sensory

Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin

May 26, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

It is common to see bees hovering around sunflowers, as bees love the generous supply of nectar and pollen that sunflowers produce. Bees pollinate sunflowers so are helpful to these giant-headed flowers in return. Their relationship is the inspiration for this bee and sunflower sensory bin.

Sensory Bin Supplies

_______

In searching for supplies, my first stops are always at discount or dollar stores. This is often all that is needed to add specialty items to a sensory setup. The following locally found supplies are in this insect and flower sensory bin:

honeycomb ice cube tray
honey pot and dippers
sunflower-themed spatula
bee figurine
artificial sunflowers
bumblebee stickers
pompoms
pearl beads
spatula
bowl and spoon

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more fun early learning ideas.

_______

The Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin

White glutinous rice, one of my favorite supplies, is the bee and sunflower sensory bin base. The bin itself is a bus tub, another favorite accessory.

A honeypot and honeycomb ice cube tray are eye-catching feature accessories.

_______

Artificial sunflower heads and a sunflower-themed spatula represent the sunflower theme.

_______

In addition to one life-like bee figurine, bumblebee stickers without the white paper-backing removed provide opportunities for counting and sorting.

_______

Pearl beads and pompoms in various sizes add interest and offer fine motor and eye-hand coordination opportunities.

Preschoolers love sensory play, and setting up a bee and sunflower-themed sensory bin for your little charges will surely have them buzzing with excitement.

_______

Honeycomb Cereal Necklace Lacing

A fun honeycomb cereal "snowflake" necklace lacing activity that is great for fine motor control and eye-hand coordination practice.

_______

Spider Theme Activities

Green Huntsman Spider Activities

_______

[Read more…]

Reptile Active World Tray

May 14, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

A reptile active world tray is a great way to introduce animals such as snakes, lizards, and turtles to young children. Having a chance to explore these reptiles in a small world helps alleviate fears surrounding these scaly animals.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

_______

The following supplies are in the reptile active world tray:

snake, lizard, frog, and insect figurines
fillable eggs
artificial palm branches and grass panels
wood logs and slices
recycled toilet paper and paper towel rolls
rocks

_______

The Reptile Active World Tray

_______

A large active world tray nicely holds a few artificial grass panels and the other sensory supplies. A bus tub or round saucer are good sensory tray bin alternatives.

Various-sized snake and lizard figurines add variety to the tray.

Frog and insect figurines serve as prey for the snakes and lizards to eat.

Toilet paper and paper towel rolls make perfect hollow logs for snakes to hide in.

_______

Fillable eggs are just the right size for tiny lizard hatchlings and snakelets to break out of.

Artificial palm branches provide ground cover.

And wood logs, wood slices, and rocks add natural elements to the reptile active world tray.

_______

Reptile Theme Activities

Reptile Egg Science

Sea Turtle Theme Activities

Turtle Pond Sensory Bin

Turtle Christmas Craft

_______

[Read more…]

Space Loose Parts Play

April 17, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Loose parts are a highlight in any play center, and they certainly shine in a space theme. Sorted in a tray, they are ready for all kinds of outer space loose parts play. The outer space-themed supplies can be added to a rice bin, water play bin, or playdough invitation. The out-of-this-world loose parts have other great uses as well.

_______

Space Loose Parts Supplies

_______

The following economical and easy-to-find supplies are in the space loose parts tray:

space-ship shaped bubble blowing containers
star-shaped buttons
thin bracelets
orange and white ping pong balls
glow in the dark stars, stones, and pebbles
space-themed erasers
marbles
rubber balls
sun and star-shaped acrylic gems
yellow pickleball balls
astronaut and spaceship toys

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Space Loose Parts Tray

_______

Repurposed spaceship-shaped bubble blowing containers with screw-top lids work well in sensory bin activities and are super fun to use.

Glow-in-the-dark stars and star-shaped buttons help create vivid night skies. The stones and pebbles serve as space rocks.

Yellow pickleball balls represent a lighted, crater-filled moon.

Various kinds and colors of small balls and marbles can be reimagined as planets or moons, and the bracelets make great planetary rings.

Iridescent sun and star-shaped acrylic gems add beauty to outer space play activities.

Mini astronaut and spaceship toys and erasers extend imaginative play.

_______

Space Loose Parts Play

The colorful rubber balls in the space loose parts play tray can be used in large motor activities.

The space-themed buttons, glow-in-the-dark stars, rocks, bracelets, erasers, and acrylic gems make great loose parts in outer space pretend play.

The supplies in the tray are perfect for a space-themed transient art invitation.

_______

The outer space supplies shine in a rice sensory bin or water play setup.

_______

And the supplies are tantalizing in a playdough invitation.

_______

_______

[Read more…]

Watercolor Rainbows With Markers

April 6, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Making watercolor rainbows with markers is one of the easiest and most fun art activities for early learners to do. Preparation time is minimal, and the art project is stunning every time.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Only the following few supplies are needed for this gorgeous watercolor art project:

eye droppers or pipettes
paper towel roll
set of 10 water-based markers
paint pot with water
ice cream pail lid
reusable tablecover

_______

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Watercolor Rainbows With Markers Art Project

To offer this fun watercolor art project, set out a sample rainbow drawing, a paper towel roll sheet, and a set of water-based markers.

Discuss the colors of the rainbow, and the acronym ROYGBIV. Explain that this acronym stands for the order of colors in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Invite participants to draw a rainbow, starting with a red curved line near the edges of their paper towel sheet.

Tip: To make it easier for young children, draw a large red half circle on each paper towel sheet using an ice cream pail lid as a guide. Then ask participants to draw in the rest of the curved lines of the rainbow.

_______

After each child has finished their rainbow drawing, direct them to a table with eye droppers or pipettes and paint pots filled with water. Ask participants to drop water on their rainbow with the droppers. They will absolutely love this part of the art activity.

Let the beautiful rainbow art dry overnight and display it.

_______

Note: Children may draw their rainbows in a unique color pattern. That is just fine…the rainbows will look beautiful in any color order.

_______

More Eye Dropper Art

Eye Dropper Leaf Art

Gorgeous Eye Dropper Art

Eye Dropper Pumpkin Art

Eye Dropper Heart Art

_______

More Watercolor Art

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Pump Bottle Watercolor Art

Unicorn Watercolor Art

Watercolor Planets With Markers

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

_______

[Read more…]

Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

March 23, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

There are a lot of great educational toys for the light table, and I regularly collect them. Routine shopping trips can lead to beautiful, unexpected finds for the center. This Easter bunny light table activity was assembled after a prize find on one of my run-of-the-mill trips.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Easter Bunny Light Table Supplies

_______

The following supplies are in this effortless Easter bunny light table activity:

transparent tabletop bunnies
bunny candy holders
transparent plastic egg garland
large clear bowl
clear reusable egg tray
clear plastic egg carton

_______

The Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

Transparent acrylic and polyester tabletop bunnies were the unique find and are the inspiration for this Easter light table activity.

_______

Bunny candy holders, easily picked up at dollar stores, add variety to the bunny collection.

_______

Plastic eggs in transparent spring colors cut from an Easter garland are set in a clear bowl for sorting.

_______

A clear reusable egg tray and a clear plastic egg carton are the sorting containers.

_______

More Easter Light Table Ideas

To keep things simpler, skip the transparent bunnies and go with bunny candy holders, transparent fillable Easter eggs, egg trays, and round acrylic gems.

_______

For more light play fun, set out Easter bunny, chick, and carrot candy holders along with light-up Easter chicks and acrylic gems for little learners to explore.