Tree & Rice Sensory Bin
A super simple sensory bin for with trees and rice. This takes under a minute to set up for kids.
You can set this tree sensory bin for Earth Day or Arbor Day. And kids can scoop and play in the rice with a few trees.
You can see a few ways to use the tree sensory, and it is a fun twist on the tree kinetic sand sensory bin.
The Tree & Rice Sensory Bin is an excellent addition to the tree activities and sensory bins on the site.
What is a sensory bin?
A sensory bin is typically a plastic tub or container filled with carefully selected materials and objects to stimulate the senses of children in preschool.
Sensory bins might have rice, water beads, corn, beans, or other types filled with small items.
Tree & Rice Sensory Bin
A simple and easy tree and rice sensory bin that you can use with kids. The base is rice, and then trees are in a set. We used two of the trees. You can see a complete list below.
This tree sensory bin is great for kids in preschool (ages 3 to 4), PreK (ages 4 to 5), and kindergarten (ages 5 to 6). But older kids can play in the sensory bins as well.
Books to Read with this Tree Sensory Bin
Here are a few books suggestion to read with this tree sensory bin.
We have included links to some of the products and resources we have used with this activity. If you purchase via the links we may earn a small commission.
The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups has loads of details about trees from the types to seeds and where they grow.
The Book of Amazing Trees has loads of information about trees and the fact that they have been around since the dinosaurs.
Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children is a fun picture book with rhyming and information about trees.
Tall Tall Tree: A Nature Book for Kids About Forest Habitats has tree information with counting and forest information. Plus it has some STEM ideas as well.
What we used to make the Tree & Rice Sensory Bin
- Tree toob (we are using two sets of the toob)
- rice
- paper bin with lid
Ways to Use the Tree & Rice Sensory Bin
Below you will see a few ways we used the rice and tree sensory bin. It is simple ideas.
Remember To Just Play in the Sensory Bin
I like to remember everyone and me. That sensory bins are for sensory play. that one on the end is important…play.
That means they need to play in the sensory bin without guidance.
And age should not limit who uses sensory bins.
Matching Trees
We happened to find out that we had two sets of tree toobs.
So that makes a fun search and find the same tree in the sensory bin. And a fun note is that the name of the tree is on the bottom of the tree. So you can have them ask the names and you can tell them.
Use the Three to Build Letters
Since we have two sets of trees they are fun to build letters or numbers. You can use the number wall cards or alphabet wall cards to help kids see the letters.
Sort by Type of Trees
If you have an older kid you can have them sort the trees by type. It is a great way to work in learning more about trees. You can look up the names of trees to help or have kids see if they know what type it is.
Another Reminder About Sensory Play
And a final reminder about playing in the sensory bin. They can be loads of fun for kids and a great way to calm down. Or they can get the extra sensory that they need.
More Tree Activities for Kids
Tree & Kinetic Sand Sensory Bin has a fun sand and tree bin you can use for Arbor Day or even Earth Day.
Watercolor Process Art Green Tree is a great Arbor day painting for kids. You can mix watercolors and see the color spread in the tree. A fun painting idea for Earth Day as well.
Paper Roll Green Tree is a fun craft made with watercolors and paper rolls. You can paint the tree trunk with watercolors and then make the leaves of the tree with a paper roll. We used green glitter for the top of the tree.
Yarn Green Tree Craft is a fun tree out of green yarn. We used light and dark green yarn and then made this fun tree for Arbor Day.
Check out all the fun Tree Printables & Activities on 3 Dinosaurs.
Check out all the fun Sensory Bin Activities on 3 Dinosaurs.
Cassie – 3Dinosaurs.com