Are you looking for an Easter-themed sensory bin that incorporates counting and early math skills for your toddler or preschooler? This math Easter sensory bin is the perfect activity!
Sensory Bins with Math
I love incorporating academic skills with sensory play. I this strategy all the time in my kindergarten class to engage students while sneaking in tons of learning.
I started using sensory bins with my oldest daughter at a young age. Often, I found she was using early math skills like counting and making sets naturally, without any prompting at all!
Other times, she really enjoyed the challenge of a more directed math activity.
This Easter sensory bin was one example of an activity that was ameliorated by a more directed activity. Originally, I gave H a bin of paper Easter grass, with carrots hidden inside. She eagerly searched for the carrots, but it only took her two minutes to find the carrots, and then she was bored.
By adding a math skill to this bin, it re-engaged her and she happily played with the bin several times. Sometimes switching things up really adds to the play!
The math activity I chose was matching numerals to a number of dots. I chose it to match H’s skills, but there are several variations you could use to make this activity more accessible to toddlers, or more challenging for k-2 students.
Math Easter Sensory Bin
Materials for Sensory Bin:
- Large plastic bin
- Easter grass (I prefer paper because it’s less messy)
- Plastic/rubber bunnies
- styrofoam carrots
Directions for Sensory Bin:
Write a numeral on each bunny rabbit.
Draw the corresponding number of dots on each carrot. Use different dot arrangements (e.g. print 3 dots in a diagonal line like on a die, three dots in a straight line across, up and down, three dots in triangle formation).
Hide bunnies and carrots in sensory bin.
Instruct your child that the bunnies are hungry and need to eat the carrot with the corresponding number of dots.
To simplify this activity for younger children, print a number on the bunny and simply ask them to give the right number of carrots to each bunny (e.g. the bunny with a 2 printed on it gets fed two carrots).
Extension:
Discuss with your child that the number of dots on the carrots may be in different arrangements, but are still the same number. Take it further by creating your own dot designs by using stamping markers or stickers on paper.
For older students, you could write addition facts (or subtraction, multiplication, even division) on the carrots. Have students match the addition sentences to each sum.
Why is this important:
- Counting pictorial sets: When your child counts the number of dots on the carrots, they are practicing counting a set (much different than rote counting). Counting pictures is a step up from counting physical objects.
- Identifying numerals: When your child finds a bunny, they are recognizing numerals by matching a symbol to a number word
- Matching numeral to quantity: Your child is practicing conservation when matching their carrots to the corresponding bunny. That’s math-talk for being able to count the dots on each carrot, them match it to the appropriate number.
- Subitizing: Another great math word! Subitizing simply means recognizing a quantity of objects at a glance, without having to count them. For example, when you roll a die and got a five, you don’t have to count the dots to determine there are five. You recognize the arrangement of dots and know it’s a five without counting.
Looking for more fun Easter activities for kids? Try this fun stamping activity using plastic Easter eggs!
I hope your kiddos enjoy this sensory bin as much as mine did! Happy Easter from my family to yours!
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