Sensory and Nature Play Activities for Summer
- Helen Gilbert Gaus
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
Tide pools & ocean water play
Prepare a tide pool and ocean environment at you water station! This will work with a plastic bin on the ground, a water table, a kiddie pool, or even a small plastic bin on top of a table with a towel underneath.
Tide pool
Rocks of various sizes
Tide pool animal figurines: crabs, sea stars, fish, etc.
“Seaweed” noodles (instructions below)
Arrange the rocks in the container, stacking some to make little places for animals to hide. Tuck a few animals in these hiding spots so they can be discovered. Add water. Add “seaweed” noodles.
Why do animals need hiding places? You can pretend to be a hungry seagull, looking in from above.
Ocean
Sand
Ocean animal figurines: whales, fish, octopus, sea turtle, etc.
Optional: 1-3 drops of blue food coloring
Add a layer of sand to the bottom of the container. You can pile it high on one side to form a beach. Add water, optionally with blue food coloring. Add ocean animals. If you have plastic human figures, add them on the beach.
We live near the ocean, and many children have been to the beach. Do they have memories of the beach? You can try making waves while children are playing. What do the waves do to the sand? Have they seen waves at the beach? Have they noticed that some animals go out on the sand and under the water and waves?
Seaweed noodles
Seaweed comes in a beautiful range of colors, from bright and dark greens, to purples and even pinks! Try preparing some play "seaweed" for extra fun tide pool play and a big sensory experience with slippery, slimy noodles.
Assorted dried rice noodles (rice noodles make the best color because they are transparent)
Food coloring
Quart or gallon ziplock bag
Cook noodles, following the package instructions. When they are done, rinse them in cold water and put them into a plastic bag with a few tablespoons of water. Add a few drops of food coloring, then shake and massage the bag until the color is mixed in. Add more if needed. Let soak for an hour or more to absorb the color.
Tip: make a batch and use only half in your sensory bin at a time, so you can do the activity a couple of days in a row more easily. You can make these and store them in the fridge for 1-4 days until use. Compost them after play.
Make Sea Urchins
Sea urchins are a part of the marine habitat along the Northern Californian coast, and important food for sea otters and other animals. We have Purple Sea Urchins and Red Sea Urchins in the Bay Area. They will use their teeth and spines to dig holes right down into the rock! They use these holes to hide hide from predators. You can make sea urchins to play with, or add to an ocean life display.
Salt dough, play dough, or air dry clay
Toothpicks
Purple & red tempera paint
Paint brushes
Show children how to make a ball with the dough or clay, by rolling it in your hands. Demonstrate how you can poke toothpicks into the ball. Allow children to do this on their own if they are interested. Collect them on a tray to dry overnight.
When dry, offer tempera paint and brushes, and demonstrate how you can paint all over the sea urchin. It can be fun and tricky to paint the spines, and results in lots of creative technique ideas!
Does their sea urchin have a name? Why would an animal have such spiky spines? How do animals like sea otters and star fish eat a sea urchin with its spiky spines? What do you think baby sea urchins look like?
Secret Image Watercolor
Images appear like magic as children paint in this activity. You can draw secret animal images, simple shapes like a heart, or patterns like dots or waves.
Pieces of watercolor paper or card stock
Liquid watercolors, dry watercolors + water cups, watered down tempera, or any other water soluble paint
Soft paint brushes, sponges, or even small pieces of cloth to dip in the paint
White crayon
spray bottle (optional)
salt (optional)
Using the white crayon, draw images on paper sturdy enough for water (watercolor paper or card stock). Then offer water-based paints and painting tools, with the secret drawing papers. Tip: cut pieces of a dish sponge, actual sea sponges, and foam brushes work well. Spray bottles can be used to dampen the paper before painting, to give a wet watery effect with the paint. Salt can be sprinkled on the painting to make a pattern effect. Once dried, the watercolors can be strung up together or hung individually as decorations.
Where did the picture come from? Do you want to draw with the invisible crayon? I wonder why the water doesn’t stick to the crayon?
A child explores making colors mix and run with a spray bottle, after revealing a fish drawing with paint.
Icy Orbs and Melting Ice Sheets
Contrasting temperatures offer strong sensory experiences, and children can explore how solid ice turns into liquid water. By combining the ice with animal figures, you can also introduce the idea that some animals live in warmer water, some in the icy cold arctic, and some migrate between both every year!
Icy orb
Balloon
Fill the balloon with water, tie it, and place it in the freezer overnight. Once frozen, peel the balloon off and reveal the ice sphere underneath. Place in a water bin or table to explore.
Ice sheet
Disposable pie tin, or shallow pan
Fill with 1-2 inches of water and place carefully in the freezer overnight. Once frozen, turn out the ice sheet into your water bin or table. Tip: Release with some warm water if needed.
Melting ice with warm water & salt
Squeeze bottles (such as a 6 oz condiment bottle), droppers, or cups for pouring
Food coloring or liquid watercolors (optional)
Salt (optional)
Offer squirt bottles full of very warm water, or very warm water in a nearby container, with cups or
droppers for scooping and pouring onto the ice. You can also add a few drops of food coloring to the warm water, to show the contrast even more. Replenish warm water as needed. You can offer small cups or shakers of salt for sprinkling on the ice, (or sprinkle it on yourself) which will hasten melting and create patterns.
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