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Explore Nature with Your Own Fall Sensory Bin

September 24, 2013 by OneMommy

With the cooler temperatures and the leaves just starting to turn into the brilliant backdrop of fall, it is the perfect time to take a few nature hikes.

Next time you go on a walk this fall, take along a bag for the kids to collect things from nature along the way. 

You can use their findings to create your very own nature sensory bin.  It’s a super simple leaf activity that is perfect for fall. 

simple fall sensory bin -- all children to explore nature with this fall kids activity

We did this as a preschool fall activity.  You could make a similar nature bin with items from other seasons as well.  

Once you are done with your nature exploration, use a few leaves to make your own leaf creatures. 

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Nature Sensory Bin

The items in your sensory activity will depend on where you live and what you are able to find.  

Our bin contained some of the colorful fall leaves from a variety of trees.  We also had some maple tree seeds, walnuts, lots of acorns, pinecones, and one prickly ball from a sweet gum tree.  

Once we got home we added a few seed pods and a dried up sunflower from our garden.  

fall sensory bin

Once you have all your items gathered together, let the kids explore it however they see fit.

They may want to crumble that pinecone to see what’s inside. 

A sturdy kids magnifying glass is handy for looking at things up close.  

Having all the items together in your nature sensory bin will allow kids to compare them easily.  They can try sorting out all the different seeds and nuts and using a book like  Autumn Leaves  to help identify and sort the leaves you found.

fall sensory bin

If your kids are anything like mine, they will love seeing the insides of an acorn.  We had lots of fun cracking them open and looking at them closely.  

Using a hammer is such a great activity for young kids, as it helps them work on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.  Your kids will love hammering nails in pumpkins, too!

Not sure about having them use a real hammer?  

Try a wood or plastic kids’ hammer, or purchase one with a short handle that is perfect for smaller hands.   (We like this 6 inch hammer.)

fall sensory bin

There is just something about the fiery red and golden yellow leaves combined with the crisp fall air that makes it the perfect time to take a walk with the kids.

Letting them collect treasures as they go to create their own nature sensory bin to explore is an easy fall activity they will love.

easy fall nature sensory bin

More fun fall activities:

  • Apple Scented Bubble Dough 
  • Q-Tip Painted Fall Trees
  • No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas 
  • Halloween Party Games

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Sensory Play Tagged With: fall, nature study

Comments

  1. Kelly - Two Kids Cooking & More says

    September 24, 2013 at 10:32 am

    I love the acorn hammering! We have a huge bucketful that my daughter has collected. She wants to cook with them, which apparently is possible, but requires more work than I’m committed to. I think I’ll get out the hammer instead ;D

    • OneMommy says

      September 30, 2013 at 10:10 pm

      They love to hammer things! 🙂

  2. Janell says

    September 25, 2013 at 11:00 am

    We love sensory bins..and I like the idea you have to change it up for Fall! Thanks for sharing. Saw your page on Life with Moore Babies.

    • OneMommy says

      September 26, 2013 at 9:27 pm

      It was nice to be able to relax at home and take as much time as they wanted exploring everything they found. 🙂

  3. Suzie says

    September 25, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    What a great idea! My son and I have been going on a lot of daily walks since the weather has started turning cooler, so this is something that would be very fun to do. Thanks for the idea!

    • OneMommy says

      September 30, 2013 at 10:09 pm

      I hope you both have lots of fun walks these next few weeks! 🙂

  4. Ashley says

    October 1, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library; I shared your fun bin this week!

  5. Leah says

    October 2, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    We recently went for a fall scavenger hunt and my son loved picking up and looking at all of the items when we got home. Great idea to put them together and use a magnifying glass.
    thanks for linking up to the Friday Follow Along, make sure you stop in this week because we are featuring this!

    • OneMommy says

      October 2, 2013 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks so much for featuring it! Enjoy many more walks with your little one!

  6. Heather May says

    October 3, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    I absolutely LOVE this! I am home schooling my kids this year and these types of activities make it much easier to get the point across! Thank you so much for sharing at the Friday Follow Along! You were featured this week

    • OneMommy says

      October 7, 2013 at 8:51 am

      Thank you so much for featuring it!

  7. Monica @HappyandBlessedHome.com says

    August 23, 2015 at 11:16 am

    Love this! Featuring on my KBN roundup of Favorite Fall Activities and Crafts for kids. Thanks for sharing!

  8. Michelle says

    August 30, 2015 at 11:30 am

    I love putting together sensory boxes for my TK class. They enjoy exploring all the signs of a season. Cracking acorns, that is for sure something my grandson would enjoy doing. From Happiness is Homemade Link Party. Enjoy your Sunday.

    • OneMommy says

      August 31, 2015 at 10:05 am

      Mine love cracking open the acorns and other nuts they find in the fall. Learning every day!

Trackbacks

  1. Nature Fun for Kids from Share It Saturday - Fun-A-Day! says:
    October 4, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    […] Blog: For the Children} Sunflower Suncatcher Craft for Kids {Fantastic Fun and Learning} Fall Nature Sensory Bin {There’s Just One […]

  2. Using Printables in Sensory Play–Sensory Play Party says:
    October 23, 2013 at 5:00 am

    […] party to share! 1. Rainbow Sensory Bin by Sow Sprout Play2. Fall Spice Paints by Sow Sprout Play3. Fall Nature Sensory Bin by There’s Just One Mommy4. Bubble Science With Pumpkins by Preschool Powol Packets   I hope you’ll join in on the […]

  3. Shaving Cream + Water Beads = Ultimate Sensory Play Party #11 says:
    October 23, 2013 at 7:37 am

    […] Fall Nature Sensory Bin by There's Just One Mommy […]

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