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Thunderstorm Sensory Bin – Easy Weather Activity for Kids

This Thunderstorm Sensory Bin is a great way to spend a rainy day with your young kids. Toddlers and preschoolers will have so much fun exploring the different parts of this weather sensory bin.

You can use it at home as a fun activity, or in the classroom for a weather themed lesson plan. Either way, this rain sensory bin is perfect for little learners.

earn about the weather with this thunderstorm sensory bin. A fun and easy weather activity to teach toddlers and preschoolers abut rain, clouds, lightning and thunder.

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 commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

More Weather Activities for Kids

Learn about the different types of weather in a hands-on way. Kids of all ages will have lots of fun with these fun activities.

  1. Water cycle stem for kids
  2. Free Weather Playdough Mats
  3. Rainbow Lightning – Process Art for Kids
  4. DIY Thermometer
  5. How to make a Rain Gauge

For more ideas, take a look at these 25 Weather Activities for Kids.

Materials Needed

  1. Tray or tub to put everything in.
  2. Blue glass pebbles (or something similar)
  3. Cotton Wool Balls
  4. Blue paper
  5. Yellow Pipe Cleaners


How to Make a Thunderstorm Sensory Bin

Step 1: Create your sky

I did this by placing 2 sheets of blue construction paper onto my white tray. This is optional. You may already have a blue container you can use, or you may think it’s unnecessary. However I just loved how the different color backgrounds made the storm clouds stand out.

2. Create your clouds

I used cotton wool balls to create my clouds. They were an easy way to get some different textures included in this thunderstorm activity.

Another idea is to use shaving cream for the clouds instead. This is another fun way to get different materials into a cloud sensory bin.

3. Raindrops

I used some blue gems that I had in my loose parts play collection. These were my kids favorite because they kept making the “rain” fall onto the tray. It made a wonderful clanging sound as it fell. Just like a rumble of thunder.

However, if your children are prone to sensory overload you may prefer to skip all the noise that comes with making your own thunderstorm. You can always use blue pom poms or water beads to make simple rain instead.

4. Lightning

I used yellow pipe cleaners to make a couple of lightning strikes. I have to admit that my kids did not care about them at all. They were literally thrown out of the tray the first chance they got and never looked at again.

This may be because we don’t get many thunderstorms where we live, and those that do happen are usually when the kids are asleep. If your little ones have actually experienced thunder and lightning for themselves, this part of the sensory tray might be more interesting for them.

Extended Play Ideas

Idea 1. Exploring shadows

What happens to the sun when the clouds get in the way? We got a torch and some cotton balls and explored shadows and what happens when the sun (torch) is completely covered up by clouds. This is a fun science experiment that even very young children can get involved with.

Idea 2. Explore the different types of clouds

Break the cotton wool apart and talk about the different types of clouds. This is a great activity because it can be as simplified as you need.

For example, very young kids, like toddlers, may only understand that not all clouds rain, only grey ones do.

Idea 3. Count the raindrops

Write numbers onto the background paper and count the raindrops. This is a fun way to include some early math skills, like number recognition and counting.

Idea 4. Demonstrate your own clouds.

Use the cotton wool to absorb water. When the cotton is full (and leaking) you can talk about what it takes for clouds to rain.

Idea 5. Talk about how lightning and thunder work.

Extreme weather is great for your science center. Talk to your class about what makes the perfect storm and what effects the daily weather has on us.

Idea 6. Fine motor skills

Don’t forget how picking up all of these small toys is a great way to develop pincer grip, hand-eye coordination and more. Strengthening the muscles in the hands and fingers is an important skill to work on before toddlers and preschoolers head off to big kids school.

Are you going to try this Thunderstorm Sensory Bin with your kids?
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earn about the weather with this thunderstorm sensory bin. A fun and easy weather activity to teach toddlers and preschoolers abut rain, clouds, lightning and thunder.

More Play Based Learning for Kids

Sensory activities for kids. 60 fun and easy sensory play ideas for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Perfect for at home or in the class.

60 Sensory Activities for Kids

Yield: 1

Thunderstorm Sensory Bin

earn about the weather with this thunderstorm sensory bin. A fun and easy weather activity to teach toddlers and preschoolers abut rain, clouds, lightning and thunder.

Learn about the weather with this thunderstorm sensory bin. This is a great sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers to play with at home or in the classroom.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Tray or tub to put everything in.
  • Blue glass pebbles (or something similar)
  • Cotton Wool Balls
  • Blue paper
  • Yellow Pipe Cleaners

Instructions

  1. Line a tub or tray with blue paper to make the sky. Or you can use a blue colored container if you have one.
  2. Make some clouds out of cotton balls or shaving foam. Spread this along the top third of the container.
  3. Use blue glass pebbles, pom poms or water beads. Spread these sporadically throughout the bottom 2/3 of the container.
  4. Use yellow pipe cleaners and twist them into the shape of lightning.
  5. Enjoy playing

Notes

There are lots of opportunities for extended learning with this weather sensory bin. These include:

  1. Exploring shadows (Eg, What happens when a cloud passes in front of the sun?)
  2. Exploring the different types of clouds
  3. Counting the raindrops
  4. Demonstrating how clouds work
  5. Talk about thunder and lightning
  6. Developing fine motor skills
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