Easy Sensory Science Tray

Activity

Easy Sensory Science Tray

A deliberately quiet invitation to explore: dry rice, water beads or oats with a few scoops and jars. Open-ended, repeatable and easy to pack away.

Ages

3-5, 5-7

Level

EYFS, KS1

Subject

Science

Duration

25 min

What you'll need

  • A shallow tray
  • Rice, oats or lentils
  • Scoops, jars, tongs

What the learner will explore

  • Properties of materials
  • Capacity
  • Cause and effect

How to do it

  1. 1

    Fill the tray about two centimetres deep.

  2. 2

    Add three tools and nothing else.

  3. 3

    Sit nearby without directing.

  4. 4

    Talk about what happened afterwards, if they want to.

Make it easier

Use one material and one scoop.

Make it harder

Add a weighing scale and predict which container holds most.

Try it differently

Take the tray outside and use soil, water and leaves.

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Voleio activities are ideas and planning support, not educational or medical assessment.