rice bin

Leprechaun Sensory Play

March 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Leprechauns, shamrocks, pots of gold and the color green are all associated with St. Patrick’s Day. And they make for super fun sensory play…especially the leprechauns! Here are two inexpensive, easy to put together leprechaun sensory play activities.

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Leprechaun Facts

Leprechauns are tiny, mischievous, gold loving characters in Irish folklore.

Shoemaking is how leprechauns spend most of their time.

These entertaining, energetic, miniature men love to participate in dance parties and expertly play the tin whistle, fiddle, Bodhran, and Irish harp.

Underground caves or hollow tree trunks in rural Ireland is where these solitary characters are said to live.

Leprechauns love to collect gold and store it in pots in the remote countryside (or at the end of the rainbow.)

The speedy tricksters can vanish quickly, so are difficult to capture.

But if a leprechaun is caught, he must grant three wishes.

Leprechauns are known all over the world.

Leprechaun Sensory Play

Here’s two easy to set up leprechaun sensory trays:

Leprechaun Rice Tray

Gold coins, shamrocks, a money pot, and an oh-so tricky leprechaun are the highlights of this rice-based tray.

Glutinous rice is the base for this tray. I love it because it is super white, and showcases the loose parts. Included are:

leprechaun figurine

money pot

tiny gold coins

white, green, and gold beads (because leprechauns like all kinds of treasure)

glittery, green hats (to collect any coins or gems that don’t fit into the pot)

shamrocks

St. Patrick’s Day greeting

The leprechaun is a repurposed plant poke topper. The other loose parts are snipped from inexpensive St. Patrick’s Day necklaces.

Shamrocks, gold coins, a money pot, and an oh-so tricky leprechaun are the highlights of this rice-based tray.

Shamrock Confetti Tray

Instead of rice, generously sprinkled shamrock confetti with metallic gold pots added in is the base. The tray also includes a leprechaun, money pot, gold coins, beads, hats, and shamrocks.

The leprechaun has plenty of gold to collect in this shamrock confetti-based St. Patrick's Day sensory tray.

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Jewelry Sensory Tray

February 15, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

If you have washable heart-themed children’s jewelry pieces lying around or found some in a post-Valentine’s Day sale, they can have a go in a jewelry sensory tray. Add a few complimentary colored loose parts, and your early learners will be eager to explore the tray.

Loose Parts For The Tray

heart bracelets

color block silicone bracelets

rainbow heart rings

wiggly eye rings

rainbow heart erasers

foam flowers and hearts

gem hearts

flower eraser

buttons

This tray has loose parts in a variety of cheery colors, taking it beyond Valentine’s Day.

Making The Jewelry Sensory Tray

Heart-themed jewelry sensory tray that takes tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

Pick a tray large enough for a few children to play in.

Add a layer of rice. I feature glutinous rice. I love it because it is super white.

Spread the heart jewelry and complimentary colored loose parts in the tray. Invite your early learners to explore the tactile center.

This sensory tray idea also works for individual play. Just divide the supplies into a portion for each child and add them to smaller trays.

Heart jewelry sensory tray with cheery colors that take tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Tray

February 1, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Year of the Ox Chinese New Year rice-based sensory tray with a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) will be celebrated on February 12 in 2021. It is the most important holiday in China and is celebrated by Chinese people and interested others all over the world. The holiday marks the end of the coldest winter days and the beginning of spring. Since it is the year of the ox, why not join in the festivities this February with an ox-themed Chinese New Year sensory tray.

Ox Facts

Domesticated oxen are often castrated adult male cows, as this makes them easier to handle.

Ox horns are very long.

Being very strong animals, they can pull heavy loads.

As dependable work animals, oxen transport people and supplies, help with field work, and power machines.

Oxen used to roam in herds in the wild.

Chinese New Year "Year of The Ox" rice-based tray featuring a bull figurine and red and gold loose parts.

Character Qualities Of The Ox

The ox is a cherished animal in Chinese culture, as it is hardworking and reliable, and was used in agriculture by peasants to plow fields. Positive character qualities are attributed to the ox. And people born in the year of the ox are considered to be logical, disciplined, diligent, trustworthy, and talented. And who wouldn’t want to emulate these qualities!

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Christmas Sensory Play

December 15, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Christmas-themed sensory play with festive loose parts in a rice based tray and a water tub.

With a host of seasonal loose parts available to purchase in fall, Christmas sensory play experiences are easy and economical to put together. These two festive tubs are sure to delight your little learners.

Christmas Rice Sensory Tray

Glutinous rice is the base for this tray. The word glutinous means glue-like; the rice does not contain gluten. The grains are super white, showcasing the loose parts in the tray. But any kind of rice would work well.

Pour a layer of rice into a tray or plastic tub. Add loose parts from the list below, or substitute accessories you have available. Invite your early learners to explore the tray.

Loose parts:

red, green, and white buttons

ice cube stars, snowmen, and trees

acrylic gem snowflakes and lights

metallic snowflakes

foam Christmas shapes and alphabet letters

candy-striped straws

red bowl and spoon

Christmas-themed loose parts tray for sensory play.

Additional containers for pouring and filling could be included.

Christmas-themed containers for sensory play.

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Canada Day Sensory Bin

June 27, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Canada Day rice-based sensory bin with red and white items perfect for little hands to explore.

On July 1 each year, our country celebrates Canada Day. Festive decorations are typically red and white, with a good dose of maple leaves. This design scheme is patterned after the Canadian flag. So here’s a red and white Canada Day sensory bin incorporating our Canadian flag, maple leaves, and lots of red and white. The tactile bin is perfect for little ones to help celebrate our country’s birthday.

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Snowman Sensory Play

January 17, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

These snowman sensory play ideas can be explored any time of year – winter or summer. When it’s super cold out and there is real snow on the ground, I’d rather play with these activities indoors!

Snowman themed sensory play. Rice bins, sensory tube, and ten frame activities for early learners. Free printable included.

Snowman Sensory Play Supplies

Collect these supplies for the activities that follow:

clear chunky gems

silver snowflake confetti, bead garland strips, and balls

white pom poms

orange beads, pom poms and pipe cleaner pieces

black buttons and beads

snowmen buttons, ice cubes, and bottles

silver spoons

Loose parts and snowman themed supplies to use in a sensory tray or tube.

Snowman Sensory Tray

The materials are sprinkled on a white rice base in a square metal tray. The snowmen bottles are the find I was most excited about.

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New Year’s Sensory Tray

January 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This New Year’s sensory tray shines bright with gold and silver accents. Two watch heads are the highlight of the bin, and children treasure finding them.

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

The collection of pieces below is all gold with a few silver parts added in. The musical instruments are black, only because the gold finish wore off in previous play! The alphabet letters are cut from “Happy New Year” necklaces.

Gold and silver supplies to use in a New Year's sensory tray. Opportunity to sort and count pieces and make sets. Invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year."

The base ingredient is parboiled rice, as its yellow hue complements the gold tone of the bin. The ingredients are showcased in a silver metal square-shaped tray.

A square-shaped silver metal tray is perfect for showcasing the gold and silver pieces in this New Year's sensory play center.

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Llama Llama Holiday Drama Sensory Bin

December 10, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Llama themed sensory bin inspired by the picture book "Llama, Llama Holiday Drama" by Anna Dewdney.

A “Llama Llama Holiday Drama” sensory bin is sure to captivate your little learners. It’s a superb way to give children access to the rich colors and textures of the Christmas season.

This festive bin is inspired by the storybook “Llama Llama Holiday Drama,” written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney. In the picture book, little Llama becomes overwhelmed helping his mama with holiday preparations. There are so many things to do, and the wait for Christmas seems much too long. Amid the busy, bustling season, Mama Llama takes time to stop and snuggle with Llama Llama, saying that “having each other is the true gift” at Christmas.

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Ugly Christmas Sweater Activities

November 19, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

The Ugly Christmas Sweater trend has resurfaced, and for a few years I couldn’t figure it out. Having a passion for fashion, I didn’t understand why anyone would want to wear a tacky sweater. Until…I read that people host Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties, often to raise funds for charity. Then I saw purpose and humor in them.

Aside from wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, the trend shines in some easy to introduce early learning activities the whole family can participate in.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Bin

January 29, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

The Chinese New Year officially begins on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, and it will be the Year of the Pig. The pig is the 12th and last zodiac animal. Some ancient storied explanations are:

The pig was the last to arrive at an important meeting because he slept in.
A wolf destroyed the pig’s house so he had to rebuild it before he could get to the meeting.
The pig stopped to enjoy a feast while taking part in a race. He resumed the race but not surprisingly came in last.
Being pretty pudgy, the pig moved the slowest in the race.

Fascinating Facts About Pigs

Although pigs often get associated with being smelly and dirty, they keep quite clean if they are in a temperature-controlled environment. They only roll around in dirt when they get hot, and this is because they cannot sweat.
As far as smarts go, pigs are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. As pets they can figure out how to open a cupboard and can be trained to shake a hoof and roll over.

Predictions For The Year Of The Pig

The Year of the Pig might just be a positive one for everyone! People born in the Pig Year are attributed with an agreeable personality, balanced lifestyle, hardworking nature and enjoyment of life. These qualities are thought to have a positive influence on all people.

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