fall sensory bin

The calendar says that it is fall, even though our weather is uncharacteristically warm and sunny.  I'm loving it!

Our leaves are beginning to change colour   -  we even found some lovely dry yellow leaves on the ground to throw up in the air and let rain down on our heads.

It was time for a fall sensory bin.

*This is the third year that I my kindergarten kids have played in this sensory bin.

Sensory bins evolve and change over repeated use.

And that is one of the the wonderful things about sensory bins:  

there are so many "right" ways to create a bin. 

sensory bin ingredients

wood stove pellets  and popcorn kernels for the the base

wooden and glass bowls from the thrift shop

dollar store bullrushes, scarecrows, wooden squirrels, leaves and fall fruit

ceramic pumpkins and corn taken off a garland

Christmas ornament red apples

hazelnuts and horse chestnuts 

small sticks

a couple of mulberry scented candles

3 different spoons 

amber coloured gems and jewels

fall leaf and turkey table scatter

and other other bits and pieces that I have forgotten

(I would love some acorns to put in too)

The kids love scooping and pouring, collecting things in the bowls,

sorting the leaves, more scooping and pouring, burying nuts, filling a bowl with popcorn

kernels, letting the pellets run through their fingers...

I love how the kidlets can bring their learning needs to the sensory box, and can interact with the materials where ever they are.  

Differentiation in a box. 

 I think I have almost as much fun with the bins as the kidlets do (but please don't tell them!)