Scoop, Pour and Transfer! (sensory play with beans)
Date: May 06, 2022
Time: Sensory Time
Facilitators: Jasmine, Sangoli and Simran J
PROPS USED
Colored beans, Plastic trays, Small spoons and mini wooden containers were used as props to encourage sensory play in our toddlers.
What was the activity?
Bean tray is an activity wherein they arthlings play around with beans placed in the tray, either by directly playing with the beans using one’s fingers and palms or by using mini spoons and containers to scoop and transfer beans from one tray/container to another.
Why did we plan this activity?
Bean tray activity involves multiple senses being occupied simultaneously and thus it is one of our favorite activities during sensory time.
Vocabulary development is promoted since the arthlings get a chance to discuss various textures, sights, sounds and smells.
Fine motor skills can improve since it involves holding a spoon and scooping. Also, gross motor skills get enhanced since kids have to hold their arms steadily while transferring the beans here and there.
Social skills were directly inculcated in the toddlers since it involved arthlings to share and wait for their turns to get spoons and mini containers. Also, they learnt not to throw the beans onto their friends and into the trays only. It also involved them communicating with each other regarding what they see and what they want while playing.
The Series of Steps engaged in?
The bean tray was set up with the beans and utensils before the children arrived. It involved setting up the tray, in which three colored beans were spread out, including pink, blue and white. The trays were placed on the floor, where the kids sat and started playing with the beans. Three educators set-up three bean trays each and around 3-4 kids sat with each one of them. Post their satisfaction with playing with the beans, they went for cleaning time.
How did it go? (Finally!)
The moment the facilitators announce “Sensory time”, one can observe great merriment around the space. They sensed different colors, texture and weight of the beans and had big smiles while scooping and transferring the beans from one container to the other. They also produced sound by shaking those mini containers filled with beans. Few kids including Ved and Taksh attempted to dump the entire bin out on the floor. That was our cue to redirect their energies to cleaning time. Everybody placed their utensils back in the bean tray and went to clean their hands. By this time, the floor surely had more beans than the tray itself because kids this age like to throw the beans to their right or left. However, they were reminded every time to pour the beans in the tray itself (they will learn with time and repetition). Also, Atharv Gupta, Radhya and Zavi tried putting the beans in their mouths, so they were closely supervised during the activity.
