Introducing the fall sensory bin

This morning we were supposed to go to Bible Study at our church.  It's on our calendar and it's what we're supposed to do on Mondays. 

However -

Teaching 9 credits right now, planning a new unit for the girls, loads and loads of laundry waiting for me.....

I needed a morning without leaving the house.  

I played hookie.  

God already knows - you don't have to tell on me!

I didn't really plan to do much at all with the girls today.  I really needed to just do laundry and plan for my Wednesday night class.  However, after doing a devotion (I like this new one above), I decided to squeeze in one activity.  I want to use our 5 senses a lot in this unit, so I decided to introduce a sort about the 5 senses.  It's more like a game, but instead of spinning a spinner, I just turned the cards over and had the girls choose one and figure out where to put it.  This is a free download from lakeshore learning!

We played it a few times and the girls are both really good at it and seem to both really understand their 5 senses.  - Score!

So, anyway, back to laundry.  It's nonstop this morning.  I decide to show the girls their sensory bin because I thought they could play with it as I folded yet ANOTHER load of the endless loads of laundry I still have to do.

Can you see the excitement in her face?

 They were thrilled! 

Adelyn is definitely the one who finds the smells first :)

They literally played for 45 minutes without stop.  I heard something about squirrels and feeding the baby squirrels the acorns.  I heard something about being pirates and finding their treasure :)  Most of the conversation I missed as I was next to the loud washing machine and dryer!

Notice their "treasure" they stored up behind Charlotte :)

Adelyn helps clean up

When I came back upstairs, I told them it was time to clean up.  

They helped sweep the oatmeal back into the bin.

Some people use sheets or plastic.  I found it easiest to start on a clean hardwood floor (Oh yeah, I mopped this morning too - boo) and then have them sweep it after.

Charlotte showed me the smallest baby berry they had found :)

Then, we put the bin above our cabinets for another day.

**Side note - I almost bought a used water table and made a "sensory table" instead of a sensory bin.  My mother-in-law kind of talked me out of it and I think she was totally right on this one.  The girls really like being on the floor and making a mess and being able to pick it right back up.  Also, being able to put the lid on this and put it away will help keep the excitement about it!

(Thanks Vicky :)

These girls were on a roll this morning.   

After we put away the bin, Adelyn told me it was time to do play dough.

Um, okay.  

I pulled out the chocolate playdough and went to fold more laundry!

One of the things I'm going to focus on for Adelyn is learning the other letters in her name other than "A" so I gave her those letters and she punched them out. 

I'd say the free-play today was pretty educational - I'll call it a win.

If only I can finish all that laundry!