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Shape: Diamond, Color: Black, and Letter: U

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Fill a bin about halfway with popcorn kernels or dried rice. Have your child go outside with a basket and collect things around the yard such as pine cones, acorns, and small sticks. Bring them inside and put in the bin. As an alternative, use fake pine cones, acorns, and fabric leaves from the dollar store. Have your child play in the sensory bin with their hands, scoop and pour with the measuring cup, stir with a plastic spoon, bury the items, and load popcorn kernels onto the back of a toy truck or tractor. If your child may try to eat the popcorn kernels, use dried rice. Have fun!

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Get some pictures of apples and put different letters on it! When your child picks up an apple card, have them say the sound the letter makes!

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Practice Spelling Your Name Sunshine Craft

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Practice Spelling Your Name Sunshine Craft

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There can be a lot of rain in the month of September, so try this fun rain cloud craft with your child! Use a paper plate and cotton balls to create the cloud, then some string, paper, and blue paint to create the raindrops! Don't forget to talk about the weather!

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Use gift bows to make flower art. Have your child dip gift bows into paint and then stamp on paper. You will need washable paint, a handful of gift bows, construction paper or thicker paper like poster board, and paper plates. Pour a few different color paints on paper plates. Then have your child dip the gift bows in the paint and stamp on paper. Help your child use a regular paint brush to make green stems. Have fun!

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This activity builds fine motor skills. Have your child use tweezers to pick up colored pom poms and place them into the correct colored block. Modify the activity by using colored bowls or colored paper for sorting.

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These are fun games to do with play food and kitchen utensils to build your child's grasp strength and coordination. 

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These are fun games to do with play food and kitchen utensils to build your child's grasp strength and coordination. 

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FOOD FRENZY RACE: A FUN FINE AND GROSS MOTOR GAME

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Positions for play to build trunk strength

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Positions for play to build trunk strength

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14 Fun activities in prone position (belly activities)

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14 Fun activities in prone position (belly activities)

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https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/prone-position-14-fun-activities-kids/

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This shaving cream car wash is a fun way to explore textures. Squeeze shaving cream to soap the cars and use a water spray bottle to squirt the cars clean which will strengthen their hands. They can use a wash cloth to dry their cars. It also works to give their favorite animal or doll a bath. This can be done outside or in the bathtub for easy clean up.  This is a great multi-sensory activity to work on bilateral coordination and it is fun!

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Yummy and fun! Put paper out and a scoop of chocolate pudding to make a delicious master piece. Paper is not necessary if you can use the tray on the high chair or a cooking sheet to control the project.

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cotton balls, ice cream scoopers, pretend (or real) ice cream cones, and sprinkles!

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practice counting with this fun ice cream-themed art project!

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use some food coloring and soap to blow colorful bubbles onto paper!

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Browse Preschool Educational Resources | Education.com

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Browse Preschool Educational Resources. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

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Transitioning to Kindergarten Social Story! 

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Transitioning to Kindergarten Social Story! 

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if your child is getting ready to transition to kindergarten this fall, start the process by reading this social story together!

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use crackers, blue frosting, and goldfish to practice some self-help adaptive skills to make this yummy treat!

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help your child get used to wearing sunscreen!

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Practice spelling your name!

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Practice using two hands together to string Cheerios/Fruit Loops onto string.

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Find the treasure (e.g. pennies, beads) in your putty or play dough using your pointer finger and thumb.

Put it on your number mat to count your treasure.   Have fun!

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Push pipe cleaners through the holes in a colander to work on fine motor skills.

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Have your child hide pennies or beads in play dough. Encourage your child to push the beads in with their pointer finger or thumb.

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Cut a paper plate in half and have your child color or paint a rainbow on the paper plate.
Help your child glue cotton balls on either side of the rainbow to make clouds.

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Occupational therapists and trauma-informed teachers weigh in on how to create sensory tools and spaces with what you have at home.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended all students' day-to-day routines, but has created particular disruption for students with special needs, sensory processing disorders, and kids who have experienced trauma who rely on the structure of school to stay grounded. Creating an at-home sensory space and sensory tools that resemble the supports students received in school can help kids during this transition, easing them out of a meltdown or giving them a much-needed break before one starts.

We asked trauma-informed and special education teachers, occupational therapists, and other service providers for their advice on creating at-home sensory spaces and activities, making sensory tools from common household items, and the best practices for meeting kids' sensory needs. We share their recommendations below.

Dedicate Space at Home

While some schools have entire rooms dedicated to sensory activities for students, most families don't have a lot of extra space on hand. Occupational therapists emphasize that families should not stress about the size of the space-even a corner of a room with a box of sensory items will work. The important part is making sure the space-and any tools-are individualized to each child.

Be Mindful of Distractions: When determining a space, it's important to be mindful of the surroundings, says Krista Stephens, an occupational therapist at an elementary school in South Carolina. Clutter and patterns or decorations on walls can be distracting, particularly for a child with sensory processing difficulties. Children can also easily be affected by light and noise, so caregivers should make sure the space is free of things like a TV or harsh lighting.

Make It Theirs: Household objects can also be used to make spaces more secluded, Stephens adds. Build a homemade tent with two pieces of furniture and a blanket, for example, or cut up a cardboard box to make a "desk shield" to put around a child's work area. You can even create an under-the-table hammock by tying a sheet's diagonal corners at the top of a dining room table for a private nook.

Add Comfort and Personal Touches: Adding inexpensive throw rugs, blankets, yoga mats, lounge pillows, and floor pillows can help designate and personalize a corner or space of a room, while bean bag and portable camp chairs can let kids move their seating based on their mood.

Create Homemade Sensory Tools

Sensory tools-tactile objects that help release or redirect energy-are an essential part of meeting a child's sensory needs and helping them calm down and regain focus. Parents and caregivers don't need to spend money on tools for their home, according to special education teachers and therapists from Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut- a district known for their special education services -that shared ways to make them out of household objects.

Set Up a Sensory Bin: Sensory bins, or any container filled with items that stimulate one or more of the five senses, offer a relaxing, low-demand activity for children, and can be made by filling a container with items like dry beans, rice, or pasta, and cotton balls, for example. Add tools like measuring cups, sifters, and shovels to encourage kids to explore. For an added element of fun, you can make colored rice with your kid using a bag of store-bought rice and food coloring.

Make Slime: There are a number of ways to make "slime," a gooey substance that kids with sensory processing disorders (and really any child) like to play with. One recipe: put an egg white into a bowl, stir it, and mix it with a little dish soap, then refrigerate it for 10 hours.

Build a Sensory Bottle: Fill a water bottle stripped of labels (Voss glass bottles works best) with small items like rice, beans, seeds, sprinkles, sand, or rocks to make different sounds. Another kind can be made using materials like beads, glitter, and marbles-then add water, a few glycerin drops, and put super glue on the rim to seal the cap on. These bottles help kids calm down by focusing on the movement inside the bottles.

Support Fine Motor Skills With Generic Products: Items you already have in your home can also easily be repurposed as sensory tools. Spray shaving cream on the kitchen table and let your kids spread it around, draw images, or write words and numbers to release energy while boosting fine motor skills. You can also let your kids rip, fold, and crinkle different types of paper such as wrapping, tissue, and magazine paper.

Set Up Sensory Activities

When your child gets overwhelmed, have them take a break with a sensory activity depending on what they need-to release energy, calm down, or be alone.

Create a Sensory Path: Sensory paths, or a path made with common items like cut-out arrows, pillows, and furniture, can prompt your kid to walk, bend, and hop, which will help to regulate their bodies and transition them to the next activity. Go through the obstacle course with your child beforehand, so they'll know what to do when.

Get Physical: Simple activities like bouncing on an exercise ball or doing bear crawls and crab walks meet the need for releasing energy, says Caley Kukla, a child development and behavior specialist based in Florida. Monica Keyser, a school district occupational therapist in California, also recommends "heavy work," or activities that involve using a child's muscles like pushing furniture into new arrangements or pulling a laundry basket filled with heavy items down a hallway.

Add Pressure: Some children benefit from feeling pressure on their body, which helps activate their parasympathetic response, lowering the heart rate and reducing stress. Other than a simple hug or squeeze, children find "burrito rolls" relaxing, aptly named for looking like a burrito once rolled up inside a blanket or sheet, says Hanan Huneidi, a teacher who works with students not well served by mainstream schooling. You can also have a child sit with a set of heavy books in their lap or make a weighted lap pad by filling a large sock with rice.

Inhale, Exhale: Conducting breathing exercises and simple movements in a child's sensory space is an easy way to release stress from the body and calm the mind, says educators at Meriden Public Schools. Your child can practice mindfulness activities like deep breathing and tapping, and even making silly sounds which can be especially helpful for kids who are hypo-sensitive or under-reactive to their environment. You can also have your kid breathe in and out guided by an expanding and contracting rainbow pinwheel in this video.

Provide Soothing Stimuli: Don't forget that simple things like giving a child a warm bath or drinking a cup of hot tea can provide the soothing effect many children need to calm down, say educators. Brushing a child's skin lightly with a soft-bristled brush or passing ribbon over their arm, leg, or back can achieve a similar effect, adds Sarah Kesty, a middle school special education teacher.

Remember Best Practices

Parents and caregivers also need to provide guidance and structure to help children understand when and how to use sensory tools/spaces. For starters, they should be mindful of their child's triggers and unique sensory needs-whether they need less or more stimulation, for example.

Model Behavior: Children look to adults for how to model their own behavior, says Lori Desautels, a trauma expert, so it is critical for adults to make sure they exhibit calm behavior-even if they don't feel that way-when dealing with a child who is frustrated and in need of soothing. Adults should also model how to request and use sensory areas/tools so a child understands what to do before they are in the midst of a meltdown.

Notice the Signs: A child may get stressed out or even meltdown when asked to do an activity they don't want to do, or as they transition to something new. Physical behaviors like rocking, fidgeting, or being clingy might indicate a child is subconsciously trying to calm themself down, says Stephens. Adults should watch for these signs, then encourage their children to use their sensory supports before things get out of hand.

Provide Structure: Timers can help give children structure and motivation to focus, says Huneidi. If a child is struggling to pay attention, suggest blocks of time or work (like 15-20 minutes) followed by a sensory activity or use of a sensory tool. It can also be helpful to identify keywords and cues your child can use if they feel overwhelmed.

Offer Breaks: Try to offer sensory breaks before a child is having a meltdown, emphasizes Desautels; that way, sensory breaks are not thought of by the child as a punitive measure. By giving a child a sensory tool in advance of the meltdown, the child is more likely to regain focus and regulation more quickly on their own.

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DIY Ways to Meet a Child's Sensory Needs at Home

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Occupational therapists and trauma-informed teachers weigh in on how to create sensory tools and spaces with what you have at home.

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My Big World at Home Offscreen Fun | PreK-Kindergarten

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Get your little ones moving with 20 play starters—simple ideas for play with a purpose. They can be done at any time and in any order.

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Live Animal Cameras at the San Diego Zoo

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Live Animal Cameras at the San Diego Zoo

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Check out some live animals at the zoo and talk about what you see! There are so many animals to choose from and there are some stories, games, and activities to try as well!

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Cams at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and San Diego Zoo.

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Use a cupcake tine or an empty egg carton to practice counting! You can also try sorting by color!

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Set-up bins or plates as pictured and allow your child to look around the house/room to find items to put on each plate!

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If your child has a cutting goal for OT, this is a great activity! Please ensure appropriate supervision when your child is using scissors!

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Our A ll About Sensory Bins Guide below is your best resource for getting started with sensory bins. Whether you are making a sensory bin for your home or a classroom, there are a few things to know. Learn about the benefits of sensory bins, what you can use in a sensory bin, and how to make a great sensory bin for toddlers and preschoolers. Sensory bins or sensory boxes for kids are much easier to make than you think!

Easy Sensory Play for Kids

Over the past few years, we have learned a lot about sensory play and, specifically, sensory bins or sensory boxes. I am so excited to share our best sensory bin ideas with you below.

You will also want to check out our which includes more fun sensory play activities, including sensory bottles, sensory recipes, slime,

These ideas comes from what I have learned from making sensory bins over the last few years. We began using sensory bins long before I understood why my son enjoyed them so much!

Sensory bins can also be part of a discovery table setup. You can see one here with our dinosaur discovery table, fall leaves discovery table. farm theme sensory table, and

I am confident that once you know all about sensory bins, you will create a new sensory bin each week. Learning about sensory bins and making sensory bins will open up a whole new world of sensory play for you and your kids!

What is a Sensory Bin?

NOTE: We no longer support using Water Beads for sensory bin filler. They are unsafe and should not be used for play with small children.

To make your own sensory bin, you must know what one is! The simplest definition is that it is a hands-on tactile experience for kids in a contained area such as a storage container.

A sensory bin or sensory box is a simple container filled with a preferred filler in quantity. Our favorite fillers include craft sand, birdseed, colored rice, and water!

The container should be large enough to let your child explore without spilling the filler out. A sensory bin can be easily switched for a unique or novel experience whenever you want!

What Age Should You Start Sensory Bins?

The most common ages for sensory bins are older toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. However, you must be very aware of the filler you choose and the habits of the kiddos you use it with. Heavy supervision is required for kiddos who may want to sample the filler (edible or non-edible).
Adult supervision is very important for safely using sensory bins with young kids!
However, this age group is also perfect for fully enjoying the tactile experience of scooping, pouring, sifting, dumping, and feeling! Note the benefits of using sensory bins below.

As kiddos get older, you can easily add a learning component to the sensory bin, such as our butterfly life cycle sensory bin below. Younger kiddos will enjoy exploring the materials.

Why Use Sensory Bins?

Are sensory bins worth it? Yes, they are worth it. The more basic you keep the sensory bin, the better off you are. Remember, you create a tactile experience for your kids, not a Pinterest image. While we have fantastic pictures of sensory bins, they only stay that way for a minute!

Sensory bins are awesome hands-on tools for children to learn about their world and senses! Sensory play may calm a child, focus a child, and engage a child. Read about the many benefits below.

Here's what children can learn from sensory bins:

~ Sensory bins let a child explore, discover and create play using practical life skills (dumping, filling, scooping) and learn valuable play skills.

Play Skills {emotional development} ~ For both social play and independent play, sensory bins allow children to play cooperatively or side by side. My son has had many positive experiences with other children over a bin of rice!

~ Sensory bins increase language development by experiencing all there is to see and do with their hands, which leads to great conversations and opportunities to model language.

Understanding 5 Senses ~ Many sensory play bins include a few senses! The five senses are touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell. Children can experience several at a time with a sensory bin. Imagine a bin of brightly colored rainbow rice: touch the loose grains against the skin, see the vivid colors as they mix together, and hear the sound of sprinkling over a plastic container or shaken in a plastic egg! Did you add a scent like vanilla or lavender? Please do not taste uncooked rice, but there are plenty of sensory play options that you use edible ingredients like our worms in magic mud!

What Should Be in a Sensory Bin?

It's as easy as 1-2-3-4! Start with a container of your choosing, and prepare to fill it! Additional items on hand include themed books, games, and puzzles.

1. Container

First, choose a large bin or box for your sensory tub. I like clear storage containers the best, preferably 25 QT size with measurements of 24″ long, 15″ wide, and 6″ deep. Use what you have if you don't have these exact measurements! We have used all sorts of sizes, but at least 3″ deep is preferable. See more tips on choosing a sensory bin below.

2. Filler

Then you want to choose a sensory bin filler. You will want to add a good amount of the filler as it will make up the bulk of the sensory bin.

Our favorite sensory bin fillers include:

3. Theme Items

Sensory bins are a great hands-on way to make early learning fun. Add letters for an alphabet sensory bin, pair it with a book for literacy, or change up the colors and accessories for seasonal and holiday sensory bins. We have tons of fun theme sensory bin ideas for you!

4. Play Accessories

Next, add a scoop or shovel and container. I save all sorts of things from the kitchen and collect fun containers from the dollar store! Funnels and kitchen tongs are great fun to add too. Often the kitchen drawers hold fun goodies to add.

How to Use a Sensory Bin

There is no wrong way to present a sensory bin! I usually put something together and leave it out for my son as an invitation to explore. Some kids may be especially curious and ready to explore, so stand back and enjoy watching! It's ok to join the fun but don't direct the play!

A sensory bin is also a great opportunity for independent play. Some kids may be reluctant to start or don't know how to start and need your help modeling play ideas. Dig in with them to show them how fun exploring can be. Scoop, dump, fill, and pour yourself!

Talk about what you are doing, seeing, and feeling. Ask them questions too! Play cooperatively or individually with your child. You know your child best!

TIP: It can be easy to feel like you should add more things to the sensory bin while your child is playing with it, but try to resist the urge! Too many items can be overwhelming, and you may end up disturbing your kiddo's play flow if you interrupt them. Sit back and enjoy your coffee and watch them play!

Sensory Bin Ideas That Are Easy To Make

Below you'll find ideas for various sensory bin themes for older toddlers, preschool, and kindergarten. You can easily switch out the filler with one that works better.

You will surely want to dig your hands into this fun apple theme sensory bin! Cloud dough is an awesome and simple sensory play recipe that is quick to whip up. Our apple pie scented cloud dough is also taste safe!

Here is an easy apple sensory bin idea you will want to set up this fall! Easy to make, and great for fine motor practice, counting, and more.

The dinosaur volcano sensory bin provides an opportunity for kids to learn about dinosaurs, volcanoes, and the natural world in a hands-on way. Not only can kids explore dinosaurs, but they can also dive into facts about volcanoes and observe a simple chemical reaction!

Create a dinosaur sensory bin with moldable sand and your favorite dinosaur toys. This sensory bin is a super fun theme for year-round play! Plus, check out the resources to help you assemble an entire dinosaur theme unit.

Various size pompoms, silicone baking cups, plastic ice cream scoops, and fun plastic ice cream cone dishes make for a delightful ice cream theme activity. Omit the beads if they are not practical for your age group!

Set up a butterfly sensory bin to learn about the life cycle of a butterfly for a fantastic way to combine hands-on learning and a tactile experience. Different types of dry pasta mimics some of the life stages of a butterfly!

What's more fun than colorful rainbow spaghetti for young kids to dig their hands into! Find out how to make rainbow spaghetti for sensory play that's taste-safe!

Lemon-scented rice is quick and easy to make and is perfect for Olfactory Sensory Processing Input!

Read more about this ocean sensory play idea and grab the free ocean animals coloring book!

Combine sensory play, books, a little math, and animal habitats all rolled into one for a fun activity for toddlers to preschoolers.

Grab a few simple supplies and turn a sensory bin into a pumpkin patch young kids will love exploring for fall.

Kids love to play with rice, and this colorful rainbow rice sensory bin is easy to put together yourself!

Moon sand is another favorite filler to play with and make! We could also call this space sand as we added a fun space theme to our play.

Here is another easy idea for space theme sensory play! This sensory bin uses black aquarium rocks as the filler.

Create a tropical summer sensory bin with play sand and summer theme play items.

Watermelon Rice Sensory Bin

Use our how to dye rice tutorial to make a batch of green and a double batch of red rice! Leave one batch of rice uncolored. Grab a packet of watermelon seeds and a small bowl! You can also add tongs and a small scoop. Super simple and fun. Enjoy a snack of watermelon too!

Farm Sensory Bin

Supplies Needed:

A great book! We chose My Little People Farm.

Sensory bin filler. We chose rice. See more non food filler ideas here.

Items that fit with the book. Such as paper or plastic farm animals for a farm book.

Add a bucket and scoop for simple sensory play.

Simple Sensory Bin Play Ideas

Sing a song such as Old MacDonald and use the props too!

Act out the story with the props.

Count! We counted the farm animals.

Sort the animals.

Play hide and seek with the animals.

Work on animal sounds.

Feed the animals.

Enjoy dumping and filling.

Water Sensory Bin Ideas

Sponges, colanders, strainers, food basters, and an aquarium net! All of these are fun items to add to a water sensory bin. Try some of these additions:

Add a few plastic animals to wash and soap bubbles!

Add plastic Easter eggs to a quick sensory bin.

Make a letter wash with dollar store letter and number styrofoam puzzles.

Add cotton balls to water and explore absorption!

How Do You Control the Mess?

Everyone asks about the mess! Toddlers especially can't resist dumping things. We have had sensory bins in our house for so long that the mess is minimal. The younger the child, the more challenging it will be to teach the proper use of the sensory bin. But with time, patience, and consistency, it will happen.

I treat sensory bins as any other toy in the house. We don't throw our toys; we respect them. We don't scatter them around the house just because we feel like it; we use them and put them away. Of course, there are accidents! We still have them, and it's OK!

We also have a small dustpan and broom handy, and it is great for fine motor work picking up loose beans or other fillers! If a child gets into the habit of throwing for fun, your sensory bin play will be less productive and more frustrating.

READ MORE: Easy Clean-Up Tips For Messy Play

More Sensory Bin Ideas

Ok, time to put together a sensory bin. Check out this list of sensory bin ideas. Click on the links to find out how to set up each one.

More Helpful Sensory Bin Resources

Click on the image below or on the link for more fun and easy sensory activities for kids!

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25 Awesome Sensory Bin Ideas - Little Bins for Little Hands

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Check out these fun sensory bin ideas to get you started. Sensory bins are easy to make and have many benefits for toddlers to preschoolers.

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A fun and easy gross-motor movement break!

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Animal Yoga Poses For Kids - Ideas and Themes - Pink Oatmeal

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Ideas and themes for animal yoga poses for kids. Make kids yoga fun by moving and posing like animals. Try your kids favorite animals or an animal theme.

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Use Legos and different color papers to sort by color! You can also try sorting by size-big and small!

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Use paint to practice making simple patterns! You can either finger paint, use dot markers, or other painting tools!

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Use an old ice cube tray to help your child sort and match shapes!

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Have some fun outside and hide these rock letters all around! Let your child drive their truck/car around to collect all the letters and then practice putting them in ABC order!

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Cut different images into multiple pieces and let your child match them up like a puzzle!

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Fill up a bucket or bowl with water and use different tools to "fish" out the letters! This can be done with animals, shapes, numbers, or colors as well!

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As the days start getting warmer, here is a great idea to use art outside the home!

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Have some fun and allow your child to express themselves through art! Making this puffy paint can be a great activity for you and your child!

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Here is an art activity that has a multi-sensory approach! With ingredients found int he kitchen, you and your child can make this paint that is safe to taste!

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Creative Ways to Use  Play-Doh for Learning

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Creative Ways to Use  Play-Doh for Learning

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This article provides some different ways to use play-doh for educational purposes! Please note, some of these ideas are for older students as well!

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Play-Doh is a staple in pretty much every home and elementary classroom these days. Everyone loves to play with it, and it's easy to incorporate into meaningful and fun hands-on activities. We've rounded up some of the best Play-Doh learning activities we could find to give you plenty of fresh new ideas. Need to stock up before you start? Teachers love this 24-pack of Play-Doh in a rainbow of colors.
Note: This post includes affiliate links and we may collect a small portion of sales, but we only recommend products we know you'll love!
1. Set up seasonal Play-Doh learning trays.

This is such a cool way to get kids to be more creative with their Play-Doh learning. Early Learning Ideas has a whole year's worth of engaging Play-Doh tray concepts. We love this one, which encourages kids to make a self-portrait in dough.

2. Show the layers of Earth.

Teach about Earth's core, mantle, and crust by making your own Play-Doh planet. This is an easy hands-on way for kids to understand the different layers and what they do. Since this is a project where color matters, prep for it by buying larger cans of the right shades in bulk.

3. Get basic number practice.

There are tons of terrific printable Play-Doh learning mats available online, many for free. This one from Life Over C's gives kids practice forming numbers and also introduces 10 frames.

4. Make shapes with Play-Doh.

This simple activity from Royal, Baloo gives little ones practice making basic shapes and can be expanded to include more complicated examples (like rhombus or scalene triangle) for older kids.

5. Diagram a cell.

Inspired Class shares this Play-Doh learning project that shows the different parts of a cell. How cool is that?

6. Learn to spell your name.

Practice spelling names and other simple words by pressing letter blocks into Play-Doh, like this example from 123Homeschool4Me. Need a set of letters to use? Try the Play-Doh Numbers, Letters, 'n Fun Kit.

7. Make Play-Doh fossils.

This Play-Doh fossils idea from Plain Vanilla Mom is a surefire way to help kids understand how fossils were formed. Wild Republic's Insect Nature Tube is perfect for this project, or try using dinosaur models, shells, or other objects you already have on hand.

8. Learn about color mixing.

Learn to mix primary colors to make other hues with this idea from Teach Beside Me. Her recipe creates playdough that's easy to mix and blend.

9. Practice patterns with Play-Doh.

Pattern matching is a simple but important concept for kids to master. Get free printable ice cream pattern mats from PreSchool Play & Learn for this Play-Doh learning activity, which would be especially fun with confetti Play-Doh .

10. Teach a lesson about plants.

Build miniature cacti and learn how they conserve water with this lesson from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

11. Engineer a Play-Doh masterpiece.

Grab a selection of twigs or use wood craft sticks and challenge your students to engineer a building, bridge, or other structure. This fantastic STEM idea comes from Fireflies and Mud Pies.

12. Discover circuits.

You'll blow kids' minds when you show them how to build a circuit using the conductive playdough recipe from Teach Beside Me. No time to make your own dough? Buy the Squishy Circuits kit, which comes with everything you need for this project.

13. Color by number with Play-Doh.

Roll a die to see which color Play-Doh to use next with this free printable color-by-number butterfly mat by Teach Me Mommy. (Here are some more fun dice games to try in your classroom.)

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20 Genius Ways to Use Play-Doh in The Classroom

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Check out all of our favorite Play-Doh learning ideas and help students get hands-on practice with reading, math, science, and more.

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Khan Academy is an online learning resource for students of all ages. They are offering a free daily circle time channel on Youtube that is designed for students ages 2-7!

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Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Khan Academy Kids - our free app for children ages 2 to 8 - was created by experienced early learning experts who have created 22 other top-selling titles and received 22 Parents' Choice Awards, 19 Children's Technology Review Awards, and a KAPi award for Best Children's App at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

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I know a lot of my friends are interested in cars, so this car color sort game is perfect for them! You can use a piece of paper to color different areas and then drive the cars to the color "parking lot" that they match with!

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Materials: egg carton and 12 popsicle sticks (paper, sticks, straws can also be used). Ask your child different questions like "Can you find the ____" or "I see that the triangle has 3 sides, let's count them together".

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Have students match uppercase letters to promote letter identification! You can use rocks, bottle caps, paper, etc. to write the letters on!

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Here is an online resource created by another teacher that incorporates sorting by color!

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We have a play dough center once per week to practice using different tools and fine motor skills! Also, you can make letters with the play dough! Making your own play dough is one of the STEAM projects we participated in earlier in the year!

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Here is a creative way to practice letter and name recognition with items already found in your home!

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Everyday, in school, we have 10-15 minutes of puzzle time during which each student completes 2-3 puzzles at their level! Please feel free to reach out to see what level puzzles your child is working on!

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Super Simple Songs on Youtube is used during school to promote movement breaks and motor imitation! Have your child dance or repeat your movements (ex. arms up, touch your toes, smile, etc.). Some class favorites are "My Happy Song" and "Freeze Dance". Feel free to richest via Remind or email if you want more song recommendations!

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My Happy Song | featuring Noodle & Pals | Super Simple Songs