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We have received many flash card and memory games form friends. Although we have used them, some are better than others. I decided to put all the memory games together and "dump" them into the sensory table. Then I added clothespins. When they found a match they put the two cards into the clothespins and set the match on the table.

They liked finding matching and had to work hard with their fine motor skills to get the matches into the clothespins. This was an added bonus to me! They liked seeing how many matches they could get.

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This activity needed  "preteaching", to show them how to play with shells without breaking them. I showed them how to be careful and handle the shells gently.

The kids discovered on their own how a big shell can be filled with small shells and "poured". We discussed the different textures. I love to incorporate vocabulary; rough, smooth, shiny, bumpy, spiky, etc. We also talked about which were the same and which were different. I thought the shells were great for language and discovery. I was impressed that they knew some of the names of different types of shells from a Blue's Clue's video. ( I didn't remember.) We ended up watching it later in the day, and I paid more attention!
 
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Idea from:
PinkandGreenMama

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Construction Sensory Table

After seeing this on a blog, I had to do it! See link above. It was as fun as it looked!

I went to the store to get actual gravel but it only came in huge bags and was expensive. I decided to try aquarium gravel. The kids picked out the colorful stuff. I thought it was pretty. We could've used another bag...


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They played with this forever. They pushed the rocks into one pile. They did repeatedly tell each other "no hands, use the trucks" because I had said that in the beginning. Then we switched to, "Play however you like as long as it stays in the sensory table!"

I thoroughly enjoyed Bob the Builder giving every one directions and the construction workers sitting down in a row to have lunch. We saw "lunch time" one day while driving and it must have left an impression! :-)
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Make a few batches of noodles or spaghetti and put it in our sensory table. It will feel fabulous for your kids to run there hands in, squish, and stir it around. Make sure to let them at it while it is still warm! and then again when it is cold. Ask them about the difference. If it becomes sticky and icky, add a little olive oil.

This is several types of noodles with food coloring. I made the noodles in four pots on the stove and added different colors to each. I let them cool a little before adding them but made sure they were warm.

Yes, they did eat some of them. Yes, there hands were in it. They thought this was one of the coolest parts of the whole thing. I did however make sure they did not actually eat any when we came back later to play. It was not good after one day and I threw out the noodles.
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This idea stemmed from another game we played earlier this week. I found a fishing game on this blog.  Some how a little twist tie ended up in with the pipe cleaner fish...and baby fish were born! This was super exciting to them.

I put cut up tulle fabric in for the water. Tulle is very cheap and comes in shiny colors. There is about a yard in the sensory table. The colors are blue, green, and pink.

The fish are twist ties. You could also use pipe cleaners.

The magnets are from my favorite store but any magnets will work. You could also use fishing poles. (See above blog.)


Paragraph.
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I was looking every where this week for new sensory table ideas. I ran across this one and it has been a hit!

I used three types of straws left over in our party supplies. We had colored straws, regular straws and drinking straws. The littler ones were easier for my two (almost three) year old to cut. They had a blast and were very excited to cut in the table. There was no mess with all the straw pieces either.
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Friday August 14th / Sensory Table

Toddler and Preschooler:
You need:
Sensory Table
(or two bins, look in previous sensory table post)

Idea #1
beads and string
I use empty thread spools, actually string beads, buttons, and string. My toddler needs help to string the beads still. I hold the string and she puts the beads on. My preschooler can do this by himself.

Idea #2
poker chips
They make a great sound when you pour them or drop them out of your hands. You can also talk about colors! They stack and tip over too. It will be more fun than you think, I promise!

Idea #3
stretchy bugs, tiny bugs, plastic spiders etc.
Hey, if your up for the real thing give it a try too! :-)
I was not up for the real thing, but we did use lots of plastic bugs. We named them(spider, roach, fly, ant), made them talk to each other, poured them, touched them, and them named them again (Bob, Sam, Jill).


Idea #4Worms and Dirt
Put a thin layer of black dirt in your bin and then add worms. You can get worms at a bait shop or by laying a board on the grass and running the hose over it for 5 minutes, then lift the board. This is how my grandma and I used to get worms for fishing when I was little. be sure to teach your child about being gentle with nature. They will try to pull the worm in two pieces. Also teach them about nature by returning the worms to outside soil when they are finished exploring them.
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Saturday July August 2nd / Sensory Table


Toddler and Preschooler
Here are more ideas of what can go into a sensory table.

Fill it up with an edible squishy food like applesauce!


If you want an idea that is a little less messy, put in rocks. We have agates from a nature walk, and colored stones we bought at a store, plus regular rocks from outside. They are interesting to look at and to touch with many textures, colors, and shapes.

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Friday July 24th / Sensory Table

Toddler and Preschooler:
You need:
Sensory Table
(or two bins, look in previous sensory table post)

Idea #1
water and bubbles
I use Dawn soap and then water.  The bubbles get HUGE. Then I put in scoops, funnels, and cups, etc. Anything you can use in the tub.

Idea #2
Sand
We have a large sandbox too, but the sensory table put things at a level where the kids can stand and play with the materials. This is a different experience than sitting in the sand. I don't think they prefer one over the other.

Idea #3
Popcorn
What a fun material to put your hands in and play with! You can let them eat it too!

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Sensory Table 05/30/2009
 

Monday June 1st /Sensory Table
watch video above
Toddler and Preschooler:

I have debated about adding this one, because it is not something everyone has at home. I decided to add it because it is hours and hours of fun and it is easy.

You need:
1 large plastic container
1 small plastic container (see pictures)
or a "real" sensory table
white rice
cornmeal/baby oatmeal
scoops, funnels, strainer

Watch Video
I started out with the plastic set up before my preschooler grew way to tall for it. Then a relative made the wooden one you see. They are also available from Lakeshore Learning www.LakeshoreLearning.com (no profit for me in this advertisement) or any teacher store.

Bins:
#1.The first bin has colored white rice. You can color rice by adding rubbing alcohol and food color in a plastic bag or large bowl. Stir it up and let it dry. It has a strong odor as you make it but that does not remain. You do not have to color the rice. This is not edible. I woud suggest bin #2 for small toddler who still puts everything in their mouths.

#2. The second bin has baby oatmeal and cornmeal. We started using cornmeal and oatmeal because our toddler would still put things in her mouth and I didn't want her eating uncooked rice. If she happened to put this in her mouth, it is icky but no real worries. It has a great texture to it except that it clings to hands and is a little messy.

#3. Shredded paper. I took bright colored paper and ran it through our paper shredder, crumpled it a little and put it in the bin. The I added fireman and knights (the size of army men) and mixed it all up. My sisters boy came over (5years old) and intently dug through until he found all the little men and lined them up on the outside. I was surprised this was still appealing to that age group.

#4. This is a mismatched bin of foam letters, foam colored cubes, and plastic unifix cubes. We build and chat about colors and letters when we play in this one.

#5 & 6 This is an adapted game from Montessori. These are real glass bowls with rice, and beans and noodles. The kids use metal spoons of different sizes and scoop from a large bowl into the smaller bowls. It takes coordination to do and the sounds of metal on glass are interesting. They have to learn to be careful when dealing with breakable things.

I change the bins frequently. Myhusband was surprised after we got this because "They will play with ANYTHING you put in there!!" Yep, they will. I have other bins in the closet ready to come out and switch it up!