fall

Fall Forest Sensory Bin

November 30, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This fall forest sensory bin is inspired by a tiny mouse that snuck indoors. The unexpected discovery led to the question: “Can mice survive outdoors in the fall as the weather turns colder?” The answer is “yes”!

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Although mice will happily seek shelter indoors when the weather cools, they are perfectly capable of surviving outside during the fall and winter months. In the forest, they build nests in sheltered spots such as logs, under tree roots, and underground burrows. They also dig elaborate condo-like tunnels underground, with a pantry, bedroom, living room, and latrine.

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In autumn, the quick little rodents get very busy finding nuts, seeds, and berries to store for winter. This involves many trips to and from food sources. Along with growing thicker fur, the focused, energetic activity helps keep them warm.

This leafy sensory bin with soft late fall hues features a bunch of scurrying mice in a forest environment.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Fall Forest Sensory Bin

The following supplies are in this autumn natural material-filled sensory bin:

mouse figurines
leaves
twigs
pieces of wood and bark
hydrangea flowers
small stones
cardboard tubes
scarecrow figurine
plush pumpkin

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The Fall Forest Sensory Bin

The bin for this autumn sensory activity is a generously-sized active world tray.

Large and small leaves make excellent materials for mice to build nests with.

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Twigs. wood pieces and bark are readily found in the forest.

Paper rolls represent the tunnels the energetic little critters create to live in and cache food to survive late fall and winter.

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Large, light green hydrangea flowers add beauty.

Little mouse figurines scurry around everywhere.

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The plush harvest-themed pumpkin is a focal point. Mice happily nibble on the large orange fruits they discover outdoors.

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And the small scarecrow figurine with a mouse on its hat adds a touch of cuteness to the bin.

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Related: This Snowy Owl Sensory Bin is very popular on the blog. It also features plenty of cute little mouse figurines

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More Fall Activities

Colors of Fall Sensory Bin

Fall Leaf Crown Paper Crafts

Fall Pom Pom Tree Craft

Light Table Leaf Exploration

Fall Scissor Skill Activities

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Fall Drip Ice Cake

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[Read more…]

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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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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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…]

Rhubarb Sauce Snack Tray

August 9, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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As a teacher, I am always on the lookout for hands-on activities that are economical and have educational value. This rhubarb sauce snack tray activity offers a valuable sensory and cooking component, and is easy on the pocketbook.

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Rhubarb thrives in cooler climates and is plentiful in temperate, northern locations of the world. The hardy plant is technically a vegetable, but is classified as a fruit when used in cooking. Its thick, edible stalks are either red, green, or a combination of the two colors. The large, spinach-like leaves are toxic when consumed in large quantities, so they should not be eaten.

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Rhubarb Sauce Supplies

It’s easy to make a simple sauce with just rhubarb stalks and a sweetener such as sugar or honey. To give the children more to do in the activity and to add taste and nutrition to the sauce, this recipe includes strawberries and a banana in the mix.

Ingredients to gather are:

2 cups rhubarb
2/3 cup strawberries
1 ripe banana
3 tablespoons honey

Food preparation supplies to gather are:

cutting boards
disposable knives
measuring cups
tablespoon
crockpot
stirring spoon
whisk
hand blender (optional)

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Rhubarb is fun to explore in a sensory activity on its own. Before preparing the sauce together, show children a picture of a rhubarb patch. Bring samples of washed rhubarb stalks with leaves attached. Invite children to describe the size and color of the leaves. Explain that they contain a toxin and should not be eaten.

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Next. cut the leaves off and discuss the color and thickness of the stalks. Give each participant a cutting board and a child-friendly knife. Allow children to explore the fruit by peeling off the skin, cutting the stalks into pieces, and smelling and tasting as they go.

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Making the Rhubarb Sauce

To make the rhubarb sauce, invite each participant to use a child-friendly knife to slice the stalks on a cutting board, aiming for small pieces.

Next, measure two cups of cut rhubarb into a crock pot. A small pot will work fine for this recipe.

Afterward, give each child a few washed strawberries to slice up, enough for 2/3 cup. If leaves are attached, have them cut them off first.

Then give a few children a peeled banana section to slice.

Have children take turns adding strawberries and the sliced banana to the pot, along with three tablespoons of honey.

Next, allow everyone to stir the mixture.

Then put the lid on the crockpot and heat it on low or medium for three or more hours.

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After the rhubarb is cooked, invite participants to blend the cooked ingredients with a whisk. For a smoother consistency, use a hand blender.

Taste the cooked sauce and add more honey or a little sugar if desired.

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The Rhubarb Sauce Snack Tray

Rhubarb is tasty served warm or cold. It is delicious spooned over ice cream or custard, or offered as a dipping sauce on a snack tray. A rhubarb sauce snack tray is superb for children who have never tried rhubarb before, as they can sample it in small amounts with familiar foods.

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Along with inviting children to help prepare it, attractively offering a new food encourages them to try it. This sun-shaped serving tray and these pretty disposable plates are great for presentation. On the tray, a bowl of rhubarb sauce is surrounded by mini toasts and semi-sweet cookies.

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Invite children to spoon a little rhubarb sauce on a plate and dip cookies and crackers into it for a delightful snacking activity.

What do you think?

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More Activities With Food

Cauliflower Theme Activities

Green Bean Theme Activities

Beet Science and Sensory Activities

Fun Ways to Serve Watermelon

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[Read more…]

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

October 30, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Living in Alberta, Canada, it seems a little late to feature a fall activity post. The leaves have almost completely blown off the trees, by fierce winds that seem determined to knock every last one to the ground. But although fall has nearly left us, we are not ready to leave it behind. So here’s one last colorful autumn post…an inviting fall tablescape pretend play center.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies Collected

Pretend play is super fun and imaginative in this fall tablescape pretend play set up early learners are bound to love.

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Fall colors, leaves, and animals feature prominently in this list of gathered supplies:

leaf-themed paper plates
green, yellow, and orange forks and spoons
fall cupcake liners
orange ice cube tray
bowl with owl, leaf, acorn, and apple game pieces
jar with yellow, orange and red felt balls
container with leaf, acorn, pumpkin, and diamond gems
felt animal decorations
orange artificial flower sprig
artificial sunflower heads
large felt maple leaf
muffin pan
cookie sheet
potholder and spatula

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The Fall Tablescape Pretend Play Setup

The list of supplies seems long, but this play tablescape is quick and easy to set up. I started out by setting out the red maple leaf and vase with flowers. Next, I added the plates and cutlery. Then I added the rest of the supplies.

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Loose parts such as gems, felt balls, and game pieces allow children to use their imagination. Little learners love incorporating them in pretend play. For instance, wouldn’t the felt animal decorations make super fancy cookies?

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Seasonal loose parts add a host of imaginative possibilities to this easy-to-put-together fall tablescape pretend play setup.

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Loose parts such as game pieces and felt balls add imaginative possibilities to this easy-to-put-together fall tablescape pretend play setup.

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Can you think of anything I’ve forgotten to set out on the table? It’s fall-themed cups! I didn’t realize they were missing until after I had taken all the pictures.

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Little learners relish playing with seasonal accessories. And it’s especially fun to see their excited response the first day they notice a new play kitchen theme.

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View this Fall Play Tablescape as a video.

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[Read more…]

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

October 27, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Fall is well underway in our area of the world, and the leaves on the trees have turned bright shades of red, orange, and yellow in the past few weeks. The colorful leaves provide wonderful inspiration for art projects, and this fall leaf salad spinner art activity is one of my favorites.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies to Collect

For this fun and easy art project, gather the following supplies:

salad spinner
white cardstock paper
red, yellow, green, and orange tempera paint
paint pots
teaspoons
leaf tracer
pencil
scissors

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A beautiful painted leaf made with a salad spinner painting technique. This process art project is bound to be a hit with your little learners.

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The Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art Project

To do this art project, pick a leaf to trace and cut from white cardstock. I feature a maple leaf, as it fits nicely in a salad spinner and has an interesting shape. Cut out a few paper leaves for each child participating.

Next, pour red, yellow, orange, and green paint into small containers, and add a teaspoon to each paint pot.

Then have participants take turns placing a paper leaf in the spinner, dripping paint colors on top, and spinning the salad spinner as fast as they can.

How to make beautiful fall leaves with a salad spinner painting technique. An easy and fun all-ages art project.

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The resulting paint patterns are always a delightful surprise, and the arty leaves are display-worthy. And they make a great addition to year-end school memory albums.

A beautiful way to create painted fall leaves using a salad spinner technique. And it's so easy and fun.

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Note: I previously featured maple leaf salad spinner art in a Canada Day post. You can download a leaf template (available in that post) to use for this art activity if you wish.

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