Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

spring

Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt

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This Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt is a fun twist on the classic Easter egg hunt. It is simple and easy to prep, and lots of fun to play.

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Preparing the Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt

The printable set for this Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt is available in my Skills N Smiles Etsy shop. To prepare the game, purchase and download the listing.

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Next, print one copy of the “Hide the Bunnies” page, and cut out the bunny and egg pictures. Note: Printing this page on cardstock paper is recommended.

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Using tape gentle on surfaces, place the bunny pictures around your classroom, home, yard, or party space. Print one copy of recording sheet #2 and write down where each bunny is displayed or hidden.

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Then print a copy of the recording sheet for each person participating. There are two choices: 1) Mark off the found bunnies; 2) Write down where each bunny was found.

Have enough sharpened pencils to go along with the recording pages.

Lastly, print copies of the bunny coloring page and choose crayons, pencil crayons, or markers for the coloring activity.

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Optional: Prepare a treat bag or party bag for everyone who plays the game. Bunny and egg treats fit the theme beautifully. In addition to or instead of sweet treats, include items like gift cards, stickers, small toys, playdough, keychains, earbuds, jewelry, hair accessories and coins. Redemption prizes such as “pick the next family movie”, a coupon for an ice cream date, an extra story at bedtime, or “stay up one hour later” are also great ideas.

The Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt

In this Easter hunt, participants search for 9 unique bunny pictures placed around an area designated for the activity. Everyone can start the game at the same time, or be assigned to begin in groups.

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Give everyone a recording sheet and a sharpened pencil. Recording sheet #1 is optimal for younger children. Recording sheet #2 is perfect for older children. Explain where the hunt will take place, and whether the pictures will be visible without having to move things, or hidden.

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To keep the activity low-mess, tell everyone that they do not need to move anything to find the bunnies. To make the activity more challenging, hide the bunnies.

Keep the answer key and give clues to where the bunnies are hidden if needed.

As participants finish, give them the bunny coloring page and art media of choice and have them decorate the picture. This is a great activity to help everyone unwind.

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If desired, hand out treat bags or party bags after the festive activity is completed.

Benefits of the Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt

Besides being super enjoyable, the bunny hunt activity encourages literacy skills, movement, and observation.

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This bunny hunt Easter activity is budget-friendly and requires little time to set up and clean up afterwards. Having one treat bag instead of the time-consuming task of filling numerous eggs with treats or toys and accessories is also a plus.

Variation of the Easter Bunny Scavenger Hunt

Instead of doing a bunny hunt as an Easter activity, you can have a bunny scavenger hunt anytime in Spring with this Spring Bunny Scavenger Hunt Printable Game.

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More Easter Activities

Lentil Easter Bunny Sensory Bin

Easter Store Dramatic Play Center

Easter Clothespin Fine Motor Activity

Easter Bunny Light Table Activity

Dot Market Easter Bunnies

Paper Plate Easter Basket

Easter Peeps Houses

Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

Easter Playdough Tray

Easter Transient Art

Easter Bunny Sensory Bins

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Flower Potion Sensory Tray

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If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I love flowers and enjoy incorporating them in early learning activities. This flower potion sensory tray features vibrant flowers from my yard, colored water, and glitter for eye-appealing and super fun sensory play.

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Flower Potion Sensory Tray Supplies

Gather the following for this gorgeous sensory tray:

  • large sensory tray
  • squirt bottles
  • bowls and spoons
  • eye droppers or pipettes
  • mortar and pestle sets
  • pitchers
  • serving trays
  • liquid food coloring
  • glitter
  • shaving cream
  • leaves and flowers
  • small rocks

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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The Flower Potion Sensory Tray

An active world tray easily holds all the supplies for making potions.

Potions can be mixed in white bowls and wooden mortar and pestle sets. Pitchers of water provide the base for the concoctions.

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Squirt bottles with food coloring added to water allow for vibrant colors.

Small rocks and a selection of leaves and flowers are the natural materials included.

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Gold glitter adds a sparkly touch to the potions.

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Shaving cream adds a fluffy, foamy texture.

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Inserting large, clear cups gives more potion-making opportunities.

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Have you tried a flower potion sensory tray? Share in a comment below.

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More Activities With Flowers

Flower Treasure Blocks

Balloon Painting Flower Art

Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin

Contact Paper Flower Art

Flower Stand Dramatic Play Center

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Flower Treasure Blocks

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Flowers can be delicate and fierce simultaneously, making it hard for children to get up close to study them. The Alberta Wild Rose, with its fragile rosy-pink flowers and thick thorny stems, is one such flower. Rather than having children handle the prickly-stemmed blooms, flower treasure blocks are a good way to introduce the prickly rose.

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The Alberta Wild Rose is a hardy, bushy shrub that grows in sunny spots in the wild all over temperate regions in Canada. It is a low-maintenance plant that is drought-tolerant and fire-resistant. The plant is non-toxic, and the leaves and fruits are edible. The beautiful, five-petaled flowers with yellow stamens are easy to spot at this time of year.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this flower-themed science and sensory activity:

  • fillable treasure blocks
  • flowers, petals, leaves, and stems

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Introducing Flower Treasure Blocks

Fillable treasure blocks, also called window blocks, generally have wooden frames and clear panels. One side of each block is removable, so loose parts like buttons, beads, gems, or natural items such as flowers, leaves, pine cones, and twigs can be placed inside. The see-through blocks are a valuable resource for the home or classroom.

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Unscrew one side of each block and add flowers such as the Alberta Wild Rose or your favorite flowers to the blocks. Include the blooms, buds, leaves, and stems. Then screw the panels back on.

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Set the flower-filled blocks in a display corner or on a light table for children to observe. Or place them in a block corner with a variety of other blocks. Your little charges will be delighted to handle the see-through blocks and study what’s inside.

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Another Way to Display Flower Parts

Instead of using treasure blocks to display flowers, gently place their parts between two clear magnetic tiles.

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The Alberta Wild Rose showcases brilliantly between the tiles, and the flowers look gorgeous. I skipped adding the spiky stems since the magnetic tiles are easy to take apart.

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Related:

Skeleton Treasure Blocks

Christmas Treasure Blocks

Winter Treasure Blocks

Valentine’s Day Treasure Blocks

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

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Dandelion Sensory Tray

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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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Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

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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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