30+ Sensory Bins for Early Learning
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Enjoy these super cute sensory bins!
Habitat Themed Sensory Bins
Adding tactile items such as moss can bring fun to the bin. This one also includes a magnifying glass so that children can get a closer look.
Download our Frog Life Cycle Flashcards here.Who doesn’t love snacks? Adding a little bit of learning along with a snack helps keep your child interested.
Adding elements of a habitat that you are focusing on makes a great sensory bin. This first one includes a scene that mimics a pond.
Loose Parts Sensory Bins
An assortment of lose parts consisting of wooden coloured pieces.
Rainbow coloured balls or pompoms help with a colour sorting activity.
A bowl of fuzzy coloured pompoms that look like blueberries for a Blueberries for Sal book make the perfect pair.
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Ocean Themed Sensory Bins
Creating a differentiation between land and sea can teach children about the shoreline and the animals that live there.
A sensory bin can be as simple as adding water and toys.
Matching sensory items with worksheets is always a great additional learning resource.
Download our Marine Biology Unit Study here.
Nature Themed Sensory Bins
Using found items such as old birds nests can really enhance your sensory bin and teaches your child(ren) about the wonders that are really out in nature.
Freezing items into a block of ice is one of our favourite sensory bin ideas. Your child will really enjoy picking away and melting the ice to get inside at the treasures frozen inside.
Making use of nature like twigs and sticks are simple but you can enhance your sensory bin if paired with flashcards or letters.
Bug Themed Sensory Bins
Making use of a combination of printable and natural items encourage imaginative play but offer a safe environment.
This example includes many things we have covered already such as flashcards, letters, worksheets and even a book to reference. Adding the natural habitat of ants, dirt, really immerses the child in their learning.
Using coloured beads, seeds or beans pair perfectly with this bee life cycle sensory bin.
Download our Bumble Bee unit study here.
Winter Themed Sensory Bins
Making use of toys such as little plastic animals encourages your child to learn about habitat and even the habits of the animals your child is learning about.
Combining snow with other outdoor items can create a fun winter soup. If you don’t have snow you can add ice or other cool items.
If you prefer less mess or don’t want to be so cold using pompoms give a great illusion of fluffy snow.
Download our Winter Bundle here.
Spring Themed Sensory Bins
Making use of bowls, spoons, tongs and other tools add an extra element to your sensory bins.
Your sensory bin can even be as simple as adding the life cycle of an animal or insect you are learning about.
Your sensory bin doesn’t need to include items in the bin its self. This example has loose items outside the bin which then need to be organised and placed into the separate compartments of the bin. Love this!
Other Sensory Bins
A sensory bin doesn’t have to be confined to toys or items either. A sensory bin can also be a nice plate of foods to try.
This example mixes a bunch of loose parts all with the same theme. Can you guess what the theme is?
I’ve shown a number of nature themed sensory bins but you can also explore subjects like building, construction, health care, restaurants and other themes as well.
Seasonal Sensory Bins
If there is a holiday coming up using decor to fill a sensory bin is great fun. This one is filled with Halloween decor.
Using a small table for a sensory bin works great for this fall themed play dough. And using cookie cutters is a fantastic idea.
One of our favourite holidays is Christmas, this bin had presents to find hidden under the coloured rice.
Simple Sensory Bins
Compartmentalising your sensory bin is great too. It allows the child to combine items and objects as they see fit.
Kinetic sand, crumbs, dirt or sand make a simple and fun sensory bin.
Your sensory bin can also come without a bin! Here the sensory bin is themed on a painter and puffy paint is the focus.
Themed Sensory Bins
Organising, sorting, and counting are all great tasks to include with a sensory bin. They encourage the development of critical math skills.
Little hands love little items. What I love in this sensory bin is the use of pasta as stamps in the play dough.
Cereal is a great base for a sensory bin, particularly for younger children who put things in their mouths. Jello also works well for edible sensory bins.
Download our Farm Activity Pack here.
