Sensory Learning
"There are children playing in the streets who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago."
J. Robert Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Sensory Trays
Colored Sand
Sensory Trays are great as a replacement for sensory tables when you don't have one or you just have a smaller space.
Possible Tools: small spoons, funnels, (paint) brushes, tweezers, cars, thematic materials such as dinosaurs during a dinosaur theme, shells during an ocean theme, etc.
Benefits: Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving, Pretend Play (as a way to extend the theme you are working on), Vocabulary Development, math skills
Vocabulary: Three to five words related to your theme will help the children experience using those words and develop that vocubualry. Some basic vocabulary words for sand play are: sand, brush, scoop, funnel, scrape
Possible Tools: small spoons, funnels, (paint) brushes, tweezers, cars, thematic materials such as dinosaurs during a dinosaur theme, shells during an ocean theme, etc.
Benefits: Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving, Pretend Play (as a way to extend the theme you are working on), Vocabulary Development, math skills
Vocabulary: Three to five words related to your theme will help the children experience using those words and develop that vocubualry. Some basic vocabulary words for sand play are: sand, brush, scoop, funnel, scrape
Colored Rice
Another sensory tray idea is colored rice. It can be used for any theme, holiday, or just for fun!
Possible Tools: small spoons, funnels, (paint) brushes, tweezers, cars, thematic materials such as dinosaurs during a dinosaur theme, shells during an ocean theme, etc.
Benefits: Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving, Pretend Play (as a way to extend the theme you are working on), Vocabulary Development, math skills
Vocabulary: Three to five words related to your theme will help the children experience using those words and develop that vocubualry. Some basic vocabulary words for rice play are: rice, brush, scoop, funnel, scrape
Possible Tools: small spoons, funnels, (paint) brushes, tweezers, cars, thematic materials such as dinosaurs during a dinosaur theme, shells during an ocean theme, etc.
Benefits: Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving, Pretend Play (as a way to extend the theme you are working on), Vocabulary Development, math skills
Vocabulary: Three to five words related to your theme will help the children experience using those words and develop that vocubualry. Some basic vocabulary words for rice play are: rice, brush, scoop, funnel, scrape