themes

Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

January 26, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

A smiling cat is popular in Lunar New Year décor. This cheerful cat decoration originated in Japan and is an ornament displayed all year round there. In Japanese it is called “maneki-neko”, meaning “beckoning cat”. The joy-filled cat has become popular in Chinese New Year celebrations, often called “Lucky Cat.” This Lucky Cat sensory bin incorporates the festive feline in a super fun early learning tactile activity.

_______

Lucky Cat Sensory Bin Supplies

_______

This playful Lunar New Year sensory bin contains the following supplies:

dyed chickpeas
Lucky Cat stuffed animal
miniature cat figurines
toy cat balls with bells
star-shaped snack cup and spoon
gold coins
gold bells
serving tray

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

_______

The Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

Many of my Lunar New Year sensory bins have a rice base. Rice fits the theme perfectly as it is a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine, often eaten at all three meals.

_______

Chickpea-based sensory bins are also a favorite. Chickpea dishes and snacks have become more popular in China in recent years. Most importantly, chickpeas are easy to dye red, a common Lunar New Year color. This Lucky Cat sensory bin features rows of chickpeas dyed in a few gorgeous colors for added beauty.

Note: To find out how to dye chickpeas view the blog post Unicorn Theme Sensory Play.

The joyful jingly Lucky Cat stuffie is the highlight of the bin. The cute character is the motivation for putting the sensory invitation together.

_______

Miniature cat figurines give more opportunities for more feline exploration.

Toy cat balls with bells are an unexpected sensory and musical addition.

Gold coins and bells fit the Lunar New Year theme, and are a standard go-to.

A star-shaped snack cup and spoon give opportunities for scooping and pouring.

_______

All the supplies are showcased in a round serving tray for one or two children to explore.

This Lucky Cat sensory bin is bound to be a hit with your little charges.

_______

More Lunar New Year Activities

Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

_______

Dragon Necklace Craft

Chinese New Year Sensory Play

Chinese Money Tree Activities

_______

Chinese New Year Pretend Play

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

_______

Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

Chinese Zodiac Sensory Bins

_______

[Read more…]

Cozy Gingerbread Sensory Bin

December 18, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

One of the most popular themes to offer at Christmas is a Gingerbread theme. Delightfully entertaining variations of the gingerbread boy story set the stage for endless hands-on gingerbread thematic activities for early learners. This cozy gingerbread sensory bin is a festive and fun tactile play invitation to include.

_______

Cozy Gingerbread Sensory Bin Supplies

_______

The following simple supplies are in this sweet cookie-themed sensory bin:

white rice or pinto beans
gingerbread storage container
fillable gingerbread man ornament
gingerbread cookie cutters
gingerbread baker ornaments
pony beads
pom poms
feathers
buttons
gingerbread-themed erasers
gingerbread man measuring scoop
paper snack sups
measuring spoon

_______

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Cozy Gingerbread Sensory Bin

This gingerbread sensory bin is inspired by a soft and fluffy winter sock spotted in a cozy clothing store.

As with many of my sensory invitations, the bin to hold all the supplies is a white bus tub. It is economical to buy, transportable, and large enough for two to three little learners to explore together.

Spotted, light brown dried pinto beans are the base. The neutral-toned beans provide all the color needed for the bin’s gingerbread cookie theme.

_______

A gingerbread treat tin and clear, fillable gingerbread ornament with the top removed are accessories to fill using the themed measuring scoop and spoon.

A trio of gingerbread baker ornaments with hooks for hanging removed serve as cookies, and gingerbread man erasers are reimagined as additional treats.

Pink, green, red, and white beads and buttons allow cookie cutters to be decorated.

_______

Similarly colored pom poms, feathers, and twisted pipe cleaner bits contribute a soft feel to the bin and are additional supplies for decorating.

_______

Benefits of the Cozy Gingerbread Sensory Bin

Sensory bin exploration offers early learners many benefits. They include

Practice using the senses of sight, hearing, and touch to explore the contents in the bin.
Developing hand-eye coordination and strengthening hand muscles by scooping, pouring, picking up, and arranging the supplies.
Expanding vocabulary by discussing colors, textures, and actions used to investigate the supplies.
Enhancing math skills by counting and sorting supplies.
Practicing social skills such as sharing and turn-taking.
Exercising creativity and engaging in imaginative play.

_______

Soft-Hued Gingerbread Sensory Bins

The cozy winter sock I mentioned serving as inspiration for the sensory play was designed in a white and soft pink color scheme. I added more colors in the bin above to match the gingerbread-themed accessories. But I couldn’t resist trying a few bins with a paired down pink and white color scheme. Below is a dried bean-based bin and two rice-based bins featuring accessories with these two colors. Gingerbread man lights add ambiance to the third bin.

_______

_______

_______

Aren’t the soft pink, white, and brown gingerbread-themed sensory bins oh-so-pretty?

_______

Related: Gingerbread Theme Pretend Play

_______

More Gingerbread Theme Activities

Click on the pictures below to access more gingerbread activities.

_______

[Read more…]

Gingerbread Theme Pretend Play

December 7, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Including a gingerbread theme in holiday festivities is super popular this time of year, and a large array of gingerbread-themed tableware and party supplies are available. That makes a gingerbread theme pretend play tablescape a perfect activity to introduce to early learners to help celebrate the season.

_______

Gingerbread Pretend Play Supplies

_______

Collecting supplies for gingerbread theme pretend play is easy and so much fun. Dollar stores are one of the best places to find them. The following items, many of which are gingerbread-themed were gathered for the festive baking-themed dramatic play setup.

ice cube tray
counters and erasers
flat ornaments
tins and spatula
cookie jar
cookie cutters
serving plate and cups
oven mitt and pot holder
disposable plates
artificial poinsettia sprig
metallic bead necklaces
jingle bells
large red and white pom poms
cookie pan
white tablecloth

_______

The Gingerbread Theme Pretend Play Tablescape

_______

This whimsical gingerbread theme pretend play setup inspires meaningful social interaction and loads of hands-on fun.

Non-breakable, themed ornaments such as gingerbread people, a gingerbread house, and candy canes make tasty play cookies.

Safety Tip: It is important to remove any hooks to hang the ornaments before using them as play cookies. Only ornaments with smooth surfaces and edges should be included as play food.

_______

Gingerbread counters and erasers make spicy candies or tiny cookies.

Cut metallic bead necklaces in gold, silver, and red are festive spaghetti noodles.

Green jingle bells are the juicy meatballs, offering a fun musical component to the dramatic play invitation.

Large red and white pom poms in colors that match the decor are additional creative loose parts to imagine with.

Gingerbread cookie cutters suggest more spicy snacks.

Festive cups and disposable plates complement the accessories.

_______

A gingerbread-themed ice cube tray, spatula, cookie jar, oven mitt, pot holder, serving plate, and dessert tin round out the center.

Exuding holiday charm, the gingerbread-themed supplies spice up dramatic play activities.

Would you include more supplies in the gingerbread pretend play tablescape? Share in a comment below.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

More Gingerbread Theme Activities

Click on the photos below to access the blog posts featuring more gingerbread theme activities.

_______

[Read more…]

Reptile Theme Playdough Tray

September 22, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Living in central Alberta, Canada, reptiles such as snakes and lizards are uncommon for us to see. Unless we visit the local zoo or have access to an animal presentation, we will likely never see one. So it is natural for little learners to be afraid of these creatures. Hands-on activities with reptile figurines help alleviate young children’s fears about snakes and lizards. In addition to offering these exotic animals in a sensory tray, they are interesting accessories to include in a reptile theme playdough tray.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Reptile Theme Playdough Tray Supplies

The following supplies are included in this colorful, unique playdough invitation:

snake and lizard figurines
frog and insect figurines
snake, lizard, and frog playdough molds
rocks and stones
wood slices
refillable eggs
divided compartment serving tray

_______

The Reptile Theme Playdough Tray

To keep supplies neat, organized, and attractive, one of my go-to methods is to add them to a divided compartment serving tray.

_______

Although I include many homemade playdough recipes on this blog, I feature store-bought playdough in this modeling dough play invitation. Someone had donated a bunch of different colors to me, and since lizards and snakes come in all kinds of patterns and hues, this activity seemed like the perfect way to start using them.

Miniature snake and lizard figurines and playdough molds allow little learners to create creatures of their own from playdough, and make animal prints. Manipulating the little figurines exposes them to animals they may have a natural fear of.

_______

Thin wood slices and small rocks and stones in the tray are natural materials found in the habitats snakes and lizards live in.

Frog, insect, and spider figurines represent prey snakes and lizards eat.

Finally, the small refillable eggs are reminders that lizards and most snakes hatch from eggs.

_______

This reptile theme playdough tray is a perfect beginning activity for learning about snakes and lizards and is superb for working on color recognition, counting, eye-hand coordination, and hand and finger strength.

Adding pictures of real snakes and lizards for little learners to view would provide opportunities to discuss and make patterns and allow for more discussions about the colors these reptiles display.

_______

More Reptile Activities

Reptile Active World Tray

Reptile Theme Activities

Reptile Egg Science

Sea Turtle Theme Activities

Turtle Pond Sensory Bin

Turtle Christmas Craft

_______

More Themed Playdough Trays

White Lilacs and Black Playdough

Watermelon Playdough Tray

Circus Playdough Tray

_______

Glam Skeleton Playdough Tray

Gingerbread Playdough Tray

Candy Cane Playdough Tray

_______

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Unicorn Playdough Tray

Scented Moon Playdough Tray

_______

[Read more…]

String Painting Snake Art

August 5, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This string painting snake art is perfect for a reptile theme. In addition to enhancing the topic of snakes, it offers children a novel way to paint.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

_______

Gather the following supplies for this simple string painting activity:

sturdy paper
tempera paint
small disposable plates
yarn
scissors
clothespins
spoons
waterproof table cover

_______

Preparing The String Painting Snake Art Activity

To set up this novel string art activity, cover a table with a waterproof table cover.

Then spoon tempera paint into small disposable plates.

Next, cut the yarn into lengths about 6 to 8 inches long.

Afterward, attach a clothespin to the end of each strip of yarn.

Set the paint dishes, prepared string, and sturdy pieces of paper onto the art table and the activity is ready to go.

_______

The String Painting Snake Art Project

_______

To create snake-like painted shapes, lay a string on a paint-filled plate, draping the clothespin attached end over the edge.

Use a spoon to press down on the string to ensure it is covered in paint.

Next, carefully lift off the string and lay it on the paper in a snake-like, serpentine pattern.

Then gently put the string back in the same color of paint.

Repeat the process with more paint colors to create snakes in additional hues.

_______

Variations of the String Art Project

After participants have completed a snake art project, invite them to explore more string painting techniques:

Dragging the string across the paper covers it more quickly, and allows for paint mixing.
Using fingers to manipulate the string instead of clothespins adds a tactile experience.
Experimenting with thick and thin string, and longer and shorter pieces creates different effects.
Spooning paint on the paper first, and dragging the string through it is another way to paint.

_______