Sensory bins are a great addition to any classroom, providing a simple and engaging tool for academic skill practice. However, have you considered incorporating SOR (Science of Reading) activities into your sensory bins? Here are some of my favorite SOR Sensory Bin Activities for Little Learners, specially designed to be effective and meaningful for your kindergarten classroom.
What Is A Sensory Bin?
A sensory bin is a container filled with materials that stimulate the senses and encourage exploration, creativity, and imaginative play. (See DIY Sensory Table Bin to make your own.) The materials used in a sensory bin can vary widely, depending on the age and interests of the child, as well as the desired learning outcome. Some common materials include dry beans, rice, sand, water beads, pom-poms, or natural materials like leaves and stones. Sensory bins are typically used in educational settings, such as preschools and kindergarten. The benefits of sensory play are numerous, including developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, language and communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, sensory play has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, making it a great activity for little learners.
Purposeful Sensory Bin
Creating a fun, engaging, and purposeful sensory bin is simple and easy to do.
Supplies
- Sensory bin/container
- filler
- academic skill
First fill your sensory bin with your chosen filler. I love changing monthly, seasonally or for the topic or theme the class is working on. (Sensory Table & Bin Ideas for Kindergarten). Add your academic skill activity, and presto – you’ve got a fantastic, engaging, hands-on activity center for your little learners!
SOR Activities
Here are some of my favorite SOR activities that you can incorporate into your sensory bin:
- Alphabet Soup: Fill your sensory bin with sensory material of your choice and hide magnetic letters within it. Have your students use a magnet wand to find and match the letters to a corresponding letter chart.
- Sight Word Search: Add sight word cards to your sensory bin and have your child search for them using a small shovel, spoon or scooper. As they find each word, have them read it aloud or write on recording sheet. (Winter Sight Word Search–check out my store for more themed sight word search activities)
- Rhyming Match: Fill your sensory bin with objects that rhyme with each other, such as a cat, hat, bat and mat. Have your little learners search for the objects that rhyme with each other and match them up.
- Letter Formation: Add sand or salt to your sensory bin and have your students use their finger or a stick to practice forming letters. This is a great way to reinforce letter recognition and formation skills.
- CVC Word Work Activities-18 CVC Picture Cards along with recording sheets. Add the cards to your sensory bin. Students then pick a card and record on the sheet.
- Monthly Activities Bundles– Most include sensory bin activities for literacy or math skills practice with the monthly theme.
By incorporating these SOR activities into your sensory bin, you can help your little learners develop important reading skills while having fun and engaging with the sensory materials.
