Rice & Beans Sensory Bin

Activity Overview

Sensory explorations expose children to new sensations and allow their bodies to integrate experiences that help the child move through our world! The exploration of rice and beans in this activity strengthens not only the muscles in the fingers, but also the muscles in the palm. We highly recommend using this activity not only as an experiential one, but also as an exercise. Holding rice in one’s hands, squeezing a hand into a fist (an exercise that professional athletes do for hand strength), and pushing piles of rice together in between both hands all help create that strength that will support children throughout their lives.

What You Need

• Rice: A big bag of any kind of rice will work

• Dry Beans: We recommend one small bag of dry black and dry kidney beans, but any dry beans will do

• Loose Parts: Natural materials such as stones, sticks, shells, or pinecones or found and man-made materials such as buttons, corks, bottle lids, plastic gems

• Kitchen Utensils: Whisks, bowls, cups, spoons, ladles

• Sensory Bin: Tupperware or Rubbermaid container

Steps

Note: This activity is intended to extend a week or more. Take it slowly. It is important to allow the students to explore the materials thoroughly before adding more to the experience. Start off the first day with just rice, and add a couple of bowls and spoons. The next day add one type of bean, and maybe some natural materials such as shells or stones. Later in the week, Add more loose parts and other kinds of beans. This slow integration of materials allows the student to explore using the base material in varying ways.

1. Add dry materials to the bin with tools.

2. Allow the student to explore the material for at least five minutes before starting your guidance.

3. Talk with the student about their experience through the guided questions.

Guiding Questions

• What is this material?

• How can you move your material?

• How does this material feel?

• Can you make something to eat?

• Can you sort the rice from the beans?

Extensions

• Have the children create shapes and numbers with the rice and beans.

• Have the children sort more than two materials, such as sorting the beans, rice, and stones into different bowls.

• Get two different colors of rice and add them on different days.