DIY rainbow rice sensory bin using paint and hand sanitizer
Before we dive into the 7 easy steps to DIY your own rainbow rice sensory bin using classroom supplies, let’s chat about sensory play for a minute.
What is sensory play?
Sensory play is learning. We all know little ones learn by touching e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. They want to feel, smell, look at, listen to, and sometimes even taste the things around them.
Because we know children learn in this hands-on way, we need to incorporate this into the ways we teach them in the classroom (and at home!). When we do so, we can rest assured that our young students are learning in an appropriate and meaningful way.
An amazing thing though is that sensory play is so much more than an age-appropriate way to learn! It also fosters better problem-solving and cognitive skills, increases language and physical development, and teaches children how to work on more complex tasks… all while having fun.
Win, win!
How do you do it?
Sensory play is usually done in some sort of container or bag called a sensory bin. A sensory bin allows children to explore using multiple senses all at once while in a controlled environment. Preschoolers and kindergarteners think freely and get a little messy with some parameters already set for them.
We know little ones do well with clear instructions and many reminders, so setting upfront expectations before starting sensory play will be helpful for sure!
Some examples are:
- Wash hands before and after sensory play
- No throwing sensory bin pieces
- No putting sensory bin pieces in mouths, ears, or noses
Now, let’s get to the good stuff…
Make your own rainbow rice sensory bin with classroom supplies
Classroom supplies you’ll need:
- Washable paint (as many colors as you’d like to make)
- Hand sanitizer
Other supplies:
- Uncooked rice
- Large zipper bag
- Open container
7 easy steps
In just 7 easy steps you’ll have your rainbow rice ready for play!
- Add uncooked rice to zipper bag
- Squirt in 5-10 pumps of hand sanitizer (can add more if the paint doesn’t coat all of the rice during mixing)
- Squirt a generous amount of one color of paint in bag
- Shake bag well until all rice is covered with color (can add more sanitizer and/or paint if needed)
- Lay colored rice in a tray to dry (will dry in less than 30 minutes but I usually let it dry 1-2 hours)
- Repeat steps #1-5 for each additional color of paint
- Place in a sensory bin and have fun!
Next steps
Use with sensory tools
Target fine motor skills in your classroom by adding large tweezers or small scoops into your rainbow rice bin. Encourage children to use these tools to expand their play-based learning in new ways. Check out these sensory bin tools in my Amazon storefront.
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Use with resources
Use your vibrant rainbow rice as a tactile addition to tons of your current activities to keep learning memorable and fun. Search and find hidden pictures, letters, and more while using fingers or sensory bin tools.
My ABC Match-up (Sensory Bin Mat) GROWING BUNDLE! resource is a great one to grab when working on capital letters, lowercase letters, and beginning sounds with your little ones. Print the different pages in color or black and white, cut, and throw into your rainbow rice.
Don’t forget to give clear instructions and demonstrate activities before letting your kiddos loose. I promise, you’ll thank me later for this tip!
Make it individual
Is your school encouraging individual hands-on tasks instead of group ones? I get it!
Keep things fun but stop the spread of germs as much as possible. Write students’ names on small containers or zipper bags and divide up the rainbow rice for individual use. What kiddo doesn’t love something “of their own” anyways, right?! They will still have loads of fun.
Store away for future use
One of the amazing things about sensory bins is that you can usually re-use them! This is true for DIY rainbow rice too. Grab a large zipper bag or container with a lid and store it away for future play-based learning fun.
Reach for your pre-made rainbow rice on days when you need to add a little extra pizazz to activities or on a rainy day for inside recess fun!
This DIY rainbow rice is the PERFECT sensory experience to add to your pre-k classroom!
You might also be interested in:
Using Snacks to Teach Names to Preschoolers
Using Books in Pre-K
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