Colorful Bug Sensory Bin with Dyed Beans 🐛

They’re creepy and they’re crawly… and they’re beloved by all kids. All of my students have loved learning about insects! Who wouldn’t be intrigued by all the legs, antennae and wings on those flying little squirmers?! Even the kids who are a bit skittish will still be drawn in with this colorful bug sensory bin using dyed beans.

two overhead photos of a bug sensory bin made with dyed lima beans.

supplies for making a bug and beans sensory bin.

two ziploc baggies of lima beans are sitting on.a counter next to two bottles of paint.

someone is squirting dark green paint into a ziploc bag of lima beans.

a bag of light green beans and a bag of dark green beans are layiing on a counter.

two colors of lima beans are drying a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.

overhead shot ofa bug sensory bin made with beans, plastic bugs, & utensils.

Recommended Grade Level:

Preschool

Kindergarten

Supply List
Coordinating Activities

Colorful Bug Sensory Bin Craft Supplies:

2 16oz bags of dried large white lima beans
Acrylic paint: light green and dark green
2 gallon-size ziplock bags
Wax paper
Cooking sheet
Sensory Bin
Plastic bugs
Tweezers
Tongs
Scoops
Spoons
Bug net

Creating an Insect Theme in Preschool

Insects are everywhere, so bringing them into the classroom in a way that feels non-threatening to some of the more skittish children. Learning about insects helps children understand nature and the world around them.

Caring for the world around us, even insects is a big part of early childhood education. National standards for ECE include respectfully taking care of insects that we may find in our learning area as an effort to help kids not be scared of bugs, treat nature with respect, and even practice kindness to the tiny insects who are 100% at our mercy.

Insects, although tiny, create big lessons on nature, habitats, lifecycles, and the food web! This Colorful Bug Sensory Bin with Dyed Beans is a great way to get students engaged on the topic of insects! If you’re planning a preschool bug unit, check out our complete set of bug centers and activities!

Need MORE insect resources? Check out our favorites:

Creating the Base for your Sensory Bin

Sensory bins can have varying bases. Whether you decide to use rice, beans, beads, pasta or coconut… having multiple colors can make the base of your bin even more engaging. It allows for color sorting, as well as varying the depth of colors and contrast in your sensory bin.

If you don’t have lima beans on hand, check out these easy sensory bin fillers to use instead.

Materials You Will Need for Bugs and Lima Beans Sensory Bin:

2 16oz bags of dried large white lima beans
Acrylic paint: light green and dark green
2 gallon-size ziplock bags
Wax paper
Cooking sheet
Sensory Bin
Plastic bugs
Tweezers
Tongs
Scoops
Spoons
Bug net

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Bugs and Lima Beans Sensory Bin:

Step One:

Grab your materials and prepare the beans to be painted! Cover your cookie sheet with wax paper. (This is going to be where you lay out the colorful chickpeas to dry!)

Step Two:

Pour one bag of lima beans into each zip-lock baggie. Add 1-2 tablespoons of dark green acrylic paint to one bag and 1-2 tablespoons of light green acrylic paint to the other baggie.

Teacher Tip: If you want to dye the beans one color of green, that is totally fine. I think a double green base adds more depth and texture to your sensory bin. But one color is a good way to simplify.

Step Three:

Seal both bags and carefully roll the beans around between your fingers and hands to cover them with the paint.

Step Four:

Carefully pour each bag of painted lima beans onto the prepared cooking sheet. Try to put the beans in a single layer on the cookie sheet so they aren’t stacked up. Arrange the beans to lay in a single line.

Let them dry for at least 3-4 hours, or overnight.

Step Five:

In a clean and dry sensory bin, pour both colors of lima beans and mix them together. Add the bug accessories and enjoy.

Yay! You did it. What now?

This sensory bin can be used over and over! The Lima beans can be stored in a gallon zip-lock baggie or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.

Ways to Adapt/Modify/Differentiate

Arts and Crafts- Tying art into a science lesson is such an easy and great way to make the science concepts hands-on and accessable for students. We have many insect-related crafts that would be great to do in addition to this sensory bin!
Graph It- Whether it is the different colors of lima beans, the different insects in the bin or the combination of the two, you can take a scoop from the sensory bin and graph your scoop.
Scavenger Hunt– Give them a magnifying glass, and take your kids outside!! I promise, as simple as it sounds, it packs a big impactful punch.

More Ways to Explore Sensory Bins:

Frequently Asked Questions

These are frequently asked questions about our Bugs Lima Bean Sensory Bin:

Do I have to use lima beans as the base of this sensory bin?

Absolutely not. Dried lima beans are a good base for sorting and scooping, as they’re bigger. But you can use rice, beans, beads, coconut or grass!
If you don’t have lima beans on hand, check out these easy sensory bin fillers to use instead.
How to Dye Pasta for Sensory Play and Crafts
How to Dye Coconut for Sensory Bins
Easy Dyed Chickpeas

Do we need to use white lima beans?

White lima beans are one of the best for dyeing and painting, but you can use any bean you want.

“Flip” Bugs and Insects Printable I Spy Game for Kids

Bugs and Lima Beans Sensory Bin:

We find these lima beans the perfect base for our creepy crawly kit. Be sure to comment what you are adding to this bin to make it your own- you may have the best idea out there!

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