She then filled up the silicone cake cases carefully, using a spoon to transfer the materials to each one from the tub. She stuck in some real candles and sang me “appy urfday oo yooo!”and indicated that I should blow them out by puffing over them. Adorable!
It was lovely to see Cakie’s reaction to the exact same box when she came into the room as she interacted with the materials at a different level. She immediately wanted to role-play cooking and baking cupcakes and looked at all of the things she would need, planning the stages carefully.
First she picked up the cupcake recipe book and spent some time looking through it, until she found a delicious looking cake with fruit on the top. She declared that was the one she was going to make, then did role-play reading, by pointing at the words with her fingers, calling out:
She set to work in systematic fashion, firstly filling up the empty flour box, then pouring it into the weighing scales.
Learning links:
sensory: explore the world around them using all senses, describe how things feel and smell
creativity: use imagination to create and re-enact scenarios from real life, use one object to represent another during imaginative play
knowledge and understanding of the world: understand what cooking equipment is used for and experiment with it, learn about recipes
motor skills: strengthen fine motor muscles and gross motor coordination skills through pouring, scooping and transferring tiny objects
literacy: role-play reading by pretending to read using real books, be introduced to a range of types of print e.g. lists/recipes/instructions/signs etc, understand about non-fiction texts, use new vocabulary during imaginative and role-play, take on a character and remain in role, tell stories during play
maths: play with weighing scales and explore measurements/weights/numerals, compare quantities, fill and empty containers of various sizes, talk bout more/less/heavier/lighter/bigger/smaller
Cakie: 3 years 4 months
Pop: 22 months
I LOVE all your sensory tub ideas! this one is especially darling, my kids would love it. Thank you SO much for sharing your wonderful ideas with us!!
Wonderful! I love how you have the cookbook included too! How many sensory bins do you have going at once in your house? You are the Sensory Tub Queen!
Sad thing is I recognised the cookbook!! Awesome idea: I’ve used beans and silicone cases, but never in conjunction with the scales
I love this! I’ve been rolling a few ideas around for a ‘baking’ theme for my kids, but I hadn’t thought of the scale. Great ideas!
You are my star!
Love, Angelique
I so love this sensory bin, especially the colors. It makes me hungry just looking at it!
This is a great sensory bin! We love sensory bins, and will have to make this one soon!
Hi!
My name is Heather and I work for Worth Ave. Group. We’re currently holding a contest for K-12 teachers to win grants for their schools, and iPads or iPods for their classrooms. If you’re interested in participating or nominating a teacher, feel free to email me or visit the link I’ve posted below.
Have a great day!
http://www.worthavegroup.com/giveaway/
voteforteachers@worthavegroup.com
A great idea I will definately be doing this one for my daughter (“,)
This is adorable.
Just inspired me to put one together for my kids today! Thank you! She loves it!
Oh how cute. She made a cup cake with a candle. Your cooking sensory bin is brilliant. We play with sensory bins and with cooking tools but have never thought to put them together. Very fun.
-veronica
Isn’t it amazing how much they can recall from every day life? It always impresses me what R can remember about certain things. They really are paying attention! Great activity and great post 🙂
What a fab baking tub! We have one in our kitchen too & it’s played with nearly every day! Minnie loves ‘cooking’ alongside me, & her fave items to explore are a selection of funnels & the whisk. So much open-ended play – wonderful to observe too.
I love that Cakie was actually following the recipe! Out of all the sensory bins I’ve seen this one is on the list of favorites!
What a fun sensory tub.
This would go over big at my house. My son loves to help me in the kitchen.
This is awesome! Sweet P would love this! She LOVES helping me cook. And asks me “Do you need the whisk mommy?” 🙂 This is great!
Hi there… I’m a childminder and have used your fab idea with the boys in my care! They loved it and were fully engaged !!! I have posted pics on my Facebook page also giving full credit to your fab blog by leaving a link … I hope that’s ok ? Big Thank you xx
http://www.facebook.com/wilmslowcare
Of course it is! Thanks so much for the lovely comment!
Your blog is awesome, i love the way you explain the whole process (and give the “recipes”)… Can’t wait to try it with my sons !
I love the sensory tub ideas, my daughters would love them! But my youngest, 10months, would try to eat everything hehe! xx