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Pretend Snow I-Spy Sensory Bin

Dec 9, 20136,191 views
Games
Winter Sensory Bin : I-Spy Sensory Game Save
sensory tub set up Save
looking for items in the snow sensory bin Save
plying the Ispy game in the sensory bin Save
ispy game in snow Save
8 Save

by TurkeyMom in Games

Ages3–6 yrs
Prep10 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Hide pom poms, gems, jingle bells and other small winter knick-knacks in a bin of sparkly pretend snow. Kids hunt for the items listed on index cards, then match their finds to the cards. Kids practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence along the way.

⚠️ Safety first

  • This activity contains small, loose parts (gems, beads, buttons, jingle bells, sequins, mini pom poms). These are a choking hazard, so supervise closely and keep them away from children who still mouth objects.
  • Keep the pretend snow and sequins out of mouths and eyes, and wash hands after play.
  • Supervise sensory play at all times.

Steps

  1. Pour the sparkly pretend snow into a sensory tub.

  2. Write each item and how many you're adding on its own index card, in the item's color, with a small doodle of it.

  3. Add the items to the bin, slightly covering some and fully burying others.

  4. Stand the index cards up along the back of the bin.

  5. Dig through the snow and hunt for the items on each card.

  6. Count each treasure as you find it.

  7. Match your finds on the right index card as a big sign of victory!

  8. Keep hunting until every card is complete.

Tips

  • Write the items in the same color (e.g. red pom poms in red marker with a small doodle of a pom pom). The clues are visual, so your younger player gets a chance to play independently.from the author
  • Add the items in increasing order (1 jingle bell, 2 buttons, 3 pom poms and so on). Everyone gets to practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.from the author
  • Since my 3 year old was also playing, I just slightly covered a few items so she would be encouraged to try and complete the game.from the author
  • More challenging ones, like looking for 10 white gems in a pure white sensory bin, were very exciting for my 5 year old.from the author
  • This was an on-the-spot activity with not much planning, since the kids were too eager to hunt for the stuff. The learning add-ons are optional. It can be pure fun.from the author

Make it your own

  • If your kids would rather move around and find stuff, try a backyard color hunt with sticky paper (see the author's scavenger hunt post).
  • Use the same pretend snow for pre-writing practice (see the author's pre-writing in pretend snow post).
  • Mix easy, slightly covered items for younger kids with harder, fully buried or same-color items for older kids.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · December 2013
Winter Sensory Bin : I-Spy Sensory Game
An easy pretend snow winter sensory bin that can be quickly turned into an I-Spy game tub with all the winter elements.
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Pretend Snow I-Spy Sensory Bin: the original post

An easy pretend snow winter sensory bin that can be quickly turned into an I-Spy game tub with all the winter elements. From the last couple of posts you can see that we have been having fun with our pretend snow. { Our simple winter sensory bin with sparkly snow and our pre-writing fun in sparkly pretend snow} We used the same sparkly sensory material as base and I added some fun knick-knacks to the bin while slightly covering a few and full-on burying a few. I used the following items in the sensory bin. I have tried to link near similar products but you can use whatever you have on hand for this sensory bin I-Spy game. This activity contains small, loose parts.

I wrote down the items I’m adding to the winter sensory bin on individual index cards. This was an on-the spot activity there wasn’t much planning since the kids were too eager to hunt for the stuff. You could do the following simply things to incorporate some learning ( if you are inclined to, or else this can be for pure fun)

  • Writing the items being added in the same color ( eg. simply writing red pom poms with a red marker with a small doodle of a pom pom) gives your younger player a chance to play this game independently since the clues are visual.
  • Adding the items in a proper increasing order ( eg: 1 jingle bell, 2 buttons, 3 pom poms etc) gives everyone a chance to practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.

sensory tub set up Since my 3 year old was also playing I just slightly covered a few items so that she will be encouraged to try and complete the game. looking for items in the snow sensory bin More challenging ones like looking for 10 white gems in a pure while sensory bin was very exciting for my 5 year old. This sensory bin I-Spy game taught them multiple things - obviously math, alertness, fine motor skills, being quick and many more unknown us haha! plying the Ispy game in the sensory bin After they found their treasure they would match them on the respective index cards as a big sign of victory! 8 Here is the completed sensory I-Spy game. ispy game in snow So, what do you think? Will your children enjoy playing this hunting game in a winter bin? If your kids would rather move around and find stuff, here is an idea for a backyard color hunt with sticky paper. Be sure to check out this game by clicking on the image.

sticking yellow for scavenger hunts Feel free to pin the following image pin

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