Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

sensory tray

Dandelion Sensory Tray

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With their cheery, bright color and ability to grow profusely in many different places, dandelions are super noticeable during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. All parts of dandelions are safe for handling and are edible, so the weedy flower is suitable for many educational activities.

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Young children delight in an early spring sighting of a field of dandelions, and the first thing they often excitedly do is make a bouquet of fluffy yellow flowers for their mom or teacher. After the petals fall off, a puffball forms on each plant, which children love to blow. This dandelion sensory tray allows early learners to explore the fast-growing, nutritious plant in another way.

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Supplies to Collect

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Since dandelions grow on lawns, in parks, and in many other environments, collecting them for a flower nature sensory tray is quick and easy. Gather a bunch of dandelion flowers and leaves from an area where no pesticides have been used. Include large plants if available. As shown in many of my other nature sensory bins, the following supplies make suitable accessories:

  • non-breakable vases or storage jars
  • pitchers with water
  • mortar and pestle sets
  • baking tins
  • spoons
  • scissors
  • small rocks

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Preparing the Dandelion Sensory Tray

Sensory bins are often one of the most effortless play invitations to offer, and this dandelion sensory tray is no exception. 

First, set dandelions in small non-breakable vases or storage jars with water added.

Note: Wash the dandelions first if you have children participating who may put them in their mouths.

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Next, add two or more pitchers filled with cool water.

Then arrange place settings with baking tins and spoons.

Add a few mortar and pestle sets, and two or more pairs of scissors.

Lastly, sprinkle small stones and more dandelions around the bin. The tray is now ready for participants to investigate.

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Exploring the Dandelion Sensory Tray

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Children welcome sensory experiences of any kind, and this dandelion play invitation is sure to delight. The flower-filled tray offers the following benefits:

Smelling fresh dandelions exercises the sense of smell.

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Hand and finger muscles are strengthened when children pluck and separate the flower petals.

Using a mortar and pestle to crush and grind dandelions improves eye-hand coordination and strengthens arm and shoulder muscles.

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Cutting dandelions into bits facilitates skill in using scissors.

Exploring the supplies in the bin and including water in the experience is a calming activity that helps children regulate their emotions and focus their attention.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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More Nature-based Sensory Bins

Tea Party Water Play

Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

Lilac Flower Sensory Trays

Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

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Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

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Bergenia plants are easy to grow, and the beautiful bell-shaped flowers pop up in early spring. Before the dainty blooms die, consider using them in a sensory bin. The bell-shaped flowers and glossy evergreen leaves offer a unique sensory experience in this Bergenia flower nature bin.

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Before including it in a sensory play activity, it’s always good to check if a plant is toxic. I was happy to learn that NO part of the Bergenia plant is toxic for humans to touch or consume. The plant is also non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

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Supplies To Collect

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Gather the following supplies for this flower-themed sensory bin:

  • Bergenia flowers, stems, and leaves
  • small rocks
  • twigs
  • mortar and pestle
  • bowls
  • spoons
  • scissors
  • large sensory tray

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Preparing the Bergenia Flower Nature Bin

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The setup for this bloom-themed sensory bin is super simple. If offering the bin to a group, add place settings with bowls, spoons, mortar and pestles, and scissors to a large sensory bin. Active world trays are a great choice for the bin.

Next, place a non-breakable pitcher or vase with water and Bergenia flowers in the center and spread the large glossy leaves around it.

Then set in twigs and small rocks. The bin is now ready to investigate.


Exploring the Bergenia Flower Sensory Bin

Invite participants to smell, feel, cut, mix, and grind the supplies in the sensory bin.

Explain that the Bergenia plant is also called “elephant ears” (because of the shape of the big, waxy leaves), or “pigsqueak” (because of the sound two leaves make when rubbed together.)

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Encourage children to rub two leathery Bergenia leaves together to make pigsqueak sounds.

Don’t be surprised if your little charges describe the leaves as being lettuce, and call the stems rhubarb, as this plant bears a resemblance to both.

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Salt and Ice Science Experiment

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This salt and ice science experiment is simple to set up and fun to do. Just a few supplies are needed for this ice-cold science activity. It’s perfect on a hot day, and makes a good pirate theme or Mother’s Day activity.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this ice and salt science experiment:

  • food storage trays
  • food coloring
  • acrylic gems
  • bowl with salt
  • teaspoons
  • paint pot with water
  • eye droppers or pipettes
  • play tweezers
  • tray
  • safety glasses
  • waterproof table cover

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Preparing the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

To prepare this science experiment, freeze gems in ice for two or three days.

Start by adding a layer of water with a few squirts of food coloring stirred in to the bottom of a food storage tray.  Liquid watercolor paint also works well to tint the water.

Next, spread a handful of acrylic gems in the liquid. Then, carefully set the tray in the freezer.

Remove the tray from the freezer and add more water and gems the following day. Freeze the tray overnight again.

The third day, the ice is ready for the science and sensory activity. Many gems will be near the surface of the ice, and some may be sticking out a little. This is fine for younger children.

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To add more challenge for older children, pour a thin layer of water over the frozen gem-filled ice and freeze the tray again before setting out the activity.

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The Salt and Ice Science Experiment

When the layers of water are frozen, remove the ice from the food storage tray and set it on a large, edged tray placed on a table protected with a waterproof table cover.

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Add a bowl of salt with a teaspoon, an eye dropper or pipette in a paint pot filled with water, and a small bowl ready for freed gems. Include a set of play tweezers and a second teaspoon on the tray.

Drip water and sprinkle salt on the ice, and pry out the gems using teaspoons and tweezers. The salt and ice help melt the ice, making the removal of gems quicker and easier. Note: Safety glasses are recommended for this activity as gems may pop out of the ice. Check freed gems for broken edges and discard them.

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Variations of the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

For variety or to use supplies on hand, replace the acrylic gems in this salt and ice science experiment with pom poms or animal figurines. Ocean animal figurines are a popular choice for this activity.

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Skip adding food coloring to the water during the freezing process. Note: The ice will be a little clearer if you use filtered or distilled water.

Offer the activity to a group of children by freezing four or more trays of gem-filled water and setting the supplies for each participant in a large active world tray.

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Explaining the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Salt lowers the temperature of water. For this to happen, it must be in a solution with liquid water. The salt and water solution created in this experiment melts the ice quicker than letting the ice liquify on its own.

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Tying In Mother’s Day

This salt and ice science experiment is a perfect Mother’s Day activity. After freeing gems from ice, allow participants to pick one to glue to a Mother’s Day greeting that says “Mom, you’re a gem.” Allow them to save more gems in a small container to add to their treasure collection.

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More Activities With Ice

Hockey Game Small World

Paint Pour Ice Cake Sensory Play

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Painting Ice and Snow

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Fall Drip Ice Cake

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This fall drip ice cake sensory bin combines fall colors with ice and dinosaurs. It is suitable for a winter theme about ice or could be incorporated into a fall or dinosaur theme. It would be an inviting activity outside on a hot summer day.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following easy-to-find, inexpensive supplies for this super fun sensory bin:

  • ice cube molds
  • empty round food storage containers
  • small bottles
  • tempera paints
  • stir sticks
  • sensory tray
  • dinosaur figurines

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Preparing the Fall Drip Ice Cake Sensory Bin

To prepare this autumn drip ice cake sensory play experience first freeze water into ice shapes. Use molds such as Ice cube trays, margarine and yogurt containers, and an ice cream pail. Allow one or two days for the freezing to be complete.

Next, pick a sensory bin to use. A large active world tray is up to the task and provides ample room to explore accessories. A round saucer sled is smaller but also works well as a sensory bin.

Then add tempera paints in fall colors to small bottles. Leave a little room in the bottles to stir in water. This slightly thins the paints and makes them easier to pour.

When the ice shapes are thoroughly frozen stack the large ones on top of each other to create a three or four-tier cake.

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Afterward, spread ice cubes in various sizes around the cake in the bin. Then set dinosaur figurines among the cubes.

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Related: Paint Pour Ice Cake Winter Sensory Play

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The Fall Drip Ice Cake Sensory Invitation

To offer the fall drip ice cake sensory invitation gather participants around the bin.

Invite them to take turns pouring paint over the ice cake.

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When the bottles are empty, allow everyone to explore the paint-covered ice cake, frozen cubes, and dinosaurs in the bin.

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This icy sensory invitation incorporating fall colors and dinosaur figurines is bound to be a favorite.

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More Fall Activities

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Fall Leaf Salad Spinner Art

Fall Scissor Skills Activities

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Tea Party Water Play

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Set up this oh-so-simple tea party water play sensory invitation in minutes. Children love to pour water from a tea pot into cups, or from one cup to another, so will be super excited to explore it. Easily add in or change supplies to further extend the play experience.

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Supplies To Collect

Just a few supplies will have your little learners eagerly engaging in a tea party sensory experience. Gather the following:

  • bus tub
  • liquid food coloring
  • water
  • miniature tea sets
  • flower-themed confetti
  • spoons
  • waterproof table cover

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The Tea Party Water Play Set Up

To set up this low prep sensory invitation indoors, cover a table with a waterproof table cover. If you plan to offer the activity outdoors on a warm weather day, you can skip this step.

Next, pick a sensory tub to use. My go-to tub size is a white bus tub. It comfortably allows two to three children to play in it at one time and is easy to transport to any location. It is also very sturdy.

Then add lukewarm water and squeeze in a few drops of liquid food coloring.

Sprinkle in flower-themed confetti to add a dose of sparkle.

Lastly, drop in a miniature tea set for each child participating, and include a few larger spoons.

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A sensory play invitation couldn’t be easier to offer.

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Variations of the Tea Party Water Play Experience

To add interest and extend the tea party sensory play experience, include flowers and buds. These peonies look beautiful and offer a tactile experience.

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Note: Peonies are safe to touch but should not be consumed. If the children in your care are prone to explore by putting things in their mouths, choose edible flowers such as roses (featured below) for this activity.

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Rose flowers and buds are an exquisite choice for the bin. All parts of a rose plant are safe to eat. Just make sure there are no thorns on the rose stems as they are very prickly!

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Changing up the color of the water from a neon pink to a neon turquoise adds interest too.

Additional water play ideas for the bin are selecting a larger tea set, and offering play food desserts.

And finally, instead of filling a tub with colored water, simply set a miniature tea set on a low-edged tray and add a small bottle filled with water. Little learners will delight in transferring water from the bottle to the tiny teapot and cups.

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Benefits of the Tea Party Water Play Invitation

Practicing the skill of pouring, developing eye-hand coordination, enhancing fine motor skills, labeling flowers and parts, color recognition, experiencing beauty, and having a pleasurable play experience are all benefits of this simple and economical tea party sensory set up.

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Related:

Tea Party Sensory Play

Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

Lilac Flower Sensory Trays

Petunia Flower Sensory Tray

Flower Theme Activities

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