Number Construction Site Sensory Bin

Adam has been confident with his numbers up to 20 for some time. We have since moved on to building his understanding of two digit numbers. As this weeks Virtual Book Club theme is Construction I decided to create a Number Construction Site Sensory Bin. The construction vehicles would dig up hidden numbers in the sensory bin and create two digit numbers.

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Materials needed for a Number Construction Site Sensory Bin

* Sensory bin – we used a green Ikea Trofast Storage Box

* Coloured rice – I recycled red, orange and yellow coloured rice from our Gnome Small World Tuff Spot and brown coloured rice from our Harvest Tuff Spot. You can view a tutorial on how to make coloured rice here.

* Small plastic construction vehicles – similar to these.

* Magnetic Numbers

* A magnetic dry wipe board and pen – similar to this

* My 1st JCB Talking Remote Control Doug Dumptruck (optional)

How to set up a Number Construction Site Sensory Bin

I poured the red, orange and yellow coloured rice into our sensory bin and placed the magnetic numbers on top. There were two sets of each single digit number.

Next I added a layer of brown coloured rice to hide the numbers. I placed a magnetic dry wipe board in the sensory bin and used a dry wipe pen to write several two digit numbers. Finally I added a set of plastic construction vehicles in the sensory bin.

How to play with the Number Construction Site Sensory Bin

Adam spent ages using the construction vehicles to move the coloured rice around the sensory bin. It took him some time before he discovered the hidden magnetic numbers.

Once a vehicle had dug up a number, Adam had to look on the magnetic white board to see if the number was on there. If it was then Adam placed the magnetic number on the board. If the number was not on the board then he place it inside the My 1st JCB Talking Remote Control Doug Dumptruck.

Adam continued the activity until he had discovered a two digit number. Once he had matched the number and told me what the number was, he then removed the magnets and rubbed off to the two digit number.

I was amazed by Adam’s mathematical language throughout the activity. He discussed what two digit numbers he could have created with the additional magnetic numbers. He even started to write his own two digit numbers that he wanted to discover.

Our Number Construction Site Sensory Bin has been left out for several days and Adam continues to return to it. He likes to hide the numbers himself, write several two digit numbers independently and start the activity again. I have even introduced the concept of three digit numbers through the sensory bin.

This weeks Virtual Book Club story is Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Dusky. Check out the other construction themed activities:

Alphabet

Goodnight Construction Site ABC Dig and Construct- Growing Book by Book

Construction Themed Letter Crafts – Books and Giggles

Numbers

Construction Truck STEM: Building Beams – Preschool Powol Packets 

Construction Site Counting Game – To be a Kid Again

Sensory

Cloud Dough Construction Site Sensory Bin – Powerful Mothering

Digging Up and Sorting Construction Equipment – JDaniels4Mom

4 Easy Construction Play Ideas For Kids – Toddler Approved

Cooking

Rock Cakes – Rainy Day Mum

Science

 Design and build a truck – Mama Smiles

Magnetic Construction Site – The Educators’ Spin On It

Colours

Digger Color Sort – My Storytime Corner

Pre-Writing

Constructing A Story Printable and Kids Book List – Chickadee Lit

Painting With Trucks – Clare’s Little Tots

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Emma Edwards

During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with Adam as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that Mums can still be part of their children’s play whilst they are ill.

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