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Going on a Bug Hunt Sensory Bin

By Sharla Kostelyk

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.)

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The contrast of the bright colours against the black beans makes this Bug Hunt Sensory Bin so visually appealing. If you’re brave, you can include real life bugs in this sensory activity as well!clear plastic bin filled with black beans, bug net, dandelions, bright coloured toy bugs, and bug container with blue lid
If you’re like me, you can invite your child to add insects that they find but keep your distance and insist that they keep the bin outside! Adding real life insects allows a whole other level of exploration and discovery. This sensory bin encourages interacting with nature and can begin with a nature hunt.
This activity is perfect for classrooms or preschools or homeschools. It can be incorporated into an insect unit in science or be a sensory break option during springtime. 

Bug Hunt Sensory Bin:

Materials needed:
  • plastic bin
  • dry black beans
  • plastic bugs (bright colours look best on the black background)
  • Outdoor Discovery Kit you can find it on Amazon or at Dollar Tree. The kit includes a bug net, bug catcher, tweezers, magnifying glass, and bug containers – perfect for catching and observing real bugs!
  • flowers, leaves, and grass

Outdoor Discovery KitOutdoor Discovery KitOutdoor Discovery KitPlastic BugsPlastic BugsPlastic BugsDry Black BeansDry Black BeansDry Black Beans

Instructions:
  1. Begin by putting half of the pretend insects in the plastic bin you plan to use.
  2. Add half of the flowers, grass and leaves that your child has gathered.
  3. Pour the dry black beans into the bin so that the items you have already placed inside are covered.
  4. Add the remaining plastic bugs and flowers, grass, and leaves to the bin. You can push them down a bit into the beans so that they are slightly covered.
  5. Add tweezers, a small bug net, magnifying glass, and a small container for examining specimens.
  6. Invite your child to go on a bug hunt in the bin. Have them try to identify the types of insects they find.
  7. Optional: Arm your child with the bug catcher and one of the bug containers and have them go on a real bug hunt. They can then add the bug container to the sensory bin or add the bugs themselves to the bin (be sure to do this outdoors!). 

Learning and Sensory Opportunities:

This bug hunt sensory bin offers visual, tactile, and auditory sensory input. If kids carry the bin, this offers proprioceptive feedback as it will be quite heavy. Hands-on learning will be happening while their sensory needs are met. There are opportunities for communication and vocabulary expansion while they explain their observations and ask questions.

This sensory bin provides excellent options for fine motor practise. The tweezers and the bug catcher each give kids the chance to use and improve their fine motor skills. a child hand pinching yellow tweezers that are holding a black plastic bugChildren can learn about insects as they explore this bin. This can happen with the plastic insects only or with the addition of those found in nature. They can make observations in a nature journal or discuss what they learn. You can set out books about bugs that they can use as references.

Book Suggestions to go along with a Bug Sensory Bin:

Bugs Galore

This silly book will keep kids engaged with its retro illustrations and plenty of rhymes. Great introduction to bugs for little learners.

The Bug Book

This book is factual meets fun for preschoolers. Kids can explore all kinds of bugs in vivid photographs to learn more about the insects they might see this summer in their own backyard.

Some Bugs

With cute rhymes and vibrant illustrations, this book embraces the behaviours of backyard bugs and encourages exploration for preschoolers.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

In this classic book, a very hungry caterpillar (as the title suggests) munches his way through a variety of goodies to transform into a beautiful butterfly.

Big Bug Book

I’m a sucker for pop-up books. This one is packed with all kinds of creepy, crawly fun!

The Ants Go Marching

This book is a good segue into taking your insect unit into other subjects such as math for preschoolers. The repetition and counting up to 5 is a great early learning approach to math that kids can’t get enough of.

Bugs GaloreBugs GaloreBugs GaloreThe Bug BookThe Bug BookThe Bug BookSome BugsSome BugsSome BugsThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Big Bug Book: A Pop-up CelebrationThe Big Bug Book: A Pop-up CelebrationThe Big Bug Book: A Pop-up CelebrationThe Ants Go Marching: A Count-and-Sing BookThe Ants Go Marching: A Count-and-Sing BookThe Ants Go Marching: A Count-and-Sing Book

a child's hand shown holding yellow tweezers that are pinching a black plastic bugCheck out these other great sensory bins to help kids to discover the world around them:

Insect Sensory Bin with Dry Pasta

Simple Spring Sensory BinSimple Spring Sensory Bin for kids

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Filed Under: Sensory, Sensory Bins

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