Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

sensory play

Lilac Flower Sensory Trays

by Leave a Comment

Two low-cost lilac flower sensory trays your early learners will love to explore. The DIY mud kitchen is a must-try!

_______

It is safe to say that our city is a late bloomer when it comes to plants popping up in spring. So when large, showy lilac blooms finally appear, I am more than ready to enjoy them. With these lilac flower sensory trays, their magnificent beauty and fragrant aroma are celebrated.

Before using natural materials with early learners, the first thing I do is check if the items I would like to introduce are poisonous or toxic. I was super excited to find that no lilac parts contain chemicals or toxins that are harmful to people or animals. This makes them safe for sensory tray play.

And when washed, lilac flowers are edible, with flavors that vary from grass-like, lilac, or no flavor at all.

_______

Lilac Flower Tuff Tray

As is often featured on this blog, this lilac flower sensory tray is easy-peasy to set up. You can use supplies commonly at your fingertips. Gather the following for the tray:

  • metal bowls
  • tablespoons
  • children’s scissors
  • containers with water
  • lilac foliage and sprigs in purple, lavender, and white
  • a bouquet of lilacs
Lilac flowers are the stars of this aromatic sensory play invitation.

_______

Set up stations in a tuff tray or sensory tub. For each station, include a metal bowl, lilac sprigs, a container with water, a pair of children’s scissors, and a large spoon. Place a bouquet of lilacs in the center for added visual appeal.

_______

Lilac flowers are the stars of this aromatic tuff tray play invitation.

_______

Invite little learners to explore. They will be thoroughly engrossed in cutting lilacs, pouring water, and making delicious “lilac soup.”

Oh-so-fun lilac flower sensory play in a tuff tray.

_______

Note: Lilacs come in a range of purple, pink, and white colors. The Spruce website features an array of gorgeous colors in a blog post titled “14 Beautiful Types Of Lilac.”

Lilac flowers are the stars of this aromatic sensory play invitation.

_______

Pop-Up Lilac Flower Mud Kitchen

How to set up a pop-up mud kitchen in minutes. A nature-based sensory activity your little learners will love.

_______

Another easy way to celebrate lilacs is to offer them in a pop-up mud kitchen:

Set a crate and small wire shelves in a sensory table or tray.

With a black felt pen, draw four stove burners on a section of cardboard.

Set the cardboard “stove top” on the crate.

Add metal pots, bowls, muffin tins, and spoons to the table/tray. Include a selection of smooth stones and tiny wood slices.

This DIY mud kitchen is a must-try. Aromatic lilac flowers accentuate the nature-based play invitation.

_____

Your little charges will love investigating this sensory invitation too!

Note: Both lilac flower sensory trays can be offered indoors or outdoors. And a current in-season flower can be used instead of lilacs.

Set up this "do it yourself" mud kitchen in minutes! Use it indoors or outdoors.

_______

Related: Flower Theme Activities

_______

[Read more…] about Lilac Flower Sensory Trays

Flower Planting Sensory Play

by Leave a Comment

Bring spring inside by introducing these four flower planting sensory play activities to your little learners.

_______

One of the best things to do in spring is to visit greenhouses, pick flowers, and then plant them in gardens and pots. Little learners can experience this indoors in flower planting sensory play activities.

A few easy-to-gather supplies are all that is needed for children to engage in spring planting sensory activities. Featured are four sensory tray ideas.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

_______

Seed Tray Flower Planting

Set up this no-fuss flower planting sensory activity today!

_______

Seed trays are the perfect size for planting miniature flower figurines.

Supplies To Collect:

  • small seed starter trays
  • flower figurines
  • dried black beans

Set out the seed starter trays, along with a bowl of black beans and flower figurines. Invite little learners to plant flowers in black bean “dirt.”

_______

Flower Planting Sensory Tray

Miniature flower and butterfly figurines take center stage in this easy-to-set-up flower planting sensory activity.

_______

The low edge in serving trays makes them ideal for little learners to reach in and explore sensory materials.

Supplies To Collect

  • small seed starter trays
  • dessert cups
  • flower and butterfly figurines
  • spoons
  • serving tray

Spread a layer of black beans in an edged serving tray. Set in dessert cups and spoons.

Then place containers with flowers and butterflies next to the tray.

Invite little learners to scoop and pour black beans, plant flowers, and add butterflies to their designs.

_______

Book-Inspired Construction Zone Tray

A bean-based sensory bin inspired by the storybook "The Digger And the Flower" by Joseph Kuefler.

_______

This book-inspired sensory tray features an unlikely pairing: a construction vehicle and flower figurines.

Supplies To Collect

  • picture Book: The Digger And The Flower
  • black beans
  • rocks
  • flower figurines
  • serving tray

Read the endearing picture book called “The Digger And The Flower” by Joseph Kuefler. It’s a keeper!

Then layer a base of black beans in a serving tray.

Next set in a construction vehicle digger, rocks, and a few flowers.

Afterward, invite students to take turns exploring the tray.

_______

Rice Bin Flower Planting

Miniature flower figurines take center stage in this easy-to-set-up flower planting rice bin.

_______

Rice makes an economical sensory base in this bin.

Supplies To Collect:

  • brown rice
  • seed starter trays
  • flower and butterfly figurines
  • wooden scoops
  • plastic bin

Spread brown rice in a bin. I feature a food service bin that accommodates two to three children.  Add in seed starter trays, flower figurines, and wooden scoops for little learners to use in the bin.

_______

Note: Eaten raw, black beans and rice are toxic. Supervision is important when offering these activities. If your little charges are prone to sticking things in their mouths, consider using an edible sensory base.

_______

These four flower planting sensory play invitations take only minutes to set up. With slight variations in supplies, the flower and butterfly figurines can be explored in new ways.

_______

Related: Carrot Paint Prints

_______

[Read more…] about Flower Planting Sensory Play

Rainbow Sensory Tray

by Leave a Comment

There are so many rainbow images and activities posted online in March, and most are associated with leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. But I’m introducing this rainbow sensory tray (with a container for “gold)” in May since the colorful arcs will be a common sight in the sky in the coming months.

_______

This rainbow sensory tray makes a perfect spring activity. It is designed for a light table but works on a regular one too.

_______

Rainbows and a stash of gold have other meanings than those suggested in the leprechaun legends we are familiar with. For instance, a rainbow represents an effort-filled journey towards a goal. The journey itself is meaningful and beautiful, just like a rainbow. The resulting accomplishment is the “pot of gold.”  Completing post-secondary education, learning to drive a car, or buying a home are examples of worthy goals.

The colors in a rainbow can represent character qualities helpful in achieving goals in life:

  • Vibrant red represents strength and energy.
  • Luscious orange signifies optimism and spontaneity.
  • Bright yellow oozes creativity.
  • Green stands for peacefulness and balance.
  • Tranquil blue suggests honesty and reliability.

And other than coins or a difficult goal achieved, a ”pot of gold” may signify a great friend, a home with a loving family, or valuable skills and insights learned.

And so…a rainbow and pot of gold sensory activity is appropriate any time of the year!

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Colorful transparent reusable ice cubes are the "stars" of this cheery rainbow sensory tray designed for a light table.

_______

For this cheery sensory tray, gather the following supplies:

  • a clear rectangular serving tray
  • transparent reusable ice cubes in a variety of colors
  • gold acrylic pebble gems
  • large clear, flat acrylic gems
  • a small, clear container and a large spoon

_______

Setting Up The Rainbow Sensory Tray

Transparent gems and star-shaped reusable ice cubes are the highlights of this rainbow sensory tray.

_______

This sensory tray can be set up in minutes:

  • First, arrange the ice cubes in a rainbow design on a clear rectangular tray.
  • Next, add clear rock-shaped gems to be clouds at the rainbow ends.
  • Then sprinkle in gold gems to represent coins.
  • Lastly, add the clear container and a large spoon for scooping.

_______

Colorful transparent reusable ice cubes are the "stars" of this cheery rainbow sensory tray designed for a light table.

_______

The tray is designed to be offered on a light table or lightbox. But it would work fine as a play invitation on a regular table too.

_______

This rainbow sensory tray makes a perfect spring activity. It is designed for a light table but works on a regular one too.

_______

Related: St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

_______

_______

Do you want to learn how rainbows form in the sky? Click here for a simple explanation:

_______

[Read more…] about Rainbow Sensory Tray

Felt Marker Color Exploration

by Leave a Comment

Create beautiful hues with this felt marker color exploration invitation. The activty is easy and economical to set up!

_______

So – many – beautiful – hues! That‘s what your little learners will create while engaging in this felt marker color exploration invitation. The activity is easy and economical to set up and the science experiment is as interesting to children as any other project out there.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies. Most can be found in the kitchen, so you probably already have them!

  • plastic tablecloth
  • water-based felt markers
  • office paper
  • craft foam
  • paper towels
  • clear plastic or white styrofoam egg cartons
  • compartment trays
  • scissors
  • jug of water

_______

Create beautiful hues with this felt marker color exploration invitation. The activity is easy and economical to set up!

_______

The Felt Marker Color Exploration Set Up

First, cover a table with a plastic tablecloth.

Next cut paper, paper towels, and craft foam into 2-inch x 3-inch strips.

For each participant, fill sections of an egg carton with water. Or add water to empty tempera block trays.

Then set up stations with strips of paper and foam, and a water-filled egg carton or compartment tray.

Add a set of water-based felt markers to each spot.

_______

Exploring Color With Felt Pens And Markers

An easy and economical felt marker color exploration activity your children will love to do!

_______

Invite participants to decorate foam and paper strips with felt markers, and then dip the strips into egg carton sections. The water will turn a variety of colors, resulting in exquisite transient art. Such a fun science experiment with an artistic flair!

The colored water in the clear egg cartons below is the work of several students. I was so impressed with the many colors they created. The plastic egg cartons are set on a light table so the hues display clearly. Aren’t they gorgeous?

So many beautiful hues can be created with this felt marker color exploration activity.

_______

Related:

_______

[Read more…] about Felt Marker Color Exploration

Ladybug Sensory Tray

by Leave a Comment

This ladybug sensory tray is filled with flowers. It is a great example of how an easy-to-set-up activity can provide so much enjoyment to children, and also have educational outcomes.

_______

Make this eye-pleasing ladybug sensory tray for your little learners today! Facts about ladybugs and flowers included.

_______

Ladybugs And Flowers

Did you know that ladybugs (also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles) and flowers go hand in hand? This is because the spotted, well-loved bugs are attracted to the nectar (a source of protein,) and pollen (a carbohydrate energy source) in flowers.

And as they travel from flower to flower, ladybugs transport pollen, fertilizing blooms as they go.

Some flower varieties ladybugs especially love are:

  • marigolds
  • nasturtium
  • cosmos
  • yarrow
  • sunflowers
  • zinnias
  • sweet alyssum
  • scented geraniums

Ladybugs are also helpful in a flower patch because their main food source is tiny, green, pesky aphids. These pests suck nutrient-rich juices from plant parts and multiply quickly.

An adult ladybug can munch on up to fifty aphids a day. They eat other bugs as well as flower pollen and nectar to supplement their diet.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

The Ladybug Sensory Tray

A color-filled ladybug and flower sensory tray. Facts about ladybugs and blooms included.

_______

This tray is effortless to set up, and your little learners will be eager to explore it.

For the base, I feature a large, square serving tray. It’s easy for little ones to reach in and reorganize the pieces.

Craft punched paper flowers are arranged in the tray, along with artificial plant leaves and a few smooth rocks.

As my ladybug figurines are buried in a large bin, I use craft foam ladybugs in two different sizes. The light, oversized bugs add interest to the tray.

Make this eye-pleasing ladybug sensory tray for your little learners today! Facts about ladybugs and flowers included.

_______

If flowers are plentiful in your area, you can add real ones to your bin. The tray below features a few kinds of sunflowers.

For an alternative to ladybug figurines, painted rock bugs are an inexpensive choice.

_______

Do you love ladybugs or need some around to combat aphids? Why not plant flowers that they are attracted to in your flower patch or container garden.

_______

Related: Ladybug Wand Craft

_______

[Read more…] about Ladybug Sensory Tray