Apple sensory bin

On our first day of "apples" I had put apple sauce in our sensory bin, along with a lot of things for pouring and scooping, mashing and stirring.

 

Applesauce was fun but also very messy - too messy for some of our kids.  Those who chose to play here didn't mind the mess.  In fact, they enjoyed it because every time applesauce got on the handle of a spoon or a measuring cup the ytook it to our sink to wash it off.  They loved "doing the dishes"

 *The applesauce is not green - it is just my camera

 

On the next day I did an "apple pie sensory bin".  This one I still haven't figured out really.  I had this out for two days and made changes for the second day.  One day one I put quick cooking oats and spiced them up with apple pie spice - oh it smelled wonderful!  I added yellow, red, and green pom poms.  I had all sorts of measuring and baking stuff.  That was the main plan.  Then... literally 5 minutes before the kids got there I thought, "Maybe I should add some wheat flour on the side.  I thought it would add another element to their play, give them something to mix together and what not.

 

 

 

 

oohh, this center was a HIT!   Many children stayed here all day.  They made all sorts of things and were so excited to share them with everyone. 

 

 

 But as I observed their play I realized that the wheat flour added nothing to their play.  It was just immediately mixed into the oatmeal with out a second thought and... it was a mess!  The oatmeal would not have been bad, but the flour got everywhere and stuck to everything.  I decided while watching I would never add the flour again.  I was missing 2 kids that day, and I knew they would both have really liked it, so I decided to have it out again the next day, but omit the flour.

 

But since the flour was all mixed in I had to start over with a fresh batch of oatmeal.  So on day two I put out all the same stuff, except for the flour AND I didn't season it.  I assumed it didn't really add to the experience either and just cost more - and since I hadn't originally budgeted on doing this twice (having to throw the first one out) - I assumed it didn't matter.

Turns out SOMETHING mattered.  Because it was hardly played with.  Even by my two that missed the day before.  Sadly I don't know if it was the spices or the flour.  Either way, I will have to test again next year.  But I also think next year I will try to track down some tiny decorative apples to use instead of pom poms.  The fluffiness absorbed the flour and oatmeal.