One of the things we are doing this year as part of our Play School curriculum is a sensory bin. Kids learn so much through touching and manipulating items on their own, so I'm going to fill the sensory bin with items that relate to our lesson every week. I thought this would be something Helena would really enjoy, but Tempe loves it too!
I got this bin for $3 at Wal-Mart. It's deep enough that when there are dry beans or rice or other small things in the bin, it will be easy to keep them in the bin! The lid latches on and has a handle so the girls can get it off the shelf themselves. They know our sensory bin rules: No throwing or scattering, and no putting anything in your mouth!
Our first Play School lesson next week is on the Earth; specifically, what's inside the Earth. Because the Earth is shaped like a ball, I filled the sensory bin with a variety of balls of different sizes, weights, and textures, and a funnel and tube to drop them through.So far, we've sorted the balls by size and lined them up from largest to smallest; tested to see which balls bounce and which balls roll (they all do); and discussed the differences and similarities between the different balls. I told the girls that even though sun looks small to us, it is really much, much larger than our Earth. Then I had them back all the way across the room and walk towards me slowly as I held up the large ball, to see how it looked bigger as they got closer.
The girls love playing with their sensory bin and ask to get it out about 10 times a day! It's a hit!
3 comments:
you are such a good mom!
I love reading your blog for ideas! I have one question...where did you find your burners on your play kitchen stove?? Those are perfect and I need some!
A great sensory activity is to fill a large bowl with dried beans (pinto beans work well). Then hide miniature objects in the beans. Kids love running their hands through the beans and finding small treasures. It's a big hit in my classroom.
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