Despite the fact that it has been over 80 degrees for the past few days, the leaves on our trees here are quickly changing colors and falling to the grass below. So it’s a perfect time to be talking about the colors of fall for #playfulpreschool this week.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out the #playfulpreschool hashtag for great weekly, themed ideas for your preschool.
If you aren’t aware, I have a special needs preschooler. According to her developmental assessment that was completed on Monday, she has the cognitive abilities of a 25 month old and the speech abilities of a 21 month old. As the pediatrician told me at our appointment that Shiloh was not ready to understand colors, I wondered what I would share with you for this week’s colors of fall theme.
While Shiloh isn’t ready to understand the concept of what colors actually are, she can still benefit from exploring the colors and the beautiful textures of fall.
I tossed together some dyed pasta in yellow, deep purple, and brown and laid it out in a cardboard tray. Usually I use a large plastic bin, but I thought the cardboard tray would provide a deeper feeling with the fall colors.
Then I added in some acorns and some silk leaves.
I also provided a small scoop, a tiny bowl and some mini-muffin liners for some open-ended exploration.
Lastly, I threw in a large foam die just for fun. Shiloh also doesn’t understand one-to-one correspondence, but it does make a fun addition to sensory play. (I played around with it and my 1st grader to get her ready for some addition that we’re going to do with the dice and acorns tomorrow.)
I showed Shiloh how to roll the die and then placed the correct number of acorns into the small bowl. She wasn’t very thrilled, but I think that’s because she wanted to be at the neighbor’s house playing on their slide…
She was, however, very excited to practice her scooping and pouring skills with the small scoop and mini-muffin liners.
She also explored the textures of the acorns.
Most preschoolers would be ready to talk about the different colors included in the sensory bin. You could also walk around your yard talking about the different fall colors that you see, collecting natural items to add to your sensory bin.
We could have added lots more acorns since a squirrel decided that he wanted to store his stash in our neighbor’s mailbox, but my 1st grader stole them all for herself after we helped clear them out so the postman wouldn’t have squirrel problems!
Be sure to check out the other great colors of fall #playfulpreschool posts this week to create a fun theme for your preschoolers!
For More FALL COLOR Themed Preschool Activities from the PLAYful Preschool Education Team:
Fall Colors Water Mixing by Still Playing School
Exploring Fall Colors With Gourds by Little Bins For Little Hands
Why Leaves Change Colors by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
Learning With Preschool Songs: The Leaves of the Trees by Growing Book by Book
DIY Fall Color Word Book by The Educators’ Spin On It
Learning Number Words with Fall Colored Leaves by Tiny Tots Adventures
Fall Tree Number Matching by Mom Inspired Life
Colors of Fall Sensory Bin by Life Over C’s
Foot Painting The Fall Colours by Learning to Walk
Exploring Fall Colors in Paint by Powerful Mothering
Autumn Colours Plant Science at Rainy Day Mum
Make Your Own Fall Potpourri at Capri + 3
Join us tonight at 9:00 EST for a live Google Hangout where we share what activities we are doing for the fall color theme in our homes and classrooms.
Sarah says
The colors in this sensory bin are beautiful and an awesome representation of Fall. I wish I had this one to try out!
Kim says
I’m sure your kids would love it!
Danielle @ Mom Inspired Life says
This sensory bin is BEAUTIFUL! I love the acorn math extension too!
Theresa says
That is a hilarious story about the squirrel storing acorns in your neighbor’s mailbox. Love it! Your sensory bin is so rich with color and texture. Any preschooler would love to explore. Great learning discussions could happen during that exploration.
Kim says
It was quite funny because that squirrel had been hard at work. We left most of the nuts beside the mailbox, so that he could find them easily.
Amanda Boyarshinov says
What a fun sensory bin to explore for little hands!
Kim says
Thanks!
Cerys from Rainy Day Mum says
Fantastic colours – what do you use to dye your pasta especially the purple and the brown?
Kim says
I am absolutely faithful to Wilton’s gel food coloring. These colors are in the basic colors 12 pack. Lately, I’ve just been using the dye and hand sanitizer and squishing it all together in a baggie.
Natasha says
I like this fall sensory box. My girls would have enjoyed it. I think I still have some left over dyed pasta from our activity.
Kim says
I’m sure that they would love it!
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says
Such a gorgeous sensory bin. It just screams, “Come play!”
Kim says
Thank you!
Nicolette Roux says
oh wow!! these came out gorgeous!!
Kim says
Thanks!
The Preschool Toolbox says
This is a beautifully colored bin that screams, “COME PLAY!” What a wonderful invitation to play with fall colors. Nicely done!
Kim says
We love exploring different topics through sensory bins since Shiloh needs to touch things in order to understand them.
Devany says
This is beautiful! Pinning and sharing!
Kim says
Thanks for sharing!
Mary Catherine says
Love the colors, shapes, and textures in this sensory bin! 🙂
Kim says
Thanks!
Alecia says
Kim, your sensory bin looks fantastic! I am sure Shiloh had a blast while being exposed to all the colours of fall.
Kim says
Yes, she did!