Get ready for a deep space adventure – in the form of a Space Sensory Bin! This easy & dynamic sensory bin is perfect for a variety of ages and has so many ways to play. Get ready to blast off because here we go!
Ella’s classroom is now a constant source of new influence in our home, which can lead to some unpredictable interests!
Ever since insisting on a telescope for Christmas a couple years ago, Ella has expressed exactly zero interest in anything space related except for the moon & it’s phases. But now that her classroom has been exploring space for a few weeks, she is a full-out cosmonaut!
This space sensory bin was a great way to share her interest with the younger kids in our daycare and keep us busy on a rainy day!
How to Make a Space Sensory Bin
- Space rocks recipe from Life Over C’s (black beans, gold glitter, and glue)
- Tinfoil cut into the shape of stars (the failed stars were bunched up into “asteroids”)
- Gold-painted beans from our
- Earth ball
- Moon cake pan
- Constellation lacing cards
- Mini model planets
- Small (sturdy) telescope
- Astronaut keychain (from our visit to the flight museum)
Many of these items – the moon cake pan, the constellationlacing cards, the mini planets, and the cute little telescope – came from our awesome Montessori By Mom Space Explorer kit.
When I first saw these kits I thought they were kind of pricey, but when I looked at the items individually on Amazon, the items in the kit would have cost me about the same (not including the additional craft supplies), butthe kit also comes with lesson plans, free printables, and example videos to help make your space explorations easier and less work!
When I told the Montessori by Mom team that I would be sharing their kits with you (I shared the Color Lab one here) they gave me a discount code to pass on to you if you decide to try out the subscription option:AFF1929
(And for full disclosure, if enough people use that code to sign up for a subscription, not only do you get the discount I will also receive another kit to review for free on the site.)
I wanted this sensory bin to almost seem like a mini-universe unto itself, so while I packed it with lots of “space items” I tried to avoid repeats, and I tried to provide a variety. The only real except wasthe stars are represented by the glitter on the rocks, the tinfoil stars, and the constellation lacing cards – each of them providing a different “experience” within the bin and they interact nicely together.
The most important thing with this sensory bin for me is that it provides lots of different ways to play.
Ella started out by removing all of the planets and lining them up – first just in a line, and then trying to figure out their order.
She then moved on to explore each aspect of the sensory bin one by one.
Here are some ways to play with this Space Sensory Bin:
- Using the tinfoil stars to make constellations
- Running the space rocks through your fingers
- Making patterns with the space rocks, tinfoil stars, planets
- Trying to make a mini-universe by lining up the planets
- Taking the astronaut on a space exploration
- Using the constellation cards to make constellations, as flashcards, etc.
- Using the telescope to look at the sensory bin, around the room, etc
- Throwing the Earth ball
- Bouncing the planets
- Dropping the planets and Earth ball into the space rocks to see what happens
- Crinkling up the tin foil
- Scooping & pouring the space rocks with the moon container
This space sensory bin was so easy to put together and the kids love it! We kept it like this for over a week before sending the space rocks to Ella’s school for her classmates to use in their own sensory bin. The space rocks could be used in so many different sensory bins, but I will warn you – the glitter does come off on little hands!
(But, I’ve embraced the glitter. After 2 years of the princess phase and all of the glitter from crafts, costumes, etc – I actually like that every surface in my home sparkles!)
Do you have a little astronaut who would love this space sensory bin? What sensory bins would you like to see us create?
We also have this great set of Outer Space Printables for Cutting Practice.
And, be sure to check out these super cool space activities from my fellow bloggers:
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Outer Space Bingo // Playdough to Plato
Rocket Name Puzzle// Teach Me Mommy
Space Theme Sensory Bin // Pre-K Pages
Space Counting Mats: Addition and Subtraction // Liz’s Early Learning Spot
Solar System Scavenger Hunt // Mom Inspired Life
Space Themed Matching Cards // Powerful Mothering
Outer Space Pattern Block Mats // The STEM Laboratory
Google Drive Space Facts Activity // DIY Farm Wife
Stars in Space Sticky Wall // Modern Preschool
Space Theme Grid Games // Stay at Home Educator
Counting On Planet Puzzles // The Kindergarten Connection
Aliens in Underpants Save the World // Adventures of Adam
Play Dough Constellations // Play & Learn Everyday
Solar System Bracelet // Still Playing School
Space Sensory Bin // Sugar Spice and Glitter
Space Syllables // Fairy Poppins
Space Themed Number Writing Practice // Preschool Inspirations
