set aside by some participants as treasures to keep.

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Magenta-hued water and bright flowers prove to be a highlight of the sensory experience.

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After a long time of engaging in sensory bin exploration, the colored water becomes a drawing tool for transient art on nearby pavement.

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A rock border adds a finishing touch to a heart-themed transient art creation.

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This Colors of Fall sensory bin is an awesome nature-themed activity, and is one of the most economical play-based learning ideas. The natural materials are a free filler. Most of the other supplies are reusable for other sensory play activities and are suitable for dramatic play setups.

What do you think?

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More Fall Activities

Fall Drip Ice Cake

Fall Pom Pom Tree Craft

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Fall Scissor Skills Activities

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[Read more…]

Chalk Paint Cave Art

August 16, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Chalk paint is easy to make and oh so fun to use. It is a superb choice for a chalk paint cave art project, as it dries with a powdery finish that looks a lot like the natural pigments used in real caves.

Cave art was created by people who lived long ago. Deep inside caves on walls and ceilings, our ancestors made pictographs and etchings of wild animals such as deer, horses, bears, mammoths, and rhinos. They also created symbols, geometric patterns, handprints, and people.

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Creating Cave Drawings

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Before introducing the chalk paint cave art project, an optional activity is to show children pictures of ancient cave art and explain that people long ago made pigments from natural materials like minerals, charcoal, and finely ground clay. Then set out pastels and chunky crayons along with a sheet of brown Kraft paper, and invite participants to create cave drawings.

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Introducing Chalk Paint

After children are familiar with cave art and have participated in the drawing activity, mix chalk paint colors in paint pots or a tempera cake tray. Since cave artists often used the hues black, white, yellow, red, and brown, these are paint colors in my tray.

Find the chalk paint recipe here: Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Then place a large sheet of brown cardboard on the ground, along with the chalk paints and brushes. Or position the large cardboard sheet against an outside wall or fence to simulate cave painting. Invite children to do a collaborative art project using the paints.

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With these bold colors, the chalk paint looks super bright at first. As the paint dries, it transforms into earth tones with a soft, matte finish. The chalk-like look resembles some of the materials used by Earth’s earliest artists.

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Chalk Paint Cave Art Follow-up Activity

Our ancestors did not have the paints and paintbrushes we have access to today. Aside from creating paints from natural materials, they used sticks, leaves, feathers, and animal hair to apply the paints. As a next activity, invite children to design paintbrushes from these materials and use them with the chalk paint.

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[Read more…]

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint

August 12, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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For quite some time now, it has been on my list to make homemade sidewalk chalk paint. I’ve seen people rave about it online, so I was eager to give it a try. My version is slightly different from recipes I’ve seen, but it has equally stunning results.

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Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint Supplies

For this bright sidewalk chalk paint, gather the following supplies:

tempera paint in a variety of colors
cornstarch
water
paint pots
tempera cake trays (optional)
paintbrushes
paper towel sheets

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Making the Sidewalk Chalk

There are only two ingredients, in addition to water, needed for this simple sidewalk chalk paint. So easy!

To start, pour a layer of tempera paint in different colors into paint pots. My paints are black, white, orange, yellow, red, and brown. I chose the bold hues so I could also use them in a cave art activity.

Note: Food coloring or liquid watercolors are typically used in chalk paint recipes. Tempera paint is a fine substitute and was perfect for my color choices.

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Next, add water to fill the pots about half full and mix well.

Then spoon a few tablespoons of cornstarch into the colored liquid and stir well again. Aim for a thickened liquid that doesn’t turn into oobleck. Add a little more cornstarch or water if needed to make the proper consistency.

Invite children to help make the paints…they’ll love the opportunity to participate.

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The Sidewalk Chalk Paint Art Process

When the paints are mixed, add paintbrushes to the paint pots. Or pour the paints into tempera cake trays for an attractive presentation.

When the homemade sidewalk chalk paint colors are mixed, add paintbrushes to the paint pots. Or pour the paints into tempera cake trays for an attractive presentation.

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Invite participants to paint a section of a sidewalk. If using tempera cake trays, have them wipe their brush on a section of paper towel between colors to keep the hues bright.

The paint goes on thick and bright, offering a satisfying result. The paint colors look chalky when they dry.

When the painting activity is complete, simply spray down the decorated sidewalk areas with a garden hose. Or leave the artwork as is to fade away over time.

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More Process Art Activities

Recycled Cardboard Process Art

Pump Bottle Watercolor Art

String Painting Snake Art

Pumpkin Painting Process Art

Valentine’s Day Process Art

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[Read more…]

Recycled Cardboard Process Art

June 22, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If you are looking for an easy-to-set-up, inexpensive, intriguing art activity, this recycled cardboard process art invitation fits the bill. It is an effortless art invitation that yields beautiful results. The activity is a good choice for Earth Day or anytime of the year.

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Supplies to Collect

Cardboard pieces with interesting shapes are perfect for this unexpected process art painting activity. Gather the following:

cardboard protective packaging
egg filler flats
thinned tempera paint
paint pots and brushes
large sensory tray

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Preparing the Recycled Cardboard Art Activity

A large active world tray is my go-to for this art activity. Place it indoors or outdoors on a stand or table. Or use an art table with a protective table cover.

Next, set recycled cardboard pieces in the sensory tray. Protective packaging and egg filler flats are good choices.

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Then pour paint into paint pots and mix in a little water to make it thinner. Add brushes, and set the pots around the cardboard molds. That’s it!!!

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The Recycled Cardboard Process Art Activity

A group of children can participate in this open-ended art activity with recyclables. Invite them to pick a spot to paint the three-dimensional shapes in the tray.

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When two children work on one cardboard shape the art activity is collaborative. While working on different sections of a piece, one child creates a frigid northern landscape, while the other chooses contrasting paint colors.

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A square egg filler flat inspires creating mini volcanoes with bright orange paint.

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The thinned tempera paints use fewer resources, cover the textured cardboard easily, and allow for spatter painting.

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Children may use the recycled cardboard pieces in other art projects when the paint dries.

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Benefits of the Recycled Cardboard Art Activity

In this cost-effective recycled cardboard art activity, children

participate in a relaxing, calming process art activity.
paint on novel, textured three-dimensional objects.
recognize patterns and design them with paint.
mix colors to create new ones (making brown is always a favorite.)
build hand strength and coordination while using paint and brushes.
have the freedom to paint without feeling pressure to produce a completed art project.
experience a collaborative art environment.
learn the value of recycling and reusing materials creatively.

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More Process Art Activities

Salt Painting Planet Art

Pump Bottle Watercolor Art

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Painting With Corn

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Squeegee Painting Heart Art

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[Read more…]

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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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…]