Shark Bay Sensory Bin for Toddlers

Young children will love learning about sharks with this fun activity. This Shark Bay Sensory Bin is perfect for shark week or a summer themed preschool ocean unit. Pair it with your favorite shark books and help kids learn all about these amazing ocean animals while they play.

If you want to make your Summer themed lessons a breeze, then check out the Summer Activity Pack. It’s filled with math and literacy centers, fine motor activities and arts and crafts templates. All of which are aligned with preschool learning standards. Check it out today.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

More Summer Themed Sensory Activities for Kids

Here are some more summer themed activities for toddlers and preschoolers. These are a huge hit with kids of all ages, so if you need another great sensory activity, then try these fun ideas.

1. Frozen Sand Sensory Bin
2. Tropical island small world + sensory bin
3. Ocean Sensory Bin
4. Shark Sensory Bottle
5. Squishy Shark Sensory Bag

For more ideas, take a look at these 25 Summer sensory activities.

Materials Needed

1. Blue rainbow sand
2. Pebbles
3. Shark toys
4. A large tub or water table
5. Sensory bin tools (eg. spoons, cups and bowls)

How to make a Shark Bay Sensory Bin

1. Make your rainbow sand

I make rainbow sand using this homemade colored sand recipe. Not only is it easy to make, but it washes out too. Which means you can use it at the beach or in your sandbox at home. With a bit of water your rainbow sand will return to normal, without hurting the environment.

2. Pour the rainbow sand into your tub.

3. Decorate the tub with pebbles, boats and other items you have. I also included some toy seals, but this is optional.

If you want more ideas of what to put include in your sensory table, some of my favorite things to add include:

1. Small world figures (either swimmers or different sea animals)
2. Water beads
3. Blue glass pebbles
4. Shark cards.

4. Hide your toy sharks underneath the colored sand.

My sand wasn’t deep enough to cover all of the sharks, but it didn’t matter. My kids had so much fun sifting through the sand to see what they could find.

5. Enjoy playing.

Different ways to play

Pretend Play

Use your imagination to engage in some pretend play. What stories will your kids come up with using the different characters inside this small world?

Scoop and Pour

Use cups, spoons and bowls to practice scooping and pouring the colored sand. This is a super simple activity that has a surprising amount of learning hiding inside it.

Shark Scavenger Hunt

Find all of the shark figures hiding in this sensory play idea. If you have older kids, you can always hide some of the animals under the sand instead of sitting them on top. Then the kids will really have to go digging to find them all.

You can also make a checklist for your kids beforehand. 

Write down the names of the sharks that you have on a recording sheet. When your children find that shark in the tub, they can cross it off of the list.

What you’re learning

Imagination

Use your imagination to practice storytelling. Use the sharks, seals or people in this small world to tell a story. This is a great way for children to develop language and understanding emotions.

Sensory

Experience the different textures inside this shark bay. The sand, pebbles, and sharks will all have a different feel to them.

This sensory input is a great way to engage kids in learning, or as part of a sensory integration exercise for children with special needs.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the hand and fingers. Developing these skills are important in being able to write when the kids go to school, as well as being able to complete tasks independently. (For example, dressing and feeding themselves)

Picking up the small toy sharks, scooping and pouring the rainbow sand in this sensory bin activity are all going to help young kids develop:

1. Pincer grip
2. Palmar grasp
3. Hand-eye coordination
4. Hand strength
5. Dexterity.

STEM

Science – Talk to your kids about the different sharks they find and have a mini-science lesson. You can discuss things like:

1. What are some different types of sharks?
2. Where does it live?
3. What does it eat?
4. How does it move?
5. Interesting facts you may know about sharks.

Technology – Part of this shark week sensory activity is a toy boat, sitting in the middle of the water. Boats are a type of technology, they help us to travel over water. This sensory bin is the perfect time to talk to your kids about:

1. How do boats work?
2. Why do we use them?
3. Different kinds of boats.

Math – Practice counting different things with your kids. Such as:

1. How many sharks can you find?
2. How many scoops of sand does it take to fill up a small cup?
3. How many pebbles are on the shore.

You can also organize by size. Line the sharks or the pebbles up from biggest to smallest.

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