Elevate the sensory center with book themed sensory table activities. Students gain the benefits of both centers as they retell stories and make physical connections to the characters, and they explore sensory materials. It’s the best of both the book corner and the sensory table, combined into one engaging center.
Creating a book themed sensory table is as easy as A-B-C. Simple stories work the best for retelling, but it also works great with some non-fiction titles as well. When students play in a book themed sensory table center, they are making strong connections with what they’ve been read. Even the most reluctant reader finds it hard to avoid the allure of the sensory materials. Here is a list of some sure-fire book themed sensory table ideas to get started.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See
by Bill Martin, Jr.
Brightly colored pompoms are a fantastic choice to accompany this classic book. Challenge students and put images of different animals from the book on the containers for sorting.
Growing Vegetable Soup
by Lois Ehlert
Begin with some dried alphabet noodles in this book themed sensory table. Add four cardboard tube “cans” to the table, each labeled with a different letter in the word “SOUP.” Next, put in some matching alphabet puzzle pieces (or laminate some clip art to match) for the same letters as well as the images that go with those letters. Don’t forget to add pots, pans, colendars, spoons, and bowls. For extra whimsy, add some vegetable themed mini-erasers.
I Am Invited to a Party!
by Mo Willems
Start by reading this ridiculously funny book to the students. Then have them enjoy this party setup in the sensory table. Add cupcake tins, silicone liners, candles and measuring cups to any sensory material for an instant party.
Singing in the Rain
by Tim Hopgood
In a neutral sensory filler (pictured: dried popcorn kernels) add this weather themed kit from Hand2Mind. Include some scoops, spoons, and color matching cups. Consider adding a small speaker nearby playing the song or natural weather sounds.
Alphabet Rescue
by Audrey Wood
This simple book themed sensory table only requires a few items that are already in most preschool classrooms. Gather some alphabet letter toys, a few fire trucks from the block center, and a few tools for scooping. Students spend time “rescuing” different letters from around the bin while retelling the story.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
by Constanza Basaluzzo (or others)
Choose a classroom favorite copy of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to have on hand at this spidery book themed sensory table!.Start with some blue and green aquarium gravel as a base, or substitute in blue dyed rice or the material of your choice. Add a few interesting pieces of PVC pipe, some tongs, and of course, some itsy bitsy spiders. Add some weather pieces from the Singing in the Rain sensory table too, or add laminated clip art sun and rain clouds. Students will be entranced sending spiders through the pvc pipe over and over again!
What Makes a Rainbow
by Betty Schwartz
This gorgeous book comes with endless possibilities for sensory fun. Here are two options:
Option 1: Add the following to the sensory table: Styrofoam floral supports, pipe cleaners in six rainbow colors, a few handfuls of chunky beads, and some cups or buckets. Students can build their own rainbow by pushing the pipe cleaners into the styrofoam, or they practice their fine motor skills by threading the beads, or they simply explore the way the sensory materials interact. (Pictured: aquarium gravel)
Option 2: Use rainbow-dyed chick peas as a sensory table filler to set up this amazing rainbow book themed sensory table. Add these mini novelty “pot o’ gold” pieces, some plastic shiny coins, spoons, and scoopers. So simple, but so much fun.
Little Blue Truck
by Alice Schertle
This barnyard setup begins with a sensory table of green-dyed rice to mimic the grassy fields of the farm. Add some barnyard animals, fences, tractors, and trucks to complete the scene.
Tea Party Rules
by Ame Dykman
Dried black beans provide a stunning backdrop for the wooden tea set from WHERE DID THEY GET THE TEA SET? Add scoops, number matching cookie toys, and don some fancy hats. Students can practice being fancy and eating daintily like the little girl’s tea party rules in the book.
Nonfiction Book Themed Sensory Tables
Nonfiction books also are great for the sensory table area. Students get hands-on with different topics as they explore.
Insects
When exploring insects as a topic, include a nonfiction book such as Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Jennifer Dussling in the sensory area, as well as:
- Magnifying glasses
- Tongs
- Plastic insects
- Sorting cups, or an assortment of containers.
Students can sort the insects by different attributes such as color or appearance. They also practice insect vocabulary words, classification skills, and fine motor skills – all while having fun!
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are always a popular topic at the sensory table. For a dinosaur book themed sensory table, add plastic dinosaurs, volcanoes, and plants to a sand table. Students can explore making tracks in the sand and living out their dino dreams!
Another fun way to interact with dinosaurs is by taking magnetic dinosaur puzzle pieces and adding them to a bin of dried beans. Add some magnetic trays to the table. As students find dinosaurs in the book, they search for the matching puzzle piece and put it on the tray.
Of course, paleontology is also a preschool “hot topic.” Tiny dinosaur hunters read about their finds in the book, or vice versa. To create a dino dig sensory table, add:
Recycling
Celebrate the planet with this shape sorting book themed sensory table. Students dig through the sensory material (pictured, rice) and sort the pieces into different cups. Add Earth shaped mini erasers to add to the fun.
Recommended book: Recycling by Neil Morris
Go Wild with Animal Variations
When students use a nonfiction book themed sensory table, they are not retelling a story. Instead, they are using new vocabulary, comparing and contrasting, and thinking more about what they learned from the text and pictures. This gives the teacher more freedom in some ways. Here are some examples of nonfiction book themed sensory tables all about animals, however, these general ideas can be applied to nearly every nonfiction category.
Puzzling It Out – Using Puzzles in Sensory Bins
For both of these examples, pieces from chunky wooden puzzles are in the sensory media. The one on the left is slightly more difficult, as the pieces are a little harder to see in the mixed beans and the puzzles are slightly more advanced. In both tables, students dig through the sensory filler to find pieces, then they use their spatial reasoning skills to put them in the puzzle. Of course, many students will also use the pieces as props in imaginary play while at the sensory table too – and that’s great! The important part is that they are talking about animals they have recently learned about and are making connections from the pieces in their hand to the text in the book they have read.
Dried black beans create a dramatic backdrop for the brightly colored pieces in this sensory table. Student sort the animals using the tongs, either by color, number or type of animal. With this table they are working on fine motor strength, hand-eye coordination, and even some early math skills.
This sensory table uses the same media, dried black beans, however, the intent is purely for imaginative play. Students build a zoo using fences and realistic looking toy animals. This still builds on observation skills, however, as in many cases they are matching up pairs of animals. And again, of course, they are using the new vocabulary learned from the book.
Ready, Set, Play!
A book themed sensory table blends storytime and exploration into one rich learning experience. Fiction and nonfiction books provide the perfect starting point for sensory invitations that support language, literacy, and cognitive growth. With each scoop, pour, and playful retelling, the sensory table becomes a space where favorite books inspire early learning in a memorable and engaging way. The hardest part from that point is choosing what book gets to be next!
