The kids are interested in learning about gardening right now because we are reading The Secret Garden and they are fascinated by it. Their current interest has been further peaked by Snuggle Puppy’s science fair project on plants. Given this, I thought this would be a good week to make a Garden Sensory Bin.

I used only what I had around the house although I had so many ideas of what could have gone into this (gardening gloves, seed packets, mini watering can, etc.). What I ended up using was a pail filled with dry black beans to look like dirt, a few small utensils for scooping and digging, and some felt and plastic vegetables. A little tip: because the pail was deep, I wadded up a few paper towels and put them at the bottom so that I wouldn’t have to use so many black beans.

The reason I chose to make this bin in a bucket is that I thought it would be fun for the kids to be able to bring it out on the deck on warmer days to play with it out there. The kids are excited to dig in!

You may be interested in checking out our 26 Best Sensory Bins or following our Sensory Bins Pinterest Board.

I’m linking with Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers, the Homeschool Village, Show and Share Saturday, Discover and Explore, and Sunday Showcase.

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Sensory bins are a wonderful tool for use not only with special needs children, but also with toddlers, preschoolers and school aged kids. They can be used at home, in daycares, preschools, camps, homeschools, and classrooms. They can even be created to be portable and taken on trips. Sensory bins need not be expensive or time consuming to make. So much learning, discovery and excitement can take place as a result of allowing your child or student to explore them.

Sensory bins are a big part of things for us around here. I thought it might be helpful for you if I put all of our most successful sensory bins in one place so that it’s easy to access. I will continue to add the kids’ new favourites as we make them.

You can click on any of the pictures or titles to go to each specific post and get details on what is in each bin and how I put them together.

Ocean Sensory Bin using a base of dry white rice

Dollar Store Sensory Bin and ideas for other inexpensive sensory items

Penguin Sensory Bin made especially for Granola Girl’s love of penguins

Christ-centered Easter sensory bin featuring Resurrection Eggs

Valentine’s sensory bin in red, white and pink

Winter sensory bin with many textures

Zoo sensory bin using dry chickpeas and lentils as a base

Thanksgiving sensory bin including scented candle

Puzzle sensory bin for Autism Awareness Day

Birthday sensory bin for our birthday theme unit

Rainbow sensory bin which was obviously colourful and was one of the kids’ all-time favourites!

Pirate sensory bin complete with eye patch

Spring sensory bin with rice dyed green as a base

Magnet sensory bin with worksheets

St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin

Knights and kings sensory bin fit perfectly with our history studies at the time and with the letter “K” theme

Ice Cream sensory bin – if I were to do this one again, I would add some pompoms to add some variety in texture but the kids did have hours of fun with this bin

Horse sensory bin using hamster shavings

Gingerbread sensory table with scented gingerbread play dough

Fall (autumn) sensory bin made using popcorn seeds as the base

Dinosaur sensory bin with triceratops bones for the kids to assemble

Bugs sensory bin made a great introduction to learning about bugs and exploring outside

Sensory bin for the letter “C” using things from around the house including chocolate chips just for fun

Frog sensory bin using dyed dry pasta as a base

I Spy sensory bin using dry black beans as a base with a corresponding list of items for the kids to find

Garden Sensory Bin in a plastic pail

(linking to What’s Hot in Homeschooling, The Homeschool Village, Holy-Spirit Led Homeschooling, and Tender Moments with Toddlers and Preschoolers)

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