Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin

Easter is right around the corner, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than by mixing a little science with a whole lot of fun? Today, we’re crafting an Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin that’s not only a blast to play with but also sneaks in some educational value. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid that acts like a liquid when held lightly and like a solid when you apply pressure. This fascinating substance will surely capture the curiosity of your toddlers and provide hours of exploratory play.

For this activity, you’ll need just a few materials: cornstarch, water, a sensory bin, and plastic Easter eggs. The beauty of this project lies in its simplicity, making it perfect for young scientists to observe and interact with materials they likely already have at home. So, let’s get our hands dirty (quite literally!) and set up an Easter-themed sensory experience that combines learning with fun.

Materials:

• Cornstarch
• Water
• Sensory bin
• Plastic Easter eggs

Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin Step by Step Instructions:

1. Making the Oobleck: Start by mixing about 2 cups of cornstarch with 1 cup of water. Adjust these amounts depending on the size of your sensory bin; you want enough oobleck to fill the bin to a depth where your toddlers can freely dig in. Mix the cornstarch and water in a large bowl. You’re aiming for a mixture that feels hard when you press down on it or make fist around it but turns liquid when you let it run through your fingers.

1. Color It Easter: To make it more festive, divide the oobleck into bowls and add a few drops of food coloring—think pastel Easter colors like pink, yellow, green, and blue. Mix each color thoroughly.

1. Fill the Bin: Once your oobleck is mixed and colored, pour it into the sensory bin. Create a marbled effect by gently swirling different colors together with a spoon or your hand. Don’t overmix; you want to keep the colors distinct.

1. Hide the Easter Eggs: Place plastic Easter eggs in the oobleck. Some can be buried underneath, while others can be partially visible. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can fill the eggs with small surprises or additional sensory materials like beads or feathers for an added layer of discovery.

How My Toddlers Played with Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin:

Watching toddlers interact with the Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin is a delight. Initially, they approached with curiosity, poking at the oobleck, surprised by its changing texture. Soon, the cautious pokes turned into full-on digging, laughing as they tried to grab what felt solid but slipped away like liquid. They opened the eggs, filled them with oobleck, and enjoyed the messy, gooey fun. The tactile experience held their attention, encouraging free play and exploration.

My only regret with this awesome activity is that I didn’t think to add food coloring or beads or feathers to enhance the sensory appeal and extend the activity!

Tips for Success:

• Prep for Mess: Lay down a tarp or large towels under and around the sensory bin to catch spills.
• Clothes: Dress your toddlers in old clothes or smocks; oobleck is washable, but better safe than sorry.
• Water Play: Keep a bucket of water and towels nearby for easy handwashing, especially if you’re playing indoors.
• Clean Up: To clean up oobleck, let it dry out slightly, then scrape it up. Any remnants can be wiped up with a damp cloth. Avoid pouring large amounts of oobleck down the drain as it can clog. Dilute it with plenty of water if you do rinse some down the sink.

Skills Learned:

This Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin is not just fun; it’s a learning goldmine. Toddlers enhance their fine motor skills by scooping, pouring, and picking up Easter eggs. The sensory play encourages curiosity and scientific thinking, introducing concepts like solid and liquid states without formal lessons. It’s a perfect way to foster creativity, problem-solving, and even early math skills as they measure and mix ingredients. Plus, the sensory experience can be soothing, helping toddlers to focus and calm down while they play.

This Easter, make a splash with an activity that’s as educational as it is entertaining. The Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin is sure to be a hit, providing a memorable experience that combines the joy of discovery with the thrill of the season.

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon. 

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

• 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
• Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
• Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

Print

Easter Oobleck Sensory Bin

Ingredients

• Cornstarch
• Water
• Sensory bin
• Plastic Easter eggs

Instructions

• Making the Oobleck: Start by mixing about 2 cups of cornstarch with 1 cup of water. Adjust these amounts depending on the size of your sensory bin; you want enough oobleck to fill the bin to a depth where your toddlers can freely dig in. Mix the cornstarch and water in a large bowl. You're aiming for a mixture that feels hard when you press down on it or make fist around it but turns liquid when you let it run through your fingers.
• Color It Easter: To make it more festive, divide the oobleck into bowls and add a few drops of food coloring—think pastel Easter colors like pink, yellow, green, and blue. Mix each color thoroughly.
• Fill the Bin: Once your oobleck is mixed and colored, pour it into the sensory bin. Create a marbled effect by gently swirling different colors together with a spoon or your hand. Don’t overmix; you want to keep the colors distinct.
• Hide the Easter Eggs: Place plastic Easter eggs in the oobleck. Some can be buried underneath, while others can be partially visible. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can fill the eggs with small surprises or additional sensory materials like beads or feathers for an added layer of discovery.

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