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In the early childhood or special education classroom, sensory bins are a staple! They allow your students to explore tons of different textures and materials and can help develop a healthy tactile system. These types of activities are especially great for children with autism, as sensory practice helps calm and them and improve focus and concentration.
My all-time favorite base for sensory bins is rice.
Dying rice different colors is VERY easy to do, and you only need materials that you most likely already have in your classroom.
DIY Sensory Rice Recipe
Materials needed:
Gallon size bag
Washable paint (I used Crayola tempura paint)
Rice-Tray/pan for drying
Wax paper (optional)
In the past, a lot of people used vinegar and food coloring to dye rice to for sensory bins. Using paint is quick, easy, and won’t leave your hands blue. Plus, if kept dry, this rice will last forever. This would even be a fun activity to do WITH your students. They will be amazed by the process!
Step 1: Add a few cups of rice to the plastic bag, and squirt the paint in
Step 2: Shake and squish the rice in the bag until it’s completely covered in the paint. Don’t be afraid to add more if you want more vibrant color!
Step 3: Spread the rice out on a tray or a pan in an even layer to dry. I like to put mine on wax paper, so there is less clean up. It dries pretty quick!
Step 4: Once dry, use your hands to break apart the rice until its loose.
For this activity, I made green, blue, and lime green rice for fun, spring colors. Once all the colors were dry, I mixed them up together in our bin.
Add some scoopers and cups, and your students will have a blast!
Dino-Sorters Sensory Bin
When I put together sensory bins for the classroom, I love throwing counters or other manipulatives to add a skill component. For fine motor development, I offer plastic tongs and tweezers for students to use to pick out the objects from the rice, which helps build up those finger muscles for pre-writing.
For this bin, I used the Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set from Learning Resources. I love how this set works on a number of skills in one activity and can be easily differentiated based each student’s ability level. I put the dinosaurs in the rice, and set the dinosaur eggs to the side.
Students can sort the dinosaurs by color, count the dinosaurs needed to fill each egg, match the dinosaur egg tops and bottoms by color, or put the eggs in order from 1-10, or in descending order from 10 to 1. To challenge your students, you could always have them compare the amounts in the eggs or complete simple addition or subtraction story problems (i.e. I have 3 dinosaurs in this egg, if one of my dinosaurs jumps back into the water, how many dinosaurs are left in the egg?). The possibilities are endless!
With this activity, students are working on:
-fine motor skills-color identification
-number identification
-one to one correspondence
-counting
-early addition/subtraction
After students complete the activity, allow them time to play! Lots of learning happens when students are engrossed in imaginary play. Not only does play benefit students’ social development, but it also enhances language and communication development as well.
Save it for later!
Sensory Dinosaur Terrarium
Materials Needed:
Jumbo Dinosaurs
Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool Set
Container – We used a “coconut” planter for an added touch of sensory and balancing (it is a wobbly container, so the weight of the items inside needed to be distributed evenly- tricky!)
Rocks – we found the bags of rocks at the Dollar Tree, and they were the perfect size for the helping hands tools!
Marble Pebbles (flat pebbles are great for in-hand finger manipulation)
Succulents (This fun pretend “use again and again” succulents are from the Dollar Tree)
Step 1:
Using the helping hands toolset items, fill the terrarium container with rocks (dirt, sand, etc.). The rocks were perfect for the tongs pictured (great for practicing scissor skills, coordination, as well as strengthening)
Step 2:
Add marble pebbles (we chose blue and white ones to give it a “water” effect)
Step 3:
Plant succulents and create a dino-scape. Using tweezers to carefully place the succulents around the terrarium works on motor planning, along with more finger and hand strengthening – all of which will develop those underlying skills need for future handwriting!
Step 4:
Add your dino’s!
Variation: We also used all of the same materials for an indoor water play version using an oven tray.
The materials selected for this activity help to develop lots of intrinsic hand muscles and joints, along with visual and motor coordination! For younger kiddos, you can always remove the use of the tools and have them use their fingers and hands – for the older kiddos, you can always add more challenges by having them use the tools and more detailed coordination to create their terrarium. This is a fun activity that can grow with the kiddo as their skills progress!
In the early childhood or special education classroom, sensory bins are a staple! They allow your students to explore tons of different textures and materials and can help develop a healthy tactile system. These types of activities are especially great for children with autism, as sensory practice helps calm and them and improve focus and concentration.
My all-time favorite base for sensory bins is rice.
Dying rice different colors is VERY easy to do, and you only need materials that you most likely already have in your classroom.
DIY Sensory Rice Recipe
Materials needed:
Gallon size bag
Washable paint (I used Crayola tempura paint)
Rice-Tray/pan for drying
Wax paper (optional)
In the past, a lot of people used vinegar and food coloring to dye rice to for sensory bins. Using paint is quick, easy, and won’t leave your hands blue. Plus, if kept dry, this rice will last forever. This would even be a fun activity to do WITH your students. They will be amazed by the process!
Step 1: Add a few cups of rice to the plastic bag, and squirt the paint in
Step 2: Shake and squish the rice in the bag until it’s completely covered in the paint. Don’t be afraid to add more if you want more vibrant color!
Step 3: Spread the rice out on a tray or a pan in an even layer to dry. I like to put mine on wax paper, so there is less clean up. It dries pretty quick!
Step 4: Once dry, use your hands to break apart the rice until its loose.
For this activity, I made green, blue, and lime green rice for fun, spring colors. Once all the colors were dry, I mixed them up together in our bin.
Add some scoopers and cups, and your students will have a blast!
Dino-Sorters Sensory Bin
When I put together sensory bins for the classroom, I love throwing counters or other manipulatives to add a skill component. For fine motor development, I offer plastic tongs and tweezers for students to use to pick out the objects from the rice, which helps build up those finger muscles for pre-writing.
For this bin, I used the Counting Dino-Sorters Math Activity Set from Learning Resources. I love how this set works on a number of skills in one activity and can be easily differentiated based each student’s ability level. I put the dinosaurs in the rice, and set the dinosaur eggs to the side.
Students can sort the dinosaurs by color, count the dinosaurs needed to fill each egg, match the dinosaur egg tops and bottoms by color, or put the eggs in order from 1-10, or in descending order from 10 to 1. To challenge your students, you could always have them compare the amounts in the eggs or complete simple addition or subtraction story problems (i.e. I have 3 dinosaurs in this egg, if one of my dinosaurs jumps back into the water, how many dinosaurs are left in the egg?). The possibilities are endless!
With this activity, students are working on:
-fine motor skills-color identification
-number identification
-one to one correspondence
-counting
-early addition/subtraction
After students complete the activity, allow them time to play! Lots of learning happens when students are engrossed in imaginary play. Not only does play benefit students’ social development, but it also enhances language and communication development as well.
Save it for later!
Sensory Dinosaur Terrarium
Materials Needed:
Jumbo Dinosaurs
Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool Set
Container – We used a “coconut” planter for an added touch of sensory and balancing (it is a wobbly container, so the weight of the items inside needed to be distributed evenly- tricky!)
Rocks – we found the bags of rocks at the Dollar Tree, and they were the perfect size for the helping hands tools!
Marble Pebbles (flat pebbles are great for in-hand finger manipulation)
Succulents (This fun pretend “use again and again” succulents are from the Dollar Tree)
Step 1:
Using the helping hands toolset items, fill the terrarium container with rocks (dirt, sand, etc.). The rocks were perfect for the tongs pictured (great for practicing scissor skills, coordination, as well as strengthening)
Step 2:
Add marble pebbles (we chose blue and white ones to give it a “water” effect)
Step 3:
Plant succulents and create a dino-scape. Using tweezers to carefully place the succulents around the terrarium works on motor planning, along with more finger and hand strengthening – all of which will develop those underlying skills need for future handwriting!
Step 4:
Add your dino’s!
Variation: We also used all of the same materials for an indoor water play version using an oven tray.
The materials selected for this activity help to develop lots of intrinsic hand muscles and joints, along with visual and motor coordination! For younger kiddos, you can always remove the use of the tools and have them use their fingers and hands – for the older kiddos, you can always add more challenges by having them use the tools and more detailed coordination to create their terrarium. This is a fun activity that can grow with the kiddo as their skills progress!
Is it getting hot in here? Since those Firelytes love the heat, we thought we’d go an adventure with them to the hottest spot in our galaxy: the SUN!
The Sun is a spot of constant fascination for scientists and space-lovers alike. On August 12, 2018, NASA launched the historic Park Solar Probe. Its mission is to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun. Parker will be able to travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to it than any spacecraft before!
The hope is that Parker will be able to provide humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.Before we get into what Parker is looking for, let’s have the Firelytes describe to us all the parts of the sun. The sun accounts for 99.86% of our solar system, and is made up of the gases hydrogen and helium. It is so big that one million Earths could fit inside it. Wow! It is made up of several layers that help us understand its makeup, so let’s take a look. Take it away, Firelytes!
Layers of the Sun
Core
Erupto says: The Sun’s core is about 200,000 miles across and takes up about one quarter of the Sun’s size. The temperature inside is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The core is tightly packed, which creates an environment for nuclear reactions to occur.
Radiative Zone
Hearther says: The radiative zone is just outside the core and generates energy by nuclear fusion. Both the core and radiative zone spin differently than the rest of the sun. This energy produced is in the form of photons, or particles of light or radiation.
Convective Zone
Chark Says: A thermometer would read 15 million degrees Celsius in the convective zone of the Sun. Energy created from the radiative zone is transported through here by radiation and conduction.
Photosphere
Blazer says: The photosphere is the visible surface of the sun. It is what we see on Earth. Light is radiated from the photosphere’s surface.
Chromosphere
Magmunch says: Temperatures at the Sun’s chromosphere are about 4,000 degrees Celsius. This is the layer that emits the sun’s reddish color only visible during eclipses.
Corona
Twotorch says: The Sun is surrounded by a “jacket of gases” called an atmosphere. The outermost later is corona. It is usually not visible because of the Sun’s bright light, but can be seen by a total solar eclipse.
Now back to Parker, the NASA’s space probe currently making its way around the Sun. For the first time, Parker will be able to gather data from the corona, hoping to deepen scientists’ understanding of the origin and evolution of solar wind. The neatest part? Parker will be able to give information to NASA’s ability to forecast changes in Earth’s space environment that will affect life and technology here on our planet.
Parker will hurtle around the Sun at 430,00 mph.
How fast is that? Well, fast enough to get from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in one second!
And what about the heat? Parker’s outer solar shield will be up against temperatures of about 2,500 degree Fahrenheit, but inside the probe it will stay a comfortable room temperature. The Sun is the only star we can study up close. As the source of light and heat for the Earth, the more scientists study it, the more we can understand how life on Earth developed. Solar wind, or the flow of gases from the Sun, can cause disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. All good stuff to find out – Parker is going to help scientists do it.
Stay tuned on Parker’s latest findings at nasa.gov. And thank you, Firelytes, for our Sun fun facts!
Is it getting hot in here? Since those Firelytes love the heat, we thought we’d go an adventure with them to the hottest spot in our galaxy: the SUN!
The Sun is a spot of constant fascination for scientists and space-lovers alike. On August 12, 2018, NASA launched the historic Park Solar Probe. Its mission is to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun. Parker will be able to travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to it than any spacecraft before!
The hope is that Parker will be able to provide humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.Before we get into what Parker is looking for, let’s have the Firelytes describe to us all the parts of the sun. The sun accounts for 99.86% of our solar system, and is made up of the gases hydrogen and helium. It is so big that one million Earths could fit inside it. Wow! It is made up of several layers that help us understand its makeup, so let’s take a look. Take it away, Firelytes!
Layers of the Sun
Core
Erupto says: The Sun’s core is about 200,000 miles across and takes up about one quarter of the Sun’s size. The temperature inside is about 15 million degrees Celsius. The core is tightly packed, which creates an environment for nuclear reactions to occur.
Radiative Zone
Hearther says: The radiative zone is just outside the core and generates energy by nuclear fusion. Both the core and radiative zone spin differently than the rest of the sun. This energy produced is in the form of photons, or particles of light or radiation.
Convective Zone
Chark Says: A thermometer would read 15 million degrees Celsius in the convective zone of the Sun. Energy created from the radiative zone is transported through here by radiation and conduction.
Photosphere
Blazer says: The photosphere is the visible surface of the sun. It is what we see on Earth. Light is radiated from the photosphere’s surface.
Chromosphere
Magmunch says: Temperatures at the Sun’s chromosphere are about 4,000 degrees Celsius. This is the layer that emits the sun’s reddish color only visible during eclipses.
Corona
Twotorch says: The Sun is surrounded by a “jacket of gases” called an atmosphere. The outermost later is corona. It is usually not visible because of the Sun’s bright light, but can be seen by a total solar eclipse.
Now back to Parker, the NASA’s space probe currently making its way around the Sun. For the first time, Parker will be able to gather data from the corona, hoping to deepen scientists’ understanding of the origin and evolution of solar wind. The neatest part? Parker will be able to give information to NASA’s ability to forecast changes in Earth’s space environment that will affect life and technology here on our planet.
Parker will hurtle around the Sun at 430,00 mph.
How fast is that? Well, fast enough to get from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in one second!
And what about the heat? Parker’s outer solar shield will be up against temperatures of about 2,500 degree Fahrenheit, but inside the probe it will stay a comfortable room temperature. The Sun is the only star we can study up close. As the source of light and heat for the Earth, the more scientists study it, the more we can understand how life on Earth developed. Solar wind, or the flow of gases from the Sun, can cause disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. All good stuff to find out – Parker is going to help scientists do it.
Stay tuned on Parker’s latest findings at nasa.gov. And thank you, Firelytes, for our Sun fun facts!
The weather is getting warmer, the sun is starting to stay out longer, it can only mean one thing: Spring is here!This year do something out of the ordinary with our Ultimate Spring Break List! Each activity gets your kids' brains working while they have fun during their vacation. How many will you and your family do?
Go to a local museum.
Pack up the kids and find a museum near you, no need to travel far! Fun tip: Check to see if the museums have a special kid day!
Plant flowers.
Your little learners will love to watch their creations grow! You can also plant veggies and watch your kids' delight as they eat something they planted with their own hands! This may be the trick to getting them to eat their vegetables. ???? ???? ????
Get up early (or wait for dinner-time!) to watch the sky burst with colors! Explain what causes this awesome view in the sky! Small particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays, causing them to scatter different directions.
Read a book everyday.
Just because there's a break from school doesn't mean you should take a break from reading! Mix it up: Keep your kids' brains active by having them read to you!
Walk to the park.
Get moving and bring some snacks for a trip to the swings! Have the kids navigate your way to and from the park!
Try a new food.
Break the habit of picky eating with a new food; maybe mango or another sweet, exotic fruit! You never know what new favorite will be discovered!
Cook dinner together.
Have the little ones be sous chefs for the night with mixing and pouring! This is a fun way to teach basic measuring skills.
Rainy day activities.
Spring showers bringing you down? No worries, check out this Rainy Day DIY Activities list! It includes an umbrella craft and an indoor rainbow activity!
Learn a new game.
Pick out a new board game or find one on Pinterest.
Make up a game.
Take it a step further and make up your own game instead! Put on your thinking caps and make up your own rules for a classic game, maybe a new way to play checkers? The kids can also get creative by designing the board themselves!
Paint a picture.
Get wild with the water colors!
Volunteer.
Go to the local pet shelter and help feed the cats and dogs for a few hours! This is an amazing habit to get kids into at an early age. It teaches compassion and you get to play with animals all day! Win-win!
Go bird watching.
Break out the binoculars and see how many birds are coming out to play! Listen and look carefully and record each birds different characteristics.
Go on a nature hike.
Find a local forest preserve and walk the paths! Bring a bucket for special findings along the way!
Make a bird feeder.
Click here to create this simple bird feeder out of recycled items in the house!
Ultimate Spring Break Activity List
The weather is getting warmer, the sun is starting to stay out longer, it can only mean one thing: Spring is here!This year do something out of the ordinary with our Ultimate Spring Break List! Each activity gets your kids' brains working while they have fun during their vacation. How many will you and your family do?
Go to a local museum.
Pack up the kids and find a museum near you, no need to travel far! Fun tip: Check to see if the museums have a special kid day!
Plant flowers.
Your little learners will love to watch their creations grow! You can also plant veggies and watch your kids' delight as they eat something they planted with their own hands! This may be the trick to getting them to eat their vegetables. ???? ???? ????
Get up early (or wait for dinner-time!) to watch the sky burst with colors! Explain what causes this awesome view in the sky! Small particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays, causing them to scatter different directions.
Read a book everyday.
Just because there's a break from school doesn't mean you should take a break from reading! Mix it up: Keep your kids' brains active by having them read to you!
Walk to the park.
Get moving and bring some snacks for a trip to the swings! Have the kids navigate your way to and from the park!
Try a new food.
Break the habit of picky eating with a new food; maybe mango or another sweet, exotic fruit! You never know what new favorite will be discovered!
Cook dinner together.
Have the little ones be sous chefs for the night with mixing and pouring! This is a fun way to teach basic measuring skills.
Rainy day activities.
Spring showers bringing you down? No worries, check out this Rainy Day DIY Activities list! It includes an umbrella craft and an indoor rainbow activity!
Learn a new game.
Pick out a new board game or find one on Pinterest.
Make up a game.
Take it a step further and make up your own game instead! Put on your thinking caps and make up your own rules for a classic game, maybe a new way to play checkers? The kids can also get creative by designing the board themselves!
Paint a picture.
Get wild with the water colors!
Volunteer.
Go to the local pet shelter and help feed the cats and dogs for a few hours! This is an amazing habit to get kids into at an early age. It teaches compassion and you get to play with animals all day! Win-win!
Go bird watching.
Break out the binoculars and see how many birds are coming out to play! Listen and look carefully and record each birds different characteristics.
Go on a nature hike.
Find a local forest preserve and walk the paths! Bring a bucket for special findings along the way!
Make a bird feeder.
Click here to create this simple bird feeder out of recycled items in the house!
Spring is here! It's time to head outside and see the world bloom finally. See how many spring-time items you can find with this fun bingo chart. Whoever gets the most first wins!
Spring is here! It's time to head outside and see the world bloom finally. See how many spring-time items you can find with this fun bingo chart. Whoever gets the most first wins!
March 1st is National Day of Unplugging. Time to put away the technology, enjoy some time as a family, and engage your kids in all kinds of activities that will help them see how fun it can be to unplug! Science experiments are a great way to entertain kids while learning through play. Magnet science is a favorite of many children, and the new Magnet Movers set has everything you need for a multitude of experiments and play setups.
The Magnet Movers set comes with a magnetic wand, chips, and many other magnetic accessories. Little ones will love using the wand and other accessories to experiment with magnetic attraction. In addition to using the set on it’s own, there are so many other fun ways to play.
Magnets in a Muffin Tin
When you add the magnet accessories to a muffin tin or cake pan, you are putting them on a magnetic surface which makes experimenting with magnetic attraction and movement all that much more amusing.
Magnets on a Mirror
Use a large mirror as a new surface for playing with your magnetic wand and accessories. The reflection of the magnets in the mirror provide a new type of sensory experience.
Magnets on the Front Door (or the garage door)
Did you know your front door and/or your garage door is probably a magnetic surface as well? Try adding the magnet pieces to the door. See if the attraction is strong enough to hold them to it. Use your magnetic wand to move them across the door.
Magnets and Magnetic Tiles
If you have a set of magnetic tiles, try adding them to the fun. Make towers or tunnels with your tiles, then decorate them with the magnetic chip pieces. Use the magnetic wand and see what happens.
Magnets in a Jar
Fill up a glass jar with magnetic chips. Kids will love watching as they move the chips around from outside the jar with just their magnetic “magic” wand!
Magnets in Rice
A sensory bin filled with rice never disappoints. Kids love the feeling of running their hands through the rice, digging through it, and scooping and pouring it into containers. When magnetic accessories are added, it gets even more entertaining for little ones. Dig through the rice, enjoy some sensory play, and use your magnetic wand to search for your magnetic chip pieces!
Fishing for Magnets
Create a rod, or use the Magnetic post from the Magnet Movers set, as a fishing pole to go magnet fishing! Place all of the magnetic chips in a “pond” using a large bowl or tray, and try and catch them all.
Magnet Mazes
A recycled piece of cardboard and a marker are all that is needed to make some exciting magnet mazes for your little ones to explore. Use the magnet wand to move the magnetic pieces through a maze from the other side of the cardboard!
Other Magnet Movers Experiments
The Magnet Movers set includes a set of instructions for many of its own experiments. Watch what happens when you drop the ring magnets onto the magnetic post. The same magnet poles repel, creating a floating effect!
There are so many ways to play and experiment with magnets, and it’s the perfect way to spend part of National Day of Unplugging.
March 1st is National Day of Unplugging. Time to put away the technology, enjoy some time as a family, and engage your kids in all kinds of activities that will help them see how fun it can be to unplug! Science experiments are a great way to entertain kids while learning through play. Magnet science is a favorite of many children, and the new Magnet Movers set has everything you need for a multitude of experiments and play setups.
The Magnet Movers set comes with a magnetic wand, chips, and many other magnetic accessories. Little ones will love using the wand and other accessories to experiment with magnetic attraction. In addition to using the set on it’s own, there are so many other fun ways to play.
Magnets in a Muffin Tin
When you add the magnet accessories to a muffin tin or cake pan, you are putting them on a magnetic surface which makes experimenting with magnetic attraction and movement all that much more amusing.
Magnets on a Mirror
Use a large mirror as a new surface for playing with your magnetic wand and accessories. The reflection of the magnets in the mirror provide a new type of sensory experience.
Magnets on the Front Door (or the garage door)
Did you know your front door and/or your garage door is probably a magnetic surface as well? Try adding the magnet pieces to the door. See if the attraction is strong enough to hold them to it. Use your magnetic wand to move them across the door.
Magnets and Magnetic Tiles
If you have a set of magnetic tiles, try adding them to the fun. Make towers or tunnels with your tiles, then decorate them with the magnetic chip pieces. Use the magnetic wand and see what happens.
Magnets in a Jar
Fill up a glass jar with magnetic chips. Kids will love watching as they move the chips around from outside the jar with just their magnetic “magic” wand!
Magnets in Rice
A sensory bin filled with rice never disappoints. Kids love the feeling of running their hands through the rice, digging through it, and scooping and pouring it into containers. When magnetic accessories are added, it gets even more entertaining for little ones. Dig through the rice, enjoy some sensory play, and use your magnetic wand to search for your magnetic chip pieces!
Fishing for Magnets
Create a rod, or use the Magnetic post from the Magnet Movers set, as a fishing pole to go magnet fishing! Place all of the magnetic chips in a “pond” using a large bowl or tray, and try and catch them all.
Magnet Mazes
A recycled piece of cardboard and a marker are all that is needed to make some exciting magnet mazes for your little ones to explore. Use the magnet wand to move the magnetic pieces through a maze from the other side of the cardboard!
Other Magnet Movers Experiments
The Magnet Movers set includes a set of instructions for many of its own experiments. Watch what happens when you drop the ring magnets onto the magnetic post. The same magnet poles repel, creating a floating effect!
There are so many ways to play and experiment with magnets, and it’s the perfect way to spend part of National Day of Unplugging.
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