Easy Shape Sorting Sensory Bin for Preschoolers
One of the best ways to learn in the early years is through sensory play, if you’re new to sensory play you’ll be surprised how many amazing benefits this type of play gives children. This Shape Sorting Sensory Bin is one way to take a simple black bean sensory bin and make it more challenging.
Below you’ll find a FREE printable download that includes the shapes and the sorting labels. It’s as easy and click, print, and cut to get this educational activity set up.
Although I’ve used this printable as part of an easy sensory bin, you can still use it on its own as a math center activity in your homeschool or preschool classroom.
Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times.
Shapes is an essential math concept that little kids need to learn before they go to school. If you’re exploring 2D and 3D shapes, then take a look at all of these shape activities for kids.
Or you can invest in the Shapes Activity Pack, which is filled with educational printables for kids.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed
- The FREE Shape Sorting Sensory Bin Printable below.
- A4 paper in different colors
- Scissors
- Laminator
- Laminating Sheets (optional)
- Black beans
- 1 large Tub for the beans
- 9 smaller baskets for the shapes to be sorted into.
How to set up a Shape Sorting Sensory Bin
1. Print off the free shapes printable.
I printed the label cards onto a white sheet, and the basic shapes onto different pieces of colored paper. I did this to save ink, and so that the children could also sort the shapes into their colors instead if they wanted to.
2. Laminate your printables and cut them out.
Of course, laminating is optional. I did this to give the shapes some stability because I know that plain paper won’t last more than one day with my kids.
You can also use thicker cardstock is you have it. Or use shape punches. I didn’t have either of these options, so I laminated instead.
3. Pour the black beans into the large tub, and hide the colored shapes in the beans.
You don’t have to use dried black beans for your shape sorting sensory bin. You can use whatever sensory bin filler that you want.
I used the black beans because I liked how to colorful shapes stood out against the dark background.
4. Arrange the shape cards into their respective containers to be sorted into.
I didn’t have 9 small containers to help with the sorting. So instead, I used another large tub and dived it into sections using magnatiles.
If you don’t have magnatiles, you can always make your own boxes very easily out of cardstock.
How to Play
Playing is simple. Find the shapes, hiding in the sensory bin, and sort them into their respective shapes. However, there are other ways to play too. You can also sort by:
- Like colors
- Which shapes have only straight lines and which have curves lines ( this is a great activity for pre-reading and writing)
- Number order, which shape has the least number of lines (e.g. circle) to the most (e.g. star)
- Count how many black beans it takes to fill the area of the shape.
- Which holds more beans, the square of the rectangle.
Shape Activities for Kids
Help toddlers and preschoolers learn their shapes with these easy shape play ideas.
- Sticker Shapes Fine Motor Activity
- Craft Stick Shape Mats
- Building Shapes – STEM for Kids
- Fizzy Shapes Sensory Bin
- Which Shape is Strongest: STEM Challenge
- …
For more ideas, read the entire list of 25 Shape Activities for Kids
Are you going to try this Shape Sorting Sensory Bin with your kids?
Don’t forget to Pin the idea for later.
Shapes Activity Pack
Educational printables for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners to teach them all about Shapes.
