sensory tray

Apple Theme Sensory Tray

October 11, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Fall is apple season, and there are so many apple-themed activities to choose from. This simple, super fun apple theme sensory tray with an oatmeal base is one that I’ve wanted to try for a long time. It is sure to be a hit with little learners.

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Supplies in the Tray

The following are the supplies in this gorgeous apple sensory tray:

apple-shaped strainers
measuring spoons
apple-shaped acrylic gems
gold apple ornaments
metal tins
apple cookie cutters
pompoms
apple ice cube tray molds
spoons

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The Apple Theme Sensory Tray

The base for this eye-catching apple sensory tray is rolled oats. This base fits the theme since it is an ingredient used in tasty fall treats such as apple crisp, apple bread, and apple cookies.

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The round cake pan, loaf pan, apple coolie cutters, and measuring cups encourage dessert baking activities.

Sparkling gold apple ornaments and apple-shaped acrylic gems add a major dose of glam and are baking ingredients along with the rolled oats.

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Bright green, yellow, red, and pink pompoms in various sizes are additional “apples”.

Apple ice cube tray molds encourage sorting activities.

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And apple-shaped strainers add interest to the bin.

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All supplies are set in a large, deep green active world tray, suitable for four to six children to explore. The accessories work equally well in a smaller bin if two to three children are participating in the sensory activity.

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Have you tried an apple theme sensory tray? Share in a comment below.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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More Apple Theme Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Art and Activities

Apple Toothpick Sculptures

Apple Fruit Stand

Apple Theme Activities

Scented Playdough Recipe and Activities

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[Read more…]

Three Dinosaur Sensory Bins

September 7, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Dinosaurs are an oh so popular topic among young children, and they absolutely LOVE sensory bins. This post combines the two interests. featuring three dinosaur sensory bins that are bound to captivate your little learners. A bonus is that the activities are super simple and quick to set up.

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Children adore anything dinosaur, so I try to include dinosaur activities in my yearly rotation of themes. It’s not hard to do, as there are thousands of activities to choose from.

Sensory activities are also a favorite of children and offer a host of benefits. They provide multi-sensory learning through play experiences.

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Dinosaur Rice Bin

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The sensory bin for this first activity is a white kitchen bus tub, which accommodates two or three children at a time. If you’ve seen some of my other sensory blog posts, you’ll know that this is one of my favorite choices for bins. An under-the-bed storage tub also works fantastically. It is slightly bigger in size and accommodates more children.

Rice is an economical sensory base and is reusable. Brown rice is the base for this first sensory bin.

Other supplies in the bin include:

large and small dinosaur figurines
glow in the dark dinosaur skeletons
dinosaur skull figurines
marbles
fillable eggs

Exploring rice is a calming activity, and children love to pour it, bury items in it, and create shaker musical instruments using it as a filler.

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In addition to adding rice to the fillable eggs, children eagerly hide smaller dinosaurs and marbles in them.

Larger dinosaur figurines, dinosaur skulls, and glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs contribute to the theme and add excitement to the bin.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Dinosaur Egg Rice Bin

This second dinosaur sensory bin is simpler and features a few variations.

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White glutinous rice is the base. Its bright white color helps the accessories stand out.

An edged, square metal serving tray is the bin. It is smaller in size than a kitchen bus tub, accommodating one to two children at a time.

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Fillable eggs with dinosaur spikes were the inspiration for this bin, and are a feature supply.

Various sizes of rocks are natural materials in the bin.

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Dinosaur Noodle Bin

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This third sensory invitation is similar to the one above. The only difference is that the base in the bin is thin, yellow noodles. The bright, cut uncooked noodles add a pop of color and novel texture to the bin.

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Benefits of the Dinosaur Sensory Bins

Sensory bin invitations are non-threatening, open-ended activities for children to participate in. There is no right or wrong way to explore them, and that means zero pressure to meet certain standards.

The rice in the first two bins is relaxing for children to touch, sift, and pour. This helps children regulate their emotions.

As children add little dinosaur figurines and marbles to the fillable eggs, they gain hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.

Children take delight in making shaker musical instruments by adding rice to the eggs. This includes a musical component.

When two or more children play in the same bin, they practice sharing and turn-taking. Their discussions during the play enhance social development.

The sensory invitations have a collection of unique accessories that are new to the children. This encourages the little learners to be creative and use their imagination.

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More Sensory Activities

Flower Planting Sensory Play

Flower Potion Sensory Tray

Airplane Rice Sensory Bin

Cozy Gingerbread Sensory Bin

Plaid-themed Christmas Rice Bin

Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin

Easter Bunny Lentil Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]

Flower Potion Sensory Tray

August 10, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I love flowers and enjoy incorporating them in early learning activities. This flower potion sensory tray features vibrant flowers from my yard, colored water, and glitter for eye-appealing and super fun sensory play.

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Flower Potion Sensory Tray Supplies

Gather the following for this gorgeous sensory tray:

large sensory tray
squirt bottles
bowls and spoons
eye droppers or pipettes
mortar and pestle sets
pitchers
serving trays
liquid food coloring
glitter
shaving cream
leaves and flowers
small rocks

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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The Flower Potion Sensory Tray

An active world tray easily holds all the supplies for making potions.

Potions can be mixed in white bowls and wooden mortar and pestle sets. Pitchers of water provide the base for the concoctions.

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Squirt bottles with food coloring added to water allow for vibrant colors.

Small rocks and a selection of leaves and flowers are the natural materials included.

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Gold glitter adds a sparkly touch to the potions.

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Shaving cream adds a fluffy, foamy texture.

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Inserting large, clear cups gives more potion-making opportunities.

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Have you tried a flower potion sensory tray? Share in a comment below.

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More Activities With Flowers

Flower Treasure Blocks

Balloon Painting Flower Art

Bee and Sunflower Sensory Bin

Contact Paper Flower Art

Flower Stand Dramatic Play Center

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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…]

Salt Painting Sensory Bin

June 15, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This gigantic salt painting sensory tray is inspired by the many eye-catching salt trays I’ve seen online over the years. In this activity, children are invited to color salt in a huge sensory tray and draw, design, and sculpt with the wet salt.

Salt is inexpensive and has a sand-like texture. It is taste-safe, non-perishable, and easy to color in many beautiful hues.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this silky salt-based sensory bin:

4 boxes of salt
food coloring
paint pots
eye droppers or pipettes
small bowls
clear storage containers
tablespoons
toothed scraping tools

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Setting Up the Salt Painting Sensory Tray

This low-cost sensory activity is effortless to set up and works splendidly indoors or outdoors.

If doing the activity indoors, set a large, low-edged sensory tray on a table or stand made for the tray. This light, transportable active world tray, also called a tuff tray, is up to the task. Outside, if a table isn’t available, it rests on four stackable stools or patio end tables. So easy!

Tip: Outside, I recommend placing the sensory tray away from plants and grass since salt harms them.

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Next, add food coloring in a few hues to paint pots filled with water. Thinned tempera paints also work fine. Add eye droppers to the pots.

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Then add bowls and tablespoons for scooping and mixing, and toothed scrapers for creating designs.

Lastly, pour three boxes of salt into the tray. Reserve one box to sprinkle in more doses of salt periodically to add interest to the sensory invitation as children are playing.

The salt tray is ready to explore.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Exploring the Salt Painting Sensory Tray

This salt painting sensory tray is suitable for a group of children to explore. Invite participants to drip paint onto the salt and mix it in. They will love the coloring process and delight in mixing colors in the bowls and clear containers.

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They’ll naturally pick up the tools to make designs in the salt.

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Periodically add more salt to the bin so they can continue mixing and changing the colors.

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As the salt gets wetter, children may mold cakes and other items from the salt. When this happens, the scrapers make excellent slicers!

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When children are finished investigating the salty tray, have a water source nearby so they can wash up easily.

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Benefits of the Salt Painting Sensory Tray

Exploring a salt tray and mixing colors is a relaxing and satisfying science and sensory activity. Salt trays are also popular as prewriting invitations. Children experience a novel way to practice tracing and writing lines, letters, numbers, and shapes, using at least two of their senses. They develop eye-hand coordination and refine fine motor skills.

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More Sensory Activities

Salt and Glue Moon Art

Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Salt Painting Planet Art

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[Read more…]