The girls have enjoyed two new sensory tubs. The spring sensory tub has a base of styrofoam covered with a thin layer of paper grass. A basket holds several silk flowers, small pots with foam and paper grass, and flower cards on dowel rods.
The girls pretend to plant the flowers by poking them into the styrofoam. They can use the flower cards to label their rows of flowers. I am planning to add a few more materials to this tub to make it a more literacy rich play set. I'll write a follow-up post when I'm done.
The ocean sensory tub is simply a tub of water and plastic ocean animals. This tub combines the sensory experience of splashing in water with exploration and imagination. As the girls play with the animals they often act out what we have read about sea creatures. Such play allows them to gain mastery of new information. One day Julia pretended the octopus sprayed his ink to get away from a moray eel. Another time I heard her talking about one of the animals escaping from his enemy. Oral language develops as the children communicate using newly acquired vocabulary. This has been a popular activity that is as fun as it is educational!
Now that the weather is warm, Julia has been having a great time with one of her favorite things: goop!
First we put two cups of cornstarch in a pan and the kids explore the dry cornstarch with their hands. 
Then we add one cup of water and a few drops of food coloring. The girls mix it with their hands and spoons. Is it liquid? Is it solid? I don't know but it sure is fun!
Julia and her friend had a messy, good time playing in the goop!
The girls have enjoyed two new sensory tubs. The spring sensory tub has a base of styrofoam covered with a thin layer of paper grass. A basket holds several silk flowers, small pots with foam and paper grass, and flower cards on dowel rods.
The girls pretend to plant the flowers by poking them into the styrofoam. They can use the flower cards to label their rows of flowers. I am planning to add a few more materials to this tub to make it a more literacy rich play set. I'll write a follow-up post when I'm done.
Our sensory tub is filled with paper Easter grass, plastic eggs, empty egg cartons, yellow pom poms (chicks) and Easter baskets. The girls have had a great time exploring and playing with the materials.
Lauren enjoys opening and closing the eggs and placing them in the cartons or in her basket.
Julia has incorporated the eggs into her pretend play. One day she was the hen and I was the fox who tried to steal the eggs. Later she pretended to be an egg delivery girl. From small and simple things comes big fun!
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