sensory bin

Valentine’s Day Water Play

February 7, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A Valentine’s Day water play activity is quick and easy to set up, and supplies are low cost. The activity helps create a festive ambiance on a party day or any day!

The weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are a good time to visit stores to collect Valentine-themed supplies for all kinds of learning opportunities, including water play. No store is off-limits for gathering hands-on materials.

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Supplies To Collect

Here’s a list of supplies that work well in a Valentine-themed water table or tub. Pick the ones you have handy, or can easily and economically find in a store.

alphabet letters that spell the word “LOVE”
heart ice cube trays
red and pink buttons
heart-shaped gems
bendy heart people
red and pink ducklings
valentine erasers
pink and red rainbow erasers
styrofoam hearts
cut striped red and white straws
red coins
wiggly eye rings
heart-shaped measuring cups
treat baskets and boxes

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The Valentine’s Day Water Play Activity

Add warm water to a large water table for group sharing, or set out a small white washtub with water for each child. Throw in Valentine’s Day loose parts that you have available.

The tub below has clear water, and the colors and shapes of the supplies can be easily seen and admired in the white bin.

Valentine's Day loose parts that work well in a water play activity, or a tub with a rice or chickpea base.

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After a little while, you could add red food coloring to the water to extend interest.

A fun and friendly Valentine's Day water play activity your early learners will love to participate in. A quick and easy sensory bin to set up.

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Or you could add dish detergent to create bubbles, so fitting for Valentine’s Day activity.

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Benefits Of Water Play

Here are some benefits of this water play activity:

sorting shapes (math – set making; language development – color recognition)
counting shapes (math – counting)
comparing shapes to those of other children (language development; paying attention to detail)
filling and emptying treat boxes (eye-hand coordination; math/language development – empty/full)
noticing how some shapes stick to others (science)
recognizing letters of the alphabet (language development – letter recognition)
discovering beautiful themed items (creativity)

Water play is an embraced activity any day. For another time, the Valentine-themed supplies could be included in a rice or chickpea sensory tub.

Can you think of supplies to add to my list? Share in a comment below.

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[Read more…]

Painting Ice And Snow Activity

January 29, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

Ice cakes are the highlights of this painting ice and snow sensory table activity little learners are bound to love.

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A painting ice and snow center is one of the easiest activities you can set up, and little learners love to participate in it. Stacking the frozen ice into triple-layer cakes will level up the fun factor and visual appeal.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this frozen-themed snow and ice sensory table activity, gather the following:

activity tray
round plastic food containers in different sizes
ice cube trays
small metal bowls
large pail
snow
food coloring or liquid watercolors
paint containers
paintbrushes
sturdy tablecloth

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Setting Up The Painting Ice And Snow Activity

How to set up a painting snow and ice sensory table activity for early learners.

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Freeze water in food containers for several days. Empty yogurt, sour cream, ice cream, and margarine containers work well for the molds.

Set up a large activity tray on a round table covered with a tablecloth.

Scoop up snow in a pail and dump it into the tray.

Take out the ice shapes from their molds and drop them on top of the snow. Stack smaller ice chunks on larger ones to make triple-layer cakes.

Set out ice cubes in small metal bowls.

Add liquid food colors to paint containers, or mix a little food coloring into water to make the hues. Featured are paints in primary colors.

Include brushes and invite little learners to paint the ice cakes and snow.

An easy to put together painting ice and snow sensory table activity the whole family can enjoy.

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The watercolors in the containers stay quite pure in this activity, without having to ask anyone to rinse their brushes between hues used. And there will be lots of excitement when new colors such as green and purple pop up in the snow.

Little learners will love to participate in this snow and ice sculpture painting activity.

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If you are short on preparation time, offer snow, ice cubes, and paints with a variety of kitchen accessories. Think muffin tins, bowls, spoons, pans, and frozen dessert sticks. Your little charges will enjoy painting the snow and ice cubes, and will excitedly use the accessories in snow kitchen activities.

Kitchen accessories add to the play experience in this snow painting sensory table activity.

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If snow is not available where you live, the activity will work fine with ice shapes alone. Little learners will be thrilled to focus on painting the ice cakes and can add ice cube embellishments.

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Decorating an ice cake is the highlight of this painting ice and snow sensory table activity for little learners.

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Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Winter Wreath Craft

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin

January 16, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Chinese New Year begins is on February 1, 2022, and it will be the Year Of The Tiger. And so the feature creature in this year’s Chinese New Year chickpea bin is a tiger! The no-fuss bin is easy to put together and has a pop of blue in addition to the traditional red and gold hues.

The tiger is the third animal in the Chinese zodiac, and the 2022 big cat is a water tiger. Qualities associated with the water tiger are being sociable, easy-going, goal-oriented, hardworking, brave, smart, musical, artistic, and low maintenance.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin Supplies

This Chinese New Year chickpea-based sensory bin represents the year of the tiger.

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The chosen bin is a round white metal tray with a blue rim.

The base ingredient is dyed dried chickpeas. Aside from chickpeas, the items in the bin are:

tiger figurine
red bowl and chopsticks
tiny red cups
metal tin
gold garland strands
acrylic diamond gems
gold buttons and metal stars
calligraphy game pieces
gold play coins

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Year Of The Tiger Chickpea Bin

This chickpea-based sensory bin has a "Year Of The Tiger" Chinese New Year theme.

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The majority of chickpeas are dyed in varying amounts of red acrylic craft paint. Some are transformed into turquoise and blue. Instructions to easily dye these chunky legumes are in my post “Chinese New Year Sensory Play.”

The blue chickpeas are formed into a winding river running through the center of the bin, and the red-infused chickpeas are generously sprinkled around it.

The tiger is positioned on the river.

The rest of the loose parts are spread around the bin.

Little learners are bound to enjoy playing with the tiger. The flashy cat will stand out on the river but be camouflaged in the red-toned chickpeas.

The tiger is center stage in this "Year Of The Tiger" Chinese New sensory bin.

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To further their interest in this stunning animal, here are some facts to share with your little charges.

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Ten Tiger Facts

Tigers are big cats. Siberian tigers are the largest big cats in the world.
These solitary animals have red-orange or brown-orange coats with black stripes. Their underbellies are white or cream-colored.
Tigers are semiaquatic. Unlike domestic cats, they like water and can swim well. In hot, dry seasons they soak in water to cool off.
The long hind legs of tigers help them jump high and long.
These powerful animals have sharp claws and teeth, great smell, and excellent night vision.
Tigers are carnivorous and can travel hundreds of miles in search of food.
These nocturnal animals are top predators and keep the populations of prey under control.
Tigers are considered endangered. Globally, there are about 4000 tigers left in the wild, and a greater number in zoos.
In China, the Amur tiger, also called the Siberian tiger, lives in a few spots in the northeast.
The South China tiger is now extinct in the wild.

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Related:

Year Of The Pig Sensory Bin (Chinese New Year 2019)

Year Of The Rat Noodle Bin (Chinese New Year 2020)

Year Of The Ox Sensory Tray (Chinese New Year 2021)

Year Of The Rabbit Sensory Bin (Chinese New Year 2023)

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[Read more…]

New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

December 31, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This New Year’s Eve sensory tray is full of party vibes. It is an inviting loose parts tray to offer at a New Year’s Eve event, or on the first day of class in January. The dinner-themed play invitation is currently ready for my preschoolers to explore when they are back at school next week. I’m excited to see how they use it!

The featured tray is called a “tuff tray”, or “active world tray.” In our country (Canada) they are available to order online at Scholar’s Choice.

My active world tuff tray is a recent addition to my stock of early learning resources, and I love using it.

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Supplies To Collect

New Year's Eve sensory play tray with a party theme.

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To recreate this tray, pick a set of disposable paper New Year’s party plates. Use the colors in the plates to guide the color scheme for the loose parts in the active world tray. My plates are gold, silver, black and white, with metallic touches. I use gold and silver metallic accessories for the tray.

Loose parts to include:

round placemat
disposable cups and cutlery
gift boxes
serving bowls and spoons
tongs
star-shaped containers
strips of bead garland
buttons
play coins
small bells
large ornament bells
present ornaments
balls cut from garland
tiny trophies

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The New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

Gather loose parts that you have available. Arrange them as a dinner invitation.

New Year's Eve tuff tray filled with dinner-themed loose parts little learners will love to party with.

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Serving containers in a variety of sizes and shapes add appeal and provide options for manipulating loose parts.

Bells are a welcome addition to any sensory activity. There are large bell ornaments and small jingling bells in the tray, offering a musical component.

The featured gift boxes are clear and contain tiny trophies and ornaments. Little learners can explore them and change up the contents. Gold or silver gift boxes would work wonderfully too.

New Year's Eve sensory tray featuring dinnerware, gift boxes, and metallic loose parts.

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Space Kitchen Activity Tray

To extend the sensory experience, switch out the New Year’s dinner plates for tin pie plate ones. The activity tray will become a space-themed play invitation!

Cut metallic bead garland and necklaces make the perfect loose parts for an outer space spaghetti pretend play meal.

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Other active world tray ideas:

Fall Sensory Play

Spider Theme Activities

Christmas Village Tuff Tray

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New Year's Eve sensory tray dinner-themed loose parts little learners will love to have a pretend party with.

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More New Year’s Activities:

New Year’s All Gold Sensory Activity

New Year’s Countdown Activities

New Year’s Crafts

New Year’s Sensory Tray

New Year’s Art and Math Activities

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[Read more…]

New Year’s All Gold Sensory Activity

December 30, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

An inviting New Year's all gold sensory bowl filled with shiny items little learners will love to explore.

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This New Year’s all gold sensory activity is filled with … you guessed it…all gold loose parts! It’s one I’ve been wanting to put together for a while and finally did. Whether the loose parts are organized in a bin or tray, this activity is one your little learners will love to take part in.

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Gold And New Year’s

Glittery, metallic gold is a popular color for New Year’s celebrations. And it usually plays a big part in Christmas festivities too.

Gold is considered a symbol of wealth. But in addition to monetary wealth, the rich color also represents a wealth of experience, knowledge, and love. And who doesn’t wish for all these things, especially at the beginning of a new year?

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Follow me on Pinterest for more New Year’s ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

New Year's all gold sensory bin loose parts tray for little learners to explore.

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Gather the following supplies in metallic gold:

tiny trophies
small present and drum decorations
play coins
assorted buttons
miniature ornaments
bows
jingle bells
strands cut from beaded necklaces
tongs
spoons
cups

It’s easy to find these items during the holiday season. And I’m sure you will be able to think of even more things to add.

New Year's all gold sensory activity loose parts tray.

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“All Gold” Sensory Bin

A large clear plastic salad bowl makes a good bin for this sensory setup. But a plastic square or rectangular container works fine too.

A rich New Year's all gold sensory activity featuring shiny metallic loose parts for little learners to explore.

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No base ingredient is needed for this eye-appealing activity. Just throw a mix of metallic gold loose parts in your container of choice. Then set it out on a table with golden cups, tongs, and spoons for your little learners to explore.

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All Gold Sensory Tray

If you only have a small supply of golden items, why not use a serving tray. Your little charges will be happy to dive in and investigate the shiny “treasures” in the tray.

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New Year's metallic gold sensory bin loose parts tray.

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Aside from being associated with New Year’s events, gold is an alluring color all in itself. And this is my primary reason for putting together this glamourous play invitation.

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What would you add to this sensory activity? Share in a comment below.

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