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Pirate Sensory Bin

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed
Activity:  
Pirate Sensory Bin
Age Group:
Toddlers
* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with preschoolers.
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Pirate Sensory Bin
Objectives:  
  • Child will develop sensory motor skill
  • Child will develop small motor skills by scooping and digging
  • Child will be attempt to repeat new vocabulary words
CDA Competency Standard:   
II.4.3a
  • Activities and materials encourage children to develop their senses
  • a) Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch experiences are encouraged through a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities
Online Early Childhood Courses
Click on the course icon for enrollment information
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Early Literacy $10.50
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Stages of Physical Growth and Development in Toddlers $10.50
Materials: 
  • Large plastic bin
  • large wooded “X”
  • strings of beads
  • large gems
  • gold coins
  • shovels
  • sand
  • other pirate toys or figurines
Procedure: 
Create the sensory bin by adding sand to the large plastic bin first. Then add in the beads, gems, shovels, coins, and large painted “X” (which represents X marks the spot). Place the bin in an appropriate area and invite the child to play with you. If needed, show the child how to scoop the sand using the shovel as a tool. During the activity, introduce the child to new and relevant vocabulary. Repeat the words slowly several times using exaggerated mouth movements.
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: 
During the activity, record the child’s reaction to the new textures. Be sure to note their small motor skills as well. Did they attempt to scoop the sand using the shovel? How did they pick up the other items in the bin? How is their finger dexterity developing? Were they able to pincer grasp the objects? Did they attempt to repeat the new pirate vocabulary words you introduced? 
Click on the photos to enlarge.

Promoting Creativity 

Creativity is about seeing things in a new way and putting ideas together differently, so that a new idea emerges.  Creativity is about bringing those ideas out of your head and making them more tangible. They do not always take form sufficiently to become a creation, because many creative ideas are abandoned along the way. The child formulating those ideas becomes distracted, loses focus, is constrained or stopped from carrying the creative process through. 

Teachers should offer young children plenty of time and space to explore ideas within an enabling environment. You should stand back sufficiently to notice what intrigues, confuses and inspires the young children you are working with, so that any intervention occurs from a closer understanding of children’s creativity.