The Chaos and the Clutter

Human Body Sensory Bin

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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.

red water beads with toy body parts and organs and a book of the skeletal system with text that reads "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:

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 - AnatomyBody Parts Stretchy Fidgets – Ear, Hand, Foot Nose – AnatomyBody Parts Stretchy Fidgets - Ear, Hand, Foot Nose - AnatomyHuman Organs TOOBHuman Organs TOOBHuman Organs TOOBRed Water BeadsRed Water BeadsRed Water Beads

Some other resources to accompany your human body unit study:

Human Body! (Knowledge Encyclopedias)Human Body! (Knowledge Encyclopedias)Human Body! (Knowledge Encyclopedias)The Human Body: A Pop-Up Guide to AnatomyThe Human Body: A Pop-Up Guide to AnatomyThe Human Body: A Pop-Up Guide to AnatomyHuman Body Activity Book for KidsHuman Body Activity Book for KidsHuman Body Activity Book for KidsMy First Human Body BookMy First Human Body BookMy First Human Body BookThe Fantastic Body: What Makes You Tick & How You Get SickThe Fantastic Body: What Makes You Tick & How You Get SickThe Fantastic Body: What Makes You Tick & How You Get SickLook Inside: Your BodyLook Inside: Your BodyLook Inside: Your BodyLearning Resources Human Body ModelLearning Resources Human Body ModelLearning Resources Human Body Model3D Organ Apron3D Organ Apron3D Organ Apron

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

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

More hands-on learning activities for the human body:

Check out some of our other sensory science ideas:

Colour Mixing Sensory Bag

Sensory Smell Bottles

Melting Ice Experiment