# Scented Fall Sensory Bin
> Fill a wooden crate with cinnamon and rose potpourri, cinnamon sticks, artificial pumpkins, gourds, acorns and silk fall leaves. Kids touch, smell, scoop and pour, then pick items out to investigate with a magnifying glass.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/scented-sensory-activities/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: sensory-exploration, fine-motor, hand-eye-coordination, vocabulary, science-investigation, nature
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 piece Wooden crate or shallow bin
- Cinnamon and rose potpourri
- Cinnamon sticks
- Artificial pumpkins and gourds
- Artificial acorns
- Silk fall leaves
- 1 piece Kids' tongs (optional)
- 1 piece Small bowl or cup for scooping and pouring (optional) (household)
- 1 piece Magnifying glass
- 1 piece Wooden block or board (optional)

## Substitutions
- Instead of potpourri: Potpourri with fall scents only (The author suggests you could stick to fall scents instead of cinnamon and rose.)
- Instead of artificial pumpkins gourds: Natural fall items (real leaves, acorns, small gourds) (The author says you could do this with only natural items if you're lucky enough to find them.)

## Safety
- Potpourri is not food. It is usually treated with fragrance oils, so don't let kids mouth it, and have everyone wash hands after play.
- Acorns, pods, cinnamon sticks and small artificial pieces are choking hazards. Supervise closely, especially with toddlers who still mouth things.
- Strong scents can bother kids with fragrance sensitivities or asthma. Choose a milder potpourri or air the bin out first.
- Some potpourri mixes contain nut shells or seed pods. Check the bag if anyone in the group has nut allergies.
- Keep potpourri away from eyes; scented dust can irritate.

## Before you start
- Gather potpourri, cinnamon sticks, artificial pumpkins, gourds, acorns and silk leaves (reuse fall craft supplies if you have them).
- Check the potpourri ingredients and scent strength for allergies and sensitivities.

## Steps
1. Fill a wooden crate with cinnamon and rose potpourri as the base.
2. Tuck in cinnamon sticks, artificial pumpkins, gourds, acorns and silk fall leaves.
3. Let the child explore the large items first. Touch them and describe how they feel.
4. Smell the cinnamon sticks and the potpourri and talk about the scents.
5. Scoop and pour the potpourri with tongs and a small bowl.
6. Pick items out of the bin and set them on a wooden block.
7. Look at each item through a magnifying glass while you name it, touch it, smell it and talk about it.

## Tips
- If you are lucky you could do this with only natural items. I couldn't, so we went with a few store-bought items.
- She smelled the cinnamon sticks because she knows they smell good, but she was pleasantly surprised by the potpourri. She loved it!
- Once the oohs and aahs die down, expect scooping and pouring. It's great for hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- When your child shows interest in individual items, set them out for further investigation. Our sensory bin turned into a great scientific investigation.
- Let it be child-led: I set out the same invitation and my 5 year old did a completely different activity all on her own.
- Use it to label new things. We labeled the acorns.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

: Simple scented sensory bin for toddlers and up Fall has officially begun! It has been a while since we had fun with [**sensory bins**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/sensory-bins/) made specifically made for my now 3 year old. Combine the two and we found ourselves putting together this super simple fall themed sensory bin. I used a wooden crate to fill it up with fun natural and artificial fall goodies. If you are lucky you could do this with only natural items - I couldn't so we went with a few store bought items.

- Base - Cinnamon and rose potpourri ( you could stick to fall scents)
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Artifical pumpkins, gourds and acorns
- Silk fall leaves

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My 3 year has always enjoyed any kind ofsensory activities, especially colorful sensory bins. *[Last year we made [**fall sensory bin**](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-sensory-bin/) with bird seeds].* As always she started off exploring and touching the large items present in the bin. I had a few artificial pumpkins and gourds we had bought for all the [**fall activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/season/fall-season/) and crafts. The kid went straight for the pumpkin touching and describing the texture while commenting on the sparkly nature of the pumpkin. We labelled the acorns ( *much needed trip to Oak Glen!*)



She smelled the cinnamon sticks because she knows they actually smell good. However she was pleasantly surprised when she smelled the potpourri. SHE LOVED IT! The sensorial experience was amazing. The more I do sensory activities with the kids the more I see and believe in learning through sensory exploration.



Once all the oohs and aahs died down ( oh she adored the potpourri scents) she started her favorite activity in a sensory bin - scooping and pouring. *[ hand-eye coordination and great opportunity to enhance those **[fine motor skills](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/)****]***



Once she started showing interest in the individual items in the sensory bin, we decided to set them out for further investigation.



With a magnifying glass in hand, she picked out the items from the sensory bin and we placed them on a wooden block. We later used to the glass for a fun look-through while labeling the items and further touching, feeling, smelling and talking about them.



Sensory activities turned in to a great scientific investigation activity. This one is a good example of child-led activity. Tomorrow's post will further prove the power of child-led play. I simply set out the same invitation and my 5 year old did a completely different activity all on her own. Check back soon!

**Thanks for reading**

**For more fall activities click on this image**

[](https://www.funlittles.com/category/season/fall-season/)

**For more sensory activities ideas click on this image**

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