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Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play

Rice has been used in sensory play in preschools and kindergartens for ages but coloring rice takes it up a notch to exciting! Using liquid watercolors to color the rice makes for vibrant colors that are inviting to young children. This Rainbow Rice Sensory Play incorporates a gardening theme along with rainbow colors, making it the perfect spring sensory bin for preschoolers.

Rainbow Rice Sensory Play

Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play for preschoolers to engage their senses through play and discovery #ece #preschool #rainbow #sensoryplay #sensory #earlylearning

This morning we made rainbow rice. I measured out the rice (4 cups) and put it in a Ziploc bag with about 2T of food coloring or a few drops of liquid watercolors.  The kids helped me mix the rice in the bags to spread the color. We put them on pans to dry in the sun. The rainbow rice dried incredibly fast.

I loved this book & garden themed sensory play idea from Playful Learning. Planting a Rainbow is a new book to me and my group. I immediately bought it on Amazon. What a great color book!

Colorful Rainbow Rice sensory materials - Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play
Rainbow of colored rice sensory bin colored with liquid watercolors Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play

I have a regular sensory table but I like using this under the bed storage bin for a sensory bin because it’s so portable. It can be set on a table or on the floor. It can be used indoors or outdoors. Plus, it’s a little bigger for more kids to use at the same time.

I found all these gardening and play toys at Michaels, mostly in the dollar section. I buy a lot of dollar store items and it sure adds it up fast!

gardening and rainbow themed sensory bin for preschoolers - Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play
Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play
Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play
planting flowers dramatic play Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play
sensory bin for preschoolers gardening theme Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play

The child-sized gardening gloves were especially a hit. Love this activity!

Child sized gardening gloves and buckets for Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play bin
Silk flowers and watering can for gardening sensory bin with Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play
Rainbow Rice & Garden Sensory Play with gardening tools, silk flowers and buckets

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