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Letter A is for Arctic Play Sensory Bin Ideas

My older kids have just started back at elementary school for the year and I find myself home again with just the littler ones and a chance to dig back into more immersive, age appropriate play.

Last year we had a lot of fun exploring letter themed foods, and this year I think I’m going to see about doing A-Z letter themed sensory bins and activities.

I’m kicking it off with an…

A is for Arctic Sensory Bin Play Idea

Frozen Numbers and Marbles

This one is fantastic for hot summer days and can be done indoors or out, but it does take a little bit of advanced prep.

Grab some small Tupperware containers, fill them with water and added other animals or items to them if you want to extend the play.

I made mine a bit extra by adding plastic numbers, and glass marbles that matched that number to each container (My son is 4 and knows not to put stuff like this in his mouth, if you’ve got younger children adapt what you add in to be taste safe if necessary).

I was hoping that my son would be able to match up animals on the icebergs with the numbers, but the icebergs ended up being too slippery to really add anything to. The numbers still ended up being fun as my son was able to break the marbles out as the ice melted.

Freeze your containers the day before you want to do this activity.

Set Up:

Grab a shallow container (I used a bigger tote for this one)
Fill it up with water and ice
Add food coloring (optional)
Add Assorted Arctic animal figurines (polar bears, penguins, seals, etc.)
Add scopes and water cups

Exploratory Playtime:

Now that everything is set up, invite your child to explore the sensory bin. Encourage them to use their imagination as they create stories and scenarios for the Arctic animals, fostering dramatic play and creativity. They might enjoy arranging the figurines on the ice or swimming through the water, which enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Offer small containers or cups for pouring and scooping, enabling your child to experience different textures and develop their sensory abilities.

Extending the Learning:

To further enhance the learning experience, consider reading Arctic-themed books to your little ones. Engage in conversation about the animals they played with in the sensory bin and dive deeper into their habitats and unique characteristics. This extension of learning reinforces comprehension and broadens their knowledge of the Arctic region.

Happy sensory play!

@slyspoon Easy Letter Play Sensory Bin – Letter A is for Arctic Adventure (with some number play!) ❄️ Dive into a world of icy exploration on a hot day with this Letter A-themed sensory bin! ❄️ freeze numbers, letters, or animals and ice blocks to extend the play ♬ snowfall – Øneheart & reidenshi