Sensory bins are always fun and L loves to play with ice and
water. This one was really easy to set up and takes almost no prep time at all,
the only thing you have to wait for is for the water to freeze.
I froze small toy animals in small tupperware tubs filled
with water. I also made normal ice cubes but added some glitter to them.
I put blue and clear glass pebbles in the tub as the ‘sea’
and also added in some whiskey rocks (frozen rocks used as ice cubes with
whiskey).
The theme for this tub was Ice Age. L had to melt the large
ice blocks to rescue the animals frozen inside. L used a small sippy beaker to
drip/pour warm water onto the ice blocks. We used a different tools to try to
break into the ice and rescue the animals.
It took time, this was an all afternoon activity with many
breaks. L kept going back to the tub and playing more. The large ice blocks
melted at different rates so the animals were released at different times. L’s
face each time an animal was rescued was amazing, she was so happy with herself,
she kept saying ‘I did it, I saved him’ and we had lots of high fives.
What we learnt while playing - Ice is cold. Warm water will
melt ice. Basic thermodynamics. History, we talked about how a long time ago
the world got cold and was covered with ice, and how lots of animals were
frozen just like ours are now.
Motor skills development – we built towers with the whiskey
blocks improving hand eye coordination and learning about balancing objects. We
used tools, a chopstick, a plastic knife and fork and a paintbrush, improving
hand dexterity and strength and working on our tripod pencil grip.
Imaginative play – we became super animal rescuers! We also
added other animal to the mix later including a penguin and a whale who swam in
sea with L making up little voices for them.
We had great fun with this tub and will definitely do it
again.
Always play with your kids :)
xoxo
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