Buggy Sensory Play
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Hands On Early Learning Activities for Bugs
Hands on play activities and a fun sensory bin are a great way to learn about bugs! I put together some easy activities to use our bus for sensory play and early learning activities. Make learning fun through play! Our grande finale was this cool bug sensory bin with a special moon sand I found online!
Bug Sensory Bin Play
Egg Carton Lady Bugs and Counting Book Activity
Our first tray was the ladybug book with our homemade egg carton ladybugs (project started on Friday!) He worked hard painting them and then moved to painting a piece of paper while I finished the nook and crannies. He didn’t have much interest in making spots with the marker but did make a few marks. We spent a good amount of time with this between reading the pages counting the bugs on the pages, flying the homemade bugs away and recounting the egg carton ladybugs for each page. Sometimes he does just fine doing one to one without my help and other times, he needs my finger to guide him.
Bug Matching Activity & Book
This was a pretty quick bug sort and match tray. He took the bugs out and paired them with the right mate. Initially it was difficult to show him they would match even after showing him a pair from the bowl, but he eventually got it. We were able to talk about bugs a bit and what pairs are. I try to include trays that help with conversation skills too. He isn’t naturally curious so he does not ask many questions like what or why so I try to encourage it when I can. Then we counted how many bug pairs we had matched. Nothing fancy but fun!
Bug Counting Activity Tray
I cut out paper leaves, numbered them 1-10, and randomly stacked them. He was quick to pick up on the activity since he has done similar activities! He simply chose a leaf, recognized the number and picked the corresponding amount of bugs to put on it. Since the leaves were out-of-order, I extended the activity by having him put the leaves in order.
Bug Sensory Play Bin
Hip Hip Hooray for an awesome, easy sensory bin. Red Moon Sand by Waba Fun, bug dough stampers from Lakeshore Learning (ebay find) and a lone butterfly cookie cutter. We ended up adding a chopstick, a small wooden spoon, rolling-pin, and tiny container. This stuff is really cool and very moldable. We played a bit together but really he was ready to do a little exploring on his own. This is a texture he clearly enjoys.
Alice (@mumsmakelists)
Bugs are always a big hit here!
I would love for you to link up this – and your other sensory play posts – at the Sensory Play link up on Empty Your Archive, Alice @ Mums Make Lists x
littlebins
Awesome! Thank you so much. Where did you see this post? Can’t wait to check it out!
CupcakesandHomeschool
I Heart sensory bins! So important for learning and play for kids! Loved your pictures.
littlebins
They have been a life saver for us! Hope you will follow along. I have a fun one plan for the morning. I will get a picture up on facebook!
Sugar Aunts
I LOVE the bug theme! We are featuring you tomorrow on Share It Saturday. We will also be sharing with our FB and Twitter followers, and pinning. Thanks so much for joining us at Share It Saturday. We genuinely hope to see you again on Share It Saturday 🙂
Colleen at http://www.sugaraunts.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugar-Aunts/406711342711382?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sugaraunts
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/thesugaraunts/
littlebins
I am so excited! Thank you so much! We had fun and actually did another awesome bug bin and bug bath today I will write up so I hope you will check that out too. I will definitely be back and added you to my side bar. I have something for tomorrow ready to go.
Carisa
Hi! I just love your bug ideas! Thanks for linking up to Tot School Gathering Place, we are happy to have you! If you link up in the future could you add a link back to Tot School? Maybe you did above and I just missed it, if that’s the case just ignore this! 😉
littlebins
All set. Thank you for letting me know I missed it this week. I believe I did it correctly on the other weeks! Let me know if the link is correct. Still a bit new to it all but have made some great connections that have really inspired us. I also added you to my side bar!
pauline @ lessonslearntjournal.com
I love your bug filled sensory bin. So simple and so fun. Thank you for sharing it at the Kids CoOp. I’ll be featuring this as part of my play for bored kids roundup. xoxo P
littlebins
Wow I am thrilled and honored. You made my day! I am preparing a post for 10 simple ways to play with a sensory bin filled with rice and things around the house. I shared 2 photos on facebook but will eventually have one large write up. Can’t wait to check out your site!
andiejaye
great way to expand on a favorite topic… bugs! am pinning and featuring it at this week’s kid’s co-op on my site
littlebins
So excited! Thank you so much for featuring it. The bins all look like so much fun!