Leprechaun Goop Sensory Bin

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Have you ever heard of goop? It is made with cornstarch and water and can act both as a liquid and a solid. It is the perfect sensory base to trap or untrap leprechauns in this leprechaun goop sensory bin.

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Leprechaun Goop Supplies

Gather the following supplies for this super slimy goop-based bin:

cornstarch
water
green food coloring
bus tub or saucer sled
spoon for stirring
leprechaun figurines
craft foam shamrocks
reusable ice cube shamrocks
green ping pong balls
green and gold play coins
shamrock necklace pieces
washable tablecloth

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Making the Leprechaun Goop Sensory Bin

Goop is made from two taste-safe ingredients: water and cornstarch. It can be thicker or thinner, depending on how much water you add.

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To prepare the goop, select a bin for the activity. I feature a round saucer sled, but a regular bus tub would work fine. Set the bin on a table covered with a washable tablecloth.

Next, pour two large containers of cornstarch into the bin.

Then fill one of the containers with water and add green food coloring.

Pour the colored water over the goop and carefully stir the mixture with a spoon. You may wish to add a little more water until you get the consistency of a thick slime.

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When the mixture is stirred, set in leprechaun figurines.

Add foam shamrocks, reusable ice cube shamrocks, green ping pong balls, green and gold play coins, and strings cut from shamrock-themed garland to the bin.

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The Leprechaun Sensory Bin

Children of all ages love exploring a goop sensory bin. The goop is sticky so participants can have fun trapping and untrapping leprechauns in it along with using the other supplies.

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Keep a tub of water and a hand towel close by so it is easy to wash up after participants use the sensory bin.

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For variety, add a gel window cling leprechaun or a leprechaun hat and legs to the bin instead of the figurines.

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This activity looks pretty messy, but splotches of goop on the table and floor are easy to sweep up or wipe away with soapy water and a cloth.

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Properties of Goop

With a thicker batch of goop, it is fun to explore its ability to turn from a liquid to a solid and vice versa. Left at room temperature the mixture is a liquid. When the goop is squeezed in a hand it becomes a solid. And when fingers are unfurled, the goop becomes a liquid again. How cool!

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