Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

water play

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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Space Loose Parts Play

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Loose parts are a highlight in any play center, and they certainly shine in a space theme. Sorted in a tray, they are ready for all kinds of outer space loose parts play. The outer space-themed supplies can be added to a rice bin, water play bin, or playdough invitation. The out-of-this-world loose parts have other great uses as well.

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Space Loose Parts Supplies

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The following economical and easy-to-find supplies are in the space loose parts tray:

  • space-ship shaped bubble blowing containers
  • star-shaped buttons
  • thin bracelets
  • orange and white ping pong balls
  • glow in the dark stars, stones, and pebbles
  • space-themed erasers
  • marbles
  • rubber balls
  • sun and star-shaped acrylic gems
  • yellow pickleball balls
  • astronaut and spaceship toys

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The Space Loose Parts Tray

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Repurposed spaceship-shaped bubble blowing containers with screw-top lids work well in sensory bin activities and are super fun to use.

Glow-in-the-dark stars and star-shaped buttons help create vivid night skies. The stones and pebbles serve as space rocks.

Yellow pickleball balls represent a lighted, crater-filled moon.

Various kinds and colors of small balls and marbles can be reimagined as planets or moons, and the bracelets make great planetary rings.

Iridescent sun and star-shaped acrylic gems add beauty to outer space play activities.

Mini astronaut and spaceship toys and erasers extend imaginative play.

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Space Loose Parts Play

The colorful rubber balls in the space loose parts play tray can be used in large motor activities.

The space-themed buttons, glow-in-the-dark stars, rocks, bracelets, erasers, and acrylic gems make great loose parts in outer space pretend play.

The supplies in the tray are perfect for a space-themed transient art invitation.

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The outer space supplies shine in a rice sensory bin or water play setup.

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And the supplies are tantalizing in a playdough invitation.

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Starry Sky Sensory Bin

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Just as vegetables that come in a variety of colors are always a happy find, so are interestingly colored flowers. These award-winning, starry sky petunias are a new discovery for me, and they caught my attention at a hardware store! Their varying color patterns and space-themed name make them perfect for a starry sky sensory bin.

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Starry Sky Petunias were introduced about eight years ago, and their spectacular speckled white and purple flowers are a reminder of the cosmos. Each individual flower varies in shade of color and placement of white dots and splotches. The super pretty petunia plant is also named Night Sky Petunia and Galaxy Petunia.

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Supplies To Collect

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This flower-inspired starry sky sensory bin contains the following loose part supplies:

  • starry sky petunia flowers
  • astronaut figurines
  • toy planets
  • glow in the dark moon and stars
  • toy spaceships in varying designs
  • pink and purple buttons
  • large and small marbles
  • purple and pink tumbled stones
  • turquoise, pink, and purple acrylic gems
  • silver spray painted rocks
  • agate slices

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The Starry Sky Sensory Bin

The supplies in the starry sky sensory bin are offered in two different containers.

This first bin for the sensory play loose parts is a food bus tub. It is super user-friendly and can be set up anywhere. Two or three little learners can play in the tub at the same time.

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Water with a little fluorescent purple food coloring added is the base for the bin. Breathtaking, other-worldly Starry Sky Petunias are the “stars” of the sensory play invitation.

Space-themed toys such as astronaut figurines, spaceships in varying sizes, glow-in-the-dark moon and stars, and toy planets complement the petunias.

Marbles in varying sizes are space rocks or pretend planets.

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Loose parts such as silver spray-painted rocks, agate slices, pink and purple tumbled stones, and acrylic gems add beauty to the bin.

Complementary-colored buttons are a welcome addition to any sensory bin.

This next water-based bin is a round, edged serving tray. It can also be offered anywhere and is suitable for one or two little ones to use at a time. The water level is a little lower, allowing for a large toy spaceship to stand upright in the bin.

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Petunia flowers in any color provide beautiful, cascading blooms all growing season long. Solid pink, purple, or white petunia flowers would also work wonderfully in this starry sky sensory bin.

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Jellyfish Theme Activities

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Jellyfish theme with art, math, scissor skill, water play, and light table activities. Interestng jellyfish facts and free printables included.

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It was clear jellyfish that got me interested in this unique sea creature, and are the inspiration behind this jellyfish theme post. Three transparent jellyfish crafts are included in the theme, along with scissor skills, math, and water play ideas.

Sea jelly is the proper name for jellyfish since these creatures are not fish. Fish have a face, brains, tails, fins, and backbone, which sea jellies don’t have. But since most people still use the term jellyfish and find activities by searching this name, I’m using both words in my facts and activities.

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Fascinating Jellyfish Facts

Here are ten interesting facts about jellyfish:

  • Sea jellies are found in waters all over the world: cold or warm, shallow or deep, near shore or deep in the ocean.
  • These graceful creatures have a bell-shaped body, with oral arms and tentacles that look like streamers.
  • Jellyfish come in many colors and are often luminescent.
  • The tiny stinging cells on their tentacles capture prey. The tentacles can also sting people.
  • Inside the bell, sea jellies have a mouth to eat food with.
Make this sparkly iridescent jellyfish craft that doubles as an ocean drum and movement prop, It displays beautifully indoors or outdoors.

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  • These floaty creatures eat fish, crabs, shrimp, tiny plants, and zooplankton.
  • Their predators are large fish, sea turtles, and sometimes other jellyfish.
  • Sea Jellies are slow swimmers, pulsing along. They often get overpowered by strong currents that carry them along.
  • From small to humungous, sea jellies come in many different sizes and shapes.
  • The Portuguese Man Of War is the biggest sea jelly. Nomeus fish live in their deadly tentacles and do not get eaten. The tiny fish help attract large prey that this massive sea jelly ends up eating.
  • Jellyfish live for just under two days to under a year.

For more facts about sea jellies, view the blog post “Jellies” on montereybayaquarium.org.

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Iridescent Jellyfish Crafts

These three jellyfish crafts are inspired by the moon jelly, which has a transparent, umbrella-shaped bell. Iridescent craft supplies shine in the stringy crafts.

Supplies To Collect

Simple supplies to create three different transparent jellyfish crafts. Iridescent craft supplies take center stage in the projects.

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Gather the following supplies for the transparent sea jelly crafts:

  • two clear disposable dinner plates
  • opaque or clear transparent disposable drinking cup
  • clear dessert bowl
  • iridescent beads
  • two kinds of sparkly, textured, thin yarn
  • iridescent curly ribbon
  • iridescent metallic shreds
  • glue gun
  • wiggly eyes

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Clear Plate Jellyfish

Create this stunning iridescent jellyfish craft using clear disposable plates and iridescent craft supplies. Great for music, movement, and language arts activities.

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To make this large jellyfish, start by positioning one clear dinner plate right side up, and laying metallic shreds and a small handful of iridescent beads on it.

Next, cut strips of sparkly and /or iridescent yarn and curly ribbon and glue them in a row at the bottom of the plate using the glue gun.

Then glue the second dinner plate upside down on top of the first one by applying hot glue to the edge of one or both plates.

Lastly, glue two large wiggly eyes to one of the plates, and affix a yarn strip to hang the jellyfish on the other side.

Make this sparkly iridescent jellyfish craft that doubles as an ocean drum and movement prop, It displays beautifully indoors or outdoors.

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This jellyfish looks beautiful displayed in the classroom in a sunny spot, or outside on a tree. The crafted jellyfish also makes an ocean drum musical instrument and can be a unique accessory for language arts. music, and movement activities.

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Dessert Bowl Jellyfish

Design this simple hanging jellyfish craft using gorgeous, iridescent supplies. Display it is a sunny location for maximum shine.

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This second jellyfish craft most replicates the moon jelly shape and is so easy to make. Just glue one end of the yarn and curly ribbon strips to the inside of the bowl so that they hang down like jellyfish arms and tentacles. Affix a loop to hang on the bottom of the bowl, and this sea jelly is ready to be displayed.

Hanging outside at night, it looks like a sea jelly floating deep in the ocean.

Design this hanging jellyfish craft using gorgeous, iridescent supplies. Displayed at night, it looks like a sea jelly floating in deep ocean waters.

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Disposable Cup Jellyfish

Design this cute jellyfish cup craft using iridescent supplies. Display it indoors or outdoors to add ambiance to an ocean creature theme.

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Make this craft just like the one above using a clear or opaque disposable cup instead of the dessert bowl. Add wiggly eyes for the finishing touch.

Design this simple jellyfish cup craft using gorgeous, iridescent supplies. Display it is a sunny location for maximum shine.

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More Jellyfish Activities

Scissor Skill Jellyfish

Here’s an easy jellyfish scissor skills project to download for your little learners. Invite participants to cut out along the lines to create sea jelly tentacles, and then cut out the bell-shaped body.

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Free Jellyfish PrintableDownload

(This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.)

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In this next activity, trace and cut out jellyfish bells from colored cardstock paper, and then print and snip apart the numbered tentacles. Invite little learners to glue tentacles to their jellyfish bell in order from one to five. Use this second printable for the project.

Download this free jellyfish math template for little learners to create a paper craft, practice scissor skills, and order numbers form one to five.

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Free Jellyfish Math PrintableDownload

(This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.)

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Invite little learners to practice scissor skills and math concepts by completing a paper craft jellyfish with numbered tentacles.

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Or simply photocopy the jellyfish printable on pastel-colored paper or cardstock to add pops of color to the activity.

Invite little learners to practice scissor skills and math concepts by completing a paper craft jellyfish with numbered tentacles.

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More Jellyfish Math

Use paper jellyfish or jellyfish figurines in counting rhymes and songs.

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Light Table Jellyfish

Invitation to create jellyfish on a light table with transparent stir sticks and page divider cut outs. Wiggly eyes are the finishing touch.

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Invite little learners to create jellyfish on a light table with transparent page divider cutouts and stir sticks.

Invitation to create jellyfish on a light table with transparent stir sticks and page divider cut outs. Wiggly eyes are the finishing touch.

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Jellyfish Water Play

Include jellyfish dive toys, fishing nets, strainers, and foam numbers in a water table, tuff tray, or bus tub. Little learners can count, sort, and scoop the colored jellyfish in the bin.

Include this easy-to-set-up jellyfish water play activity with dive toys, large shells, sand dollars, and acrylic gems in your next ocean theme.

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Related:

Sea Turtle Theme Activities

Octopus Theme Activities

Sea Star Theme Activities

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“Go Fishing” Sensory Tray

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Use toy fishing rods and accessories for a super fun "Go Fishing" active world tray. Add ocean-themed loose parts to extend play.

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This easy-to-set-up “Go Fishing” sensory tray allows your little learners to have a blast catching and transferring fish, and exploring related ocean-themed loose parts. And there are plenty of opportunities for learning in this hands-on, play-based activity.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

An ocean-themed loose part collection for a super fun "Go Fishing" active world tray. your early learners will love.

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To give your little charges a super fun, ocean-themed sensory experience, gather the following:

  • water table or active world tray
  • toy fishing sets
  • sea jelly dive toys
  • miniature ocean creatures
  • fish-themed fillable eggs
  • bowl with marbles
  • four hot dog baskets
  • strainer
  • shells
  • punch bowl

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The “Go Fishing” Sensory Tray

Fishing sets and ocean-themed loose parts are featured in this super fun "Go Fishing" active world tray your early learners will love.

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To set up this inviting, sea creature-filled sensory tray, start out by setting a non-breakable punch bowl in the center of an active world tray. Fill the bowl with water.

Then set fish from a few inexpensive toy fishing sets in a basket, and spread a few others around the punch bowl.

Tip: Dollar stores are a great place to find many of the supplies in this post.

Next, fill the other baskets with sea jelly dive toys, miniature ocean creatures, and sea creature-themed fillable eggs.

Note: Hot dog baskets are a perfect size for the activity.

Lastly, add toy fishing rods along with a bowl with marbles and a strainer with shells.

Setting up a sensory tray couldn’t be any easier. And I’m sure your little learners will dive right in.

Use toy fishing rods and accessories for a super fun "Go Fishing" active world tray. Add ocean-themed loose parts to extend play.

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Variations Of This Sensory Activity

If you have access to a water table, fill it with water and drop in all the supplies. Your little charges can transfer fish to baskets and explore the fillable eggs, sea jelly dive toys, miniature ocean creatures, marbles, and shells.

And adding mini fishing nets would be great for scooping up toy sea jellies. Including more strainers would be nice too.

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Benefits Of The “Go Fishing” Sensory Tray

Aside from being just plain fun, this fishing game sensory tray allows young children to:

  • develop eye-hand coordination
  • practice transferring objects from one place to another
  • sort fish and sea jelly dive toys by color
  • count all the fish they catch
  • label and discuss many different ocean creatures
  • learn that fish hatch from eggs

Can you think of anything to add to this sensory activity? Share in a comment below.

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Related:

Ocean Playdough Tray

Octopus Theme Activities

Sea Star Activities

Saving Green Sea Turtles

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