The kids and I have been having a lot of fun exploring different aspects of the Wizard of Oz recently, so when we were stuck inside on a recent rainy day, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to create and explore a Scarecrow Sensory Bin! Scarecrow activities are also great fallharvest, and grateful theme.
Scarecrow Sensory Box Materials
- Straw, hay or shredded paper
- doll clothes
- Corn kernels (we used old popcorn kernels)
- crow finger puppet (can be used during circle time to learn scarecrow or bird related songs)
- Scarecrow statue, optional
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I added the scarecrow figurines to show the kids what the finished scarecrow would look like while sitting back and allowing them to express themselves without my involvement. This is important to me so that the kids can explore freely without having to please me or worry about what I want them to do.
Start by reading a few books about scarecrows to introduce the concept and build background knowledge.
This sensory bin was so easy to put together with items we already had on hand. If you don’t already have hay or straw from other sensory activities, shredded paper would be a great substitute.
Explore and play
The kids had a lot of fun exploring the corn kernels first – feeding them to the crow puppet, feeling the kernels slipping through their fingers, and watching the kernels fall from high in the bin.
We also had fun counting corn kernels. When we put the corn back in the sensory bin, the kids scooped up a big handful and counted them one by one.
When I was developing my sensory bins, it was very important to me that I included materials that could be used in a variety of ways so that each child could find a way to explore what interests them. For some, this would use descriptive language to describe the texture of the kernels, and for some it would use kernels to count.
Allowing your child to express learning concepts naturally is a great way to see your child’s actual understanding of a particular topic, and can help you choose future activities for them based on their true interests.
be a scarecrow
After playing with the corn kernels, the kids started making scarecrows! It was so cool to watch them figure out how to fill the scarecrow with the materials they were given. They initially tried using corn, but soon realized that the corn fell right down the leg of the shorts we were using. However, the hay stayed put!
The children painstakingly stuffed hay into the doll’s shorts, shirts, and hats, and then assembled the various parts of the scarecrow together. (Tip: tuck your clothes together first.)
What do you think? Will your kids love making their own scarecrow with this scarecrow sensory bin? What materials would you add to encourage sensory play?
Introduction: Jennifer Tammy writes at Study at Home Mama, sharing hands-on learning activities, easy recipes, and parenting inspiration. She is a single mother, a trained psychologist, and a certified Montessori kindergarten owner. You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.
More sensory bin ideas
