Coral Reef Sensory Play and Books

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We’re off to the lakes of Minnesota this week, but we spent most of the months of May and June playing at the beach and exploring different aspects of the beach and ocean. Later this month the Poppins Book Nook members will be sharing some fun book-related ideas and activities for the beach and ocean theme.

We prepared for this theme by reading some terrific books about coral reefs and playing with this simple coral reef sensory bin. Most of the sensory bins I’ve shared on this site include many materials and are designed for extended study of specific themes. During the summer we take a break from our formal theme units, but I still like to set up a simple invitation to play, create, or explore each morning. This coral reef sensory bin was an invitation to play that I set up a couple of times throughout the month.

Coral Reef Sensory Bin

FIND EVEN MORE CORAL REEF THEME IDEAS IN OUR PRINTABLE CORAL REEF THEME LESSON PLANS.

Materials

Safari Ltd Coral Reef Toob
Shells
Water tinted with a few drops of blue food coloring
Clear Storage Box

I placed the bin on a vinyl tablecloth on the floor for the girls to discover when they woke up.

They both enjoyed playing with the materials, but Tinker especially loved this bin. The simple elements make it perfect for toddlers and younger preschoolers. You can decide whether you want your toddler drinking from the bin. For some reason she wants to taste all of the water in our sensory materials lately. Luckily we use kid-safe materials, right?

Coral Reef Books

Below are a few of the books we liked reading about life on a coral reef.

SENSORY BIN IDEAS FOR EVERY SEASON

Summer Sensory Bins ~ Fall Sensory Bins ~ Spring Sensory Bins ~ Winter Sensory Bins

GET A FULL WEEK OF PLAYFUL THEME IDEAS!

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.