3 Bird Themed Sensory Bins for Preschool

These bird-themed sensory bins are perfect for students’ imaginations to take flight! With three different options, it is easy to keep the learning going for weeks at a time. And, of course, while children are playing with the bird-themed sensory bins, they learn all sorts of important skills.

Building the Bin

To start with the sensory table filler, choose something small and scoopable. For these bins, the images show a mixture of dried split peas, lentils, and lima beans. This mixture provides a natural color palette and is similar to birdseed. However, any dry scoopable material can work.

The sensory table offers so many learning moments for young children. The opportunities for experimentation far outweigh the messes that may occur at this center, so consider all of the engaging skills to practice like:

• expanding language skills
• giving fine motor opportunities
• encouraging problem-solving
• forming nerve connections in the brain, allowing the student to learn more complex tasks
• providing opportunities for exploring

This is an open-ended play center, so some children run their hands through the material as they calm their anxious or frustrated feelings while processing what is happening around them. This is fantastic for their social-emotional health and should be supported.

Bird-Themed Sensory Bin #1: Counting and Patterning

This is a simple set up using an adorable owl-themed counting set from Learning Resources. Add small scoops (available at a dollar store or party store) and small baskets or containers to add to the fun. Students dig in the material to find the owls that they need to create the pattern on the pattern cards, or they can line them up on the plastic “branch” to count them.

Bird-Themed Sensory Bin #2: Color and Size Sorting

Bird-themed sensory bins can also help children develop their language and social skills. As children play with the sensory bin, they engage in conversation with their peers, asking questions about the materials and the birds they are learning about. This type of social interaction can help children develop their communication skills and build relationships.

For this particular bin, students sort by both color and size. The set pictured comes with one large bird and four small birds for each of the six nests. Learning Resources also sells some amazing three-pronged tongs to help students work on fine motor skills involving the pinching motion. Students search through the material and locate the birds. Then they use the tongs to grasp the bird and place it in the matching nest.

Bird-Themed Sensory Bin #3: Scoop and Pour

Scooping and pouring are more fun with the DIY funnel stand! Math concepts, such as “less” and “more,” as well as “full” and “empty,” get some attention when students work in this fun station. Hand and eye coordination is also strengthened as students must coordinate their hand movements with input from what they see and feel. Add these delightful birds and birdhouses from Learning Resources along with scoops and matching color pails from Party City.

Whether scooping, pouring, sifting, or sorting, bird-themed sensory bins offer an exciting and engaging learning experience for preschoolers. Through the use of multisensory materials and interactive activities, children can develop their cognitive, motor, and social skills while learning about birds and their habitats. These bird-themed sensory bins can provide a fun and educational way for children to explore the world around them.