Reminiscing of cooler weather... this was our first and only snow day of 2020. One of the things I love about where we live is experiencing all four seasons.
The morning was dreary and raining until it turned to snow. We got a few inches and the kids were in love! They have never experienced snow and have been waiting all winter in hopes of snow. As the day warmed up the snow melted and it was like it never happened.
I'm thinking of using the blender to make "snow" for our sensory bin this week. Be sure to follow in Instagram or Facebook for pictures.
It's blueberry season here in Northwest Georgia and today we were able to visit a local farmer with a u-pick blueberry field. Fresh blueberries are so delicious and the kids were eating them right off the bushes. The blueberry bushes at Brandywine Blueberry Farms are grown organically so no worries about any nasty pesticides.
We ended up picking just over a gallon of berries which is pretty good considering my pickers were easily distracted and eating our harvest as we went. If you are local and would like to visit Brandywine Blueberry Farms they are located in Trion, GA.
We learned about the blueberry lifecycle, blueberry anatomy, and the blueberry flower anatomy before we visited the the field. I found the printable worksheets below on Teacher Pay Teachers to use with the kids. The artwork is beautiful!
Sensory bins ... what are they and do you need it in your life?
Sensory bins are excellent for toddlers and preschoolers (or any age) to explore, experiment, and play while learning. Sensory bins are a hands on way for children to explore their world through their sense of touch, sight, sounds, taste, and smell.
Studies show sensory play helps build nerve connections in the brain's pathways. These connections help children's ability to complete more complex learning tasks.
Sensory play supports...
Language development
Cognitive growth
Fine and gross motor skills
Problem solving skills
For this sensory bin I created rainbow colored rice. I found the directions on Busy Toddler's Instagram. Link below because she is amazing! Seriously so many easy activities and sensory bin ideas for kids.
Rainbow rice is very easy to make and can be reused over and over again. Divide uncooked rice into bowls or baggies and add 1-2 tsp of white vinegar and food coloring. Mix until you achieve the desired color. Air dry or bake on low in the oven. You now have rainbow rice.
You may have items set aside specifically for sensory bins or you might be like me and just grab random things from the kitchen or your kids toys. I added bowls, spoons, and measuring cups for our rainbow rice bin. Time for fun!
