Simple Science

This Sea Turtle Life Cycle Sensory Bin is an easy hands-on way to study these remarkable creatures. Kids can explore science with their senses while they learn how sea turtles are born and live.

My friend Jamie who lives in Florida volunteers to check on nests and make protected trenches for the baby sea turtles in her area. It’s been so interesting to see her pictures and videos and hear about her experiences. While we may not live anywhere near the ocean, that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn about this amazing phenomenon ourselves.

A few facts to get you started:

The mother turtles dig holes in the sand or mud to create a nest which they lay their eggs in. They then bury the eggs to protect them.

Less than 1% of the eggs survive and make it to the sea. Some do not fully develop, but most fall victim to predators. Once the hatchlings emerge from their shell, they must dig their way out of the hole and make it to the ocean.

Racoons, crabs, birds, fish, fire ants, dogs, lizards, and coyotes are among the main predators of the eggs and young offspring.

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Sensory Bin:

We saw sea turtles at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on a road trip and our kids were fascinated. We also had the opportunity to see protected areas of sea turtle nests on the beach in Florida on another trip. There, we attended an information evening teaching us about conservation efforts. Education is always the first step towards conservation so the more you teach your kids, the better.

This sensory bin may spark the beginning of an interest for them in learning more.

Supplies needed:

• sand or kinetic sand
• rocks
• Sea Turtle Life Cycle pack

Directions:

1. Fill a small container with sand or kinetic sand.
2. Add some rocks.
3. Place the figures from the Sea Turtle Life Cycle pack in the sand.
4. Encourage play.

This sensory bin is great for use at home or in the classroom while doing a unit study. It enables kids to reenact what they are learning. Using more of their senses and learning through play allows for better retention. What may seem like a simple activity can allow kids to cement their knowledge and make it more real.

This sensory play activity includes small parts. As with any children’s activity, adult supervision is required.

Resources for Learning about Sea Turtles:

If you want to further your study, here are some resources to delve deeper and expand your knowledge about sea turtles.

Life Cycle of a Green Sea TurtleSea Life Green Sea TurtleKinetic SandRealistic Sea Turtle Plastic FigurinesSea Turtle with Babies Building SetSea Turtle Life Cycle Guide Laminated CardThe Life Cycle of a Sea TurtleFrom Egg to Sea TurtleThe Life of a Sea Turtle

• Sea Turtle Life Cycle and Nesting Locations
• Sea Turtle Lifecycle Interactive Diagram
• Green Sea Turtle Facts (includes an open sea cam)
• A Sea Turtle’s Life Cycle Explained Video (short, but quite informative)
• Sea Turtle Life Cycle Video (animated – Australia)
• Make a Sea Turtle Life Cycle Craft out of WikkiSticks
• Sea Turtle Life Cycle Worksheets (free)
• Sea Turtle Life Cycle Printable Pack (free)

Looking for more easy sensory play ideas to inspire learning? Join for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out some of our other life cycle sensory bins that can be used for science unit studies:

Bee Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Chicken Life Cycle Sensory Bin

I know this one is a bit gross at first glance, but bear with me. Kids are able to retain more information when they incorporate their senses and learn through play. That’s how I came up with the idea for this Human Body Sensory Bin.

As kids learn about the human body, they can explore through sensory play. This can lead them to asking more questions and finding new discoveries.

What I love about this sensory play activity is that there are so many ways you can use it to expand learning. Suggestions for how to use this as part of a human body unit study:

• set out books on the human body, handouts, diagrams, and worksheets near the bin.
• kids can match the organs and body parts in the bin to the ones in the books.
• print out cards with the names of the organs and ask kids to place the cards in the sensory bin next to the corresponding organ.
• invite students to talk about what each of the organs does in the body.

Human Body Sensory Bin:

Supplies needed:

• red water beads
• Human Organs Toob
• stretchy body parts
• plastic bin

Directions:

1. Place the water beads in a plastic tub and add water. Wait for them to expand.
2. Toss in the plastic human organs and stretchy body parts. (Even typing that makes me laugh because it sounds so gross!)
3. Set the bin out in your home or classroom for students to explore.

Body Parts Stretchy Fidgets – Ear, Hand, Foot Nose – AnatomyHuman Organs TOOBRed Water Beads

Some other resources to accompany your human body unit study:

Human Body! (Knowledge Encyclopedias)The Human Body: A Pop-Up Guide to AnatomyHuman Body Activity Book for KidsMy First Human Body BookThe Fantastic Body: What Makes You Tick & How You Get SickLook Inside: Your BodyLearning Resources Human Body Model3D Organ Apron

Expand your study further with these free printable human body worksheets:

Setting out corresponding worksheets near the sensory bin station encourages learning.

• Anatomy Notebooking Pages
• Human Body Dot Marker Pages (good introduction to the unit or for younger students to get involved)
• Human Body 3 Part Cards
• Human Body Printables for Kids

More hands-on learning activities for the human body:

• What is Blood Made of?
• Life Sized Felt Anatomy Model
• Playdough X-ray
• Create a Model of how the Lungs Work
• Make the Backbone out of Pool Noodles
• Make a Human Brain out of Clay

Check out some of our other sensory science ideas:

Colour Mixing Sensory Bag

Sensory Smell Bottles

Melting Ice Experiment