Apple Picking Sensory Bin
This apple-scented sensory bin is a fun and easy way to get the feeling of apple picking without leaving your house!
Materials Needed
• Uncooked rice
• A small amount of apple extract or apple flavoring
• Optional red or green food coloring
• A plastic bin or large container
• Small scoops or spoons
• Cups or bowls
• Tongs
• Red and green pom-poms, pretend apples, or other apple-themed items
• Small baskets or containers for collecting and sorting
Adult supervision is recommended during sensory play, particularly for children who may put small items or uncooked rice in their mouths.
Instructions
Step 1: Make the apple-scented rice
Place the rice in a large sealable bag or container. Add a small amount of apple extract and shake or stir until the scent is distributed throughout the rice. You only need enough to give the rice a light apple scent. Spread the rice in a thin layer and allow it to dry completely before adding it to the sensory bin.
Keep the scent mild. Children can respond differently to smells and textures, so it is always okay to offer unscented rice or another preferred sensory material instead.
Step 2: Set Up the Bin
Pour your apple-scented rice into the container and add your apple-themed objects, scoops, cups, bowls, and tongs. You can leave some of the apples visible and hide others underneath the rice for your child to discover. Then let them explore.
Scoop and Pour
Sometimes the simplest part of a sensory bin is the most engaging. Let your child scoop rice into cups, dump it back into the bin, transfer it between containers, or fill and empty a small basket.
While they play, model simple language, like:
• “Scoop, scoop, scoop.”
• “You filled it up!”
• “Now it's empty.”
• “The rice is falling down.”
These comments expose children to useful words without requiring them to answer a question.
Go Apple Picking
Hide pretend apples or red and green pom-poms throughout the rice and invite your child to go apple picking. As you search, try saying:
• “I found an apple!”
• “Where could another apple be?”
• “Let's put this one in the basket.”
Sort the Apples
Place two containers beside the bin. Children can sort the apples by color, size, or another feature. You can model concepts such as:
• Red and green
• Same and different
• Big and small
• More and less
Count Your Harvest
Once you have collected some apples, count them together. For children who are just beginning to explore numbers, simply model counting as you touch each apple. Older children can compare groups, count how many apples they collected, or decide which basket has more.
Open an Apple Stand
Add cups, bowls, baskets, or a pretend cash register and turn the sensory bin into an apple orchard or farm stand. Your child might pick apples, sell them, make pretend apple pie, or invent an entirely different game. Pretend play provides opportunities to practice communication, taking turns, problem-solving, and using familiar experiences in new ways.
There is no single correct way to use a sensory bin. Your child might spend the entire activity pouring rice from one cup to another instead of looking for a single apple. That is still meaningful play. Follow their interests, model language around what they are already doing, and look for small opportunities to play together. When children are engaged and having fun, even a simple sensory bin can create opportunities for communication, exploration, and learning.
