Member Login Member Login
Member Login
Welcome, (First Name)!
Forgot? Show
Log In
Enter Member Area
My Profile Not a member? Sign up. Log Out

Outer Space Sensory Bin

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed
Activity:  
Outer Space Sensory Bin
Age Group:
Toddlers
* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with  preschoolers.
Outer Space Sensory Bin
Outer Space Sensory Bin
Objectives:  
  • Child will increase sensory motor skills
  • Child will practice fine motor skills of scooping and pouring
CDA Competency Standard:   
II.4.2a
  • Activities and materials encourage children of varying abilities to develop their small muscles
a) Individual fine motor skills are encouraged through a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities
Online Courses
Early Literacy 
(1 hour / .1 CEU)
Tuition: $10.50 

Stages of Physical Growth and Development in Toddlers 
(1 hour / .1 CEU)
Tuition: $10.50
Materials: 
  • Black beans
  • glow in the dark stars
  • rocks
  • silver spray paint
  • other space toys
  • scoops
  • large plastic bin
Procedure: 
Prepare for the activity by creating the sensory bin. Put several cups of black beans in the bin. Spray paint the rocks silver to make them “moon rocks”. Allow them to dry and put them in the bin with the beans. Add the glow in the dark stars, various space items, and scoops/spoons. Place the bin in an appropriate area and invite children to join you in play.  
Note:  Please provide appropriate supervision to the children in your care when completing all activities. You will need to decide what types of activities are safe for the children in your care.  Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when providing art and sensory experiences for children.  Toddlers require special caution, only use non-toxic materials, and do not allow toddlers to put things in their mouths that are a choking hazard. ​​​
Assessment: 
  • Observe and record child while participating in the activity. What did they do with the beans and noodles? Were they able to scoop them? How are their fine motor skills developing? Consider taking pictures of the activity and putting them in the child’s portfolio. 
Click on the photos to enlarge.

Invitations for Learning 

Picture
Invitations provide an appealing way to present an opportunity for children to explore materials. A teacher usually plans an invitation in response to children’s interests or to extend previous learning. An ‘invitation to learning’ may also be prepared to introduce new concepts, words or skills. A teacher may want to use an invitation to introduce a new book by combining it with related materials.

Infant invitations may include:
  • A water table with warm water and some sink/float materials
  • A large box to climb in and out of
  • A blanket on the floor with materials hanging above it so babies can touch and move them
  • Blocks with various textures
  • Balls of various sizes and textures

Toddler invitations may include:
  • Balls and clear tubing
  • Pussy willows, pine cones and cattails
  • Water table with some clear containers to pour and scoop with
  • Selection of blocks and a book with pictures of buildings
  • Rubber boots and a puddle
  • Clear flexible tubing and funnels attached to the fence

A caution when providing invitations for very young children is that they learn through oral experiences by putting objects in their mouth. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure that children are carefully supervised and that materials are nontoxic and are not choking hazards. In addition, care should always be taken when children are in near water.