What kinds of lines can you make with a toy car? What textures are fun to draw on? Explore lines and shapes by creating a homemade sensory bin!
MATERIALS
- Rice
- Plastic bin
- Color paper for the bottom of sensory bin
- Toy animal or car
- Drawing paper
- Marker
TRY IT!
- Pour rice into your plastic bin. Shake the bin lightly to spread the rice evenly on the bottom.
- Draw a straight line on your paper. Ask your child to use his/her fingers to draw the same line through the rice.
- Repeat step 2 for curvy and zigzag lines. Introduce a toy animal or car. Prompt your child to walk or drive their toy on these lines.
- Practice directions using Step #2 for an arrow up, arrow down, or shapes such as circle, square, rectangle, triangle, etc.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
- How did it feel to draw a line in the rice?
- What’s your favorite shape? Try drawing that in the rice!
- How did your car get from one end to another?
LEARNING BEHIND THE PLAY
- Helps develop listening skills and language development.
- Promotes spatial visualization development as children recognize and draw a variety of lines and shapes.
- Strengthens small hand and finger muscles to improve fine motor skills and writing skills.
TAKE IT FURTHER
Go big! Create large lines and shapes with the help of your child with chalk outside. Encourage your child to walk on or along what you drew, calling out the names of the lines and shapes as they go along.