Does your child like sea animals? Elevate their interest to a new level with this oobleck filled sensory bin. This can go well with the other three sea-life sensory bins: Clean the ocean, Chemical reaction meet Sea Life, and Under the Sea Party Sand Play Dough.
What is a sensory bin?
Sensory bins are containers filled with a range of materials that engage children’s senses. From water and sand to rice, flour, dry beans, shaving cream and more—these engaging bin fillers offer endless possibilities for creative play, tailored to your child’s age.
What makes sensory bins so irresistible to children?
Sensory bins offer a range of sensory experiences for all the five senses: sound, smell, taste, sight and touch. This sensory input provide children an opportunity to fully immerse in the present moment. As they immerse themselves into play, they pay attention to the different materials they are manipulating in a calm and relaxed way.
Why are sensory bins the perfect activity for birthday party celebrations?
As mentioned before. children get involved in play using all their five senses. If the sensory bin is big enough for 3 to 5 children to play simultaneously, then fun is almost guaranteed throughout the entire party.
Gooey sea animals sensory bin Recipe
In this activity, I used Oobleck (a fluid with a strange behavior) as the bin filler. It is such a cool and bizarre substance that will captive little hands.
What it is Oobleck?
Oobleck is the result of mixing water and cornstarch. This viscous fluid has the property of being both liquid and solid. What? Is that even possible?
When tapping using your fingers into the surface of Oobleck will make it feel hard, but when you dip your hand slowly into the blend your fingers slide in as easily as through water. It’s a bit like quick sand. How amazing! When you squeeze it with your hands it will feel solid.
And the great thing about it is that it is easy to clean. Once dry, just rinse with water.
How to make Oobleck?
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of water
- 6 cups of cornstarch
- Blue food coloring
Steps
- In a measuring jug, mix the water and a couple of drops of blue food coloring.
- Pour the colored water into your bin and add the cornstarch. Mix with a spoon.
- Your oobleck is ready when you can garb it in your hands and feels solid but the moment you release the pressure, it flows out of your hand like water. If your mixture is too liquid, mix in more cornstarch. If it’s a bit too stiff, add a little more water.
What you will need
- 1 plastic container (I used 26.5 L)
- Ocean life figurines
- The oobleck you just made
- 2 scoopers
- 1 metal strainer
- 1 pasta spoon
- 1 spoon
Assembling
You are nearly done! If you have made oobleck in a different container, pour it into the bin. Next, simply add the ocean life figurines, scoopers, spoons and metal strainer. It’s ready for play!
Your children are going to love trying to get all these sea creatures out of this gooey substance. What a blast!
