Fake Snow Sensory Play – Day 13 of 15 Days of Winter Break Activities
An important belief in Montessori philosophy is that children learn through all five of their senses. This is why, in Montessori classrooms such as ours at Living Montessori Education Community, there are sensorial sections of the classroom.
Sensorial experiences are incorporated throughout the classroom in work you might have seen such as sandpaper letters/numbers, rough and smooth boards, smelling bottles, dish washing, etc. Montessori believed in the deep connections children can make by exploring raw and real materials, hence using glass and wooden materials, and exploring nature as well.
How can you create a sensory rich environment for your child? Explore natural material as much as possible! While at home, try using this modern tool that has been proven to be successful in creating sensorial experiences for children… sensory bins!
Note:
This sensory bin is not edible! Keep a close eye on smaller children to be sure they do not try and eat it. If some does go in their mouth, they will likely instantly spit it out (salty hair conditioner does not taste good). Be extra safe and aware around infants and toddlers!
Benefits:
Encourages sensory exploration, which is needed for children to make nerve connections, build memory, and encourages independent thinking. Early sensory exploration also helps children build their fine motor skills and helps aid language development.
Materials:
A large Container, Baking soda, White hair conditioner or lotion (for this experiment, we used a small bottle of white hair conditioner), water, and beads or buttons (optional)!
Instructions:
- Pour baking soda and hair conditioner into container.
- Slowly add a few drops of water and mix until the baking soda becomes somewhat sticky!
- Add buttons, beads, or any other art material you have into your fake snow for added fun!
Age/Difficulty Variations:
- For younger children (infants- 3 years), remember to keep a close watch on your child as they explore this sensory bin to be sure they do not eat it! Instead of buttons or beads, try hiding larger materials into the bin that they can dig through and find!
- For older children (Anges 4- elementary), allow them to help in creating the bin. For Elementary aged children, have them write down any measurements they used to create the perfect consistency of the fake snow! (ex. 1 cup of baking soda, 2 tsp water, ¼ cup of hair conditioner).
We hope you enjoy this day 13 activity out of the 15 Days of Winter Break Activities series! Let us see what you created by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook!
Instagram: @ lmeclife
Facebook: @ Living Montessori Education Community
