We’re making a summer sensory bin today. Also, look at Free Summer Unit Study For Kids for more summer ideas.
Lemonade is a classic summertime treat on its own.
Adding fresh, juicy strawberries just makes it even more cheerful.
This strawberry lemonade sensory bin captures all the fun and flavor of summer in a water sensory play activity that is hands-on, and perfect for warm-weather fun.
It’s loaded with bright colors, fresh fruity scents, and clear, clean water.
With all this to scoop and pour, kids will enjoy engaging their senses while building up multiple developmental skills.
Real lemons and strawberries combine with reusable ice cubes to offer kids a sweet summer adventure.
A few kitchen utensils mean kids can also scoop and pour the ingredients for a fun sensory experience.
This activity is perfect for anywhere that a little splashing water won’t cause any trouble. No matter how you slice it, it’s sure to be a favorite.
SUMMER BOOKS FOR KIDS
Next, look at some fun books about summer to add to the reading day.
13 Books About Summer to Read to Kids and For Kids to Read
Grab some of these fun books about summer to add to a summer unit study or to learn about the change in the season.
In a companion volume to Autumn: an Alphabet Acrostic and Spring: an Alphabet Acrostic, sandy beaches, juicy watermelons, and porch swings are just a few of the warm-weather delights featured in acrostic poems about summer.
Are trees social beings? In The Hidden Life of Trees forester and author Peter Wohlleben convincingly makes the case that, yes, the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration that he has observed in his woodland.
There’s a small green frog on a half-sunk log in the middle of the bog. He eats one tick, two fleas, three flies, four slugs, and five snails. And the frog gets a whole lot bigger. Then a hungry gator shows up, ready to eat the big fat frog. The frog opens his mouth wide to scream and out comes everything he’s eaten! And the frog gets a whole lot smaller.
It's not easy to teach a cat to read, but one boy tries to anyway in this sweet and silly picture book debut that captures the challenges and rewards of learning to read.Nick loves to read books--and he loves to play with his cats, Verne and Stevenson. So naturally Nick decides it's a great idea to teach his cats to read.
When the days stretch out like a slow yawn, and the cheerful faces of Johnny-jump-ups jump up . . . then it’s time to get ready for summer! From flip-flops and hide-and-seek to fireworks and ice-cream trucks, from lemonade stands and late bedtimes to swimming in the lake and toasting marshmallows, there’s something for everyone in this bright and buoyant celebration of the sunny season.
Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and stand up and speak up for others. Experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference.
It was such a hot summer. The sky was deep blue and the sun never faltered. All along Brambly Hedge, the mice did their best to keep cool. Poppy Eyebright sought refuge in the mossy shadows of the mill wheel; Dusty Dogwood took to walking by the banks of the cooling stream. Dusty and Poppy spent more and more time together, so no one was at all surprised when they announced their engagement. They decided on a very unusual setting for the wedding ceremony, but even they didn't realise just how unusual it was prove to be!Also look out for Spring Story, Autumn Story and Winter Story!
Nicky is convinced that his summer with his grandmother in the Wisconsin woods is going to be the worst summer ever. She cooks food that he doesn’t like, there’s an art studio where her living room should be, and he’s expected to do chores—including fishing, the most boring chore ever.
But one afternoon, while Nicky is trying to catch their dinner, a raft drifts down the river towards him. The raft has a calming magic about it, affecting both Nicky and the wildlife of the river and woods. Through the raft and the adventures it brings him on, Nicky finds new common ground with his grandmother, a fellow river rat, who encourages him to explore his newfound talent for art.
The winter is finally over, and now it is summertime. Laura and Mary are busy all day helping Ma in the garden and playing outside.
"We were tired of living in a house.
So we packed a bag with
sweaters and socks and scarves
and mittens and woolen caps.
And we moved to a tree...."
So begins this whimsical tale of four small children, a dog and a cat who decided they were tired of living in a house. They try a tree, a pond, a cave and the seashore, but in each place something unusual happens to make them move on to the next place-and finally home.
Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?With its expressive line drawings and charming story, Blueberries for Sal has won readers' hearts since its first publication in 1948."The adventures of a little girl and a baby bear while hunting for blueberries with their mothers one bright summer day. All the color and flavor of the sea and pine-covered Maine countryside.
Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.DISCOVER AMAZING ANIMALS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals living in it—and the desert is FULL of amazing and surprising animals!
Award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal return in this latest addition to the Over and Under picture book series, this time exploring the rich, interconnected ecosystem of the ocean!Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.SO MANY FASCINATING FACTS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals and plants living in it—and the ocean is FULL of amazing and surprising life!ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS MADE WONDERFUL: Preservation of our wilderness—and of our oceans in particular—is essential, and this book makes such a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world's natural habitats and ecosystems.
Too, look at more sensory bin ideas.
MORE SENSORY BIN IDEAS
- Discover The Magic Of Nocturnal Creatures | Nocturnal Animal Sensory Bin
- How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning
- Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
- How To Create An Engaging Cranberry Sensory Bin
- 10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin
- Sensory Play Made Easy: Crafting a Community Helpers Sensory Bin
Finally, look at how to make this fun strawberry lemonade summer sensory bin.
HOW TO MAKE A SUMMER SENSORY BIN
Setting up a strawberry lemonade sensory bin is quick and simple. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A few real lemons, sliced into rounds or wedges
- A handful of real strawberries, sliced or whole (sliced strawberries fill more space and add more scent)
- Fake ice cubes (requires adult supervision)
- Mini strainer
- Ladle or kitchen spoon
- Plastic cup(s) for scooping and pretend serving
- Large bin or shallow container
- Water (enough to partially fill the bin for scooping and pouring)
Tip: Only fill the bin about 1/4 to 1/3 full with water. You want enough for floating, scooping, and splashing, without making too big of a mess.
Add the lemons, strawberries, and fake ice cubes to your bin.
Pour in enough water to let everything float and move around easily.
Place the mini strainer, ladle, and plastic cup(s) in the bin or nearby.
Invite your child to jump in and start exploring!
The real fruit contributes scents to the water, making the experience even more realistic and inviting. Plus, floating lemons and strawberries are so much fun to scoop and catch.
