Earth Day Sensory Table
This Earth Day Sensory Table is super cute, fun, and easy to set up! Easy sensory ideas like this are a great way to combine hands-on learning, and play. Perfect for Earth Day!
There are so many educational ways to learn and explore Earth, and sensory play should be at the top. This DIY table is excellent for early learners!
The fun part about having a sensory activity Earth Day-themed is that it opens up all types of learning avenues, You can work on ocean learning, land learning, recycling, reusing and repurposing – and more!
This simple DIY sensory table activity perfectly combines everything in one easy-to-use area, sure to give the kids hours of hands-on play!
What are the benefits of sensory play for kids?
Sensory play offers a range of benefits for children, supporting their cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Activities that engage the senses, such as touching, smelling, and hearing, help develop fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and enhance problem-solving abilities.
Sensory play encourages creativity and imagination as children explore textures, shapes, and sounds. It can also have a calming effect, aiding emotional regulation and reducing anxiety.
Whether playing with sand, water, or textured toys, sensory play provides meaningful opportunities for children to learn, grow, and build essential skills for their overall development.
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What supplies can be used in a DIY sensory table?
A DIY sensory table offers endless possibilities for engaging and educational play. Some standard supplies include water, sand, and rice for a classic tactile experience.
Consider beans, pasta, or small pebbles as fillers for added variety. You can also include tools like scoops, measuring cups, or spoons to encourage fine motor skills. Seasonal items, like autumn leaves or holiday-themed trinkets, add a festive touch, while craft supplies like pom-poms or pipe cleaners provide bursts of color and texture.
You can incorporate scented items such as cinnamon sticks or essential oil-infused cotton balls to stimulate other senses. With creativity, your chosen materials can transform an ordinary table into an exciting sensory wonderland!
Fun ways to use this themed learning idea:
This sensory table all about Earth Day is fun, but don’t forget to use that themed idea for more new ideas. Here are a few other learning opportunities for you and the kids:
Learn about the history of Earth Day
Explain how Earth Day started in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues like pollution and deforestation. Share stories of how millions of people gathered to advocate for a greener planet, leading to landmark changes like the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and essential laws to protect our water and air. Incorporate age-appropriate activities, such as creating posters about “protecting the Earth” or reading books that explore how nature impacts our lives.
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By framing Earth Day as a moment of unity and action, kids can understand its historical impact and feel inspired to be stewards of the planet themselves.
Draw the planet Earth
Encourage the kids to draw the planet Earth! Grab markers, crayons, or colored pencils, and ask them to sketch our home’s appearance from space. They can begin with the blue oceans and green continents and add fun details like clouds, animals, or even iconic landmarks.
This simple activity sparks creativity and allows children to learn about geography and environmental awareness in a fun, hands-on way.
Plus, it’s a great way to start conversations about caring for our planet!
Have an Earth Day unit study
Millions of people focus on and celebrate Earth Day worldwide, so why not focus on more learning activities during the day?
Here are a few other simple Earth Day printables and ideas for the kids:
Shop My Printables:
Check out these great Earth Day resources in my shop! Perfect for more learning fun!
More Sensory Activities and Ideas
Digging in and playing with their hands and senses are part of the learning fun for kids! Here are a few other ideas to get going!
Earth Day Sensory Table
Equipment
- Sensory tweezers
- Net
Materials
- Water
- Kid-safe non-toxix blue dye
- Floating ocean animal toys
- Trash plastic straws, etc.
- Soft moss
- Forest animal toys
- Sticks rocks, etc.
- Toy trash can
Instructions
- Set up the sensory table with two bins. One for the forest side, one for the ocean side.
- Add the supplies into each bin to create the theme.
- Scatter the trash in both bins and then have the kids search for the trash in both the ocean and the forest.
- They can use the net (for the water) and tweezers (for the forest) to remove pieces of trash to place in the toy trash can.
- Once all the trash is picked up, they can rescue the animals from the polluted areas. This is a great time to talk about how pollution affects habitats.
