Explore Nature with Your Own Fall Sensory Bin

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. 

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.  

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.

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.)

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.

More fun fall activities:

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