A world map sensory tray is a lovely way to introduce little ones to the continents and oceans, and it doubles as a hands-on sensory activity. The land is built from green dyed rice and the sea from blue dyed pasta, laid out in a large shallow tray.
To make the rice and pasta, pop a few cups of each into separate freezer bags, add a small squirt of paint, seal, and shake until everything is evenly coated. Tip it out to dry on a tray or some newspaper. Green rice makes the land and blue pasta makes the sea. If your greens come out slightly different shades, all the better, as it adds depth to the finished map.
For the map itself, you can print a simple world map outline, or trace one from a sticker or poster. Cut out the continents, hold them in place in the tray, and spoon the green rice over each one. Fill the spaces around them with the blue pasta to make the oceans. Building it up shape by shape is a calm, focused job, and it is a nice chance to name the continents as you go.
Once the map is finished, the play really opens up. Children love running their fingers through the textures, driving small toy vehicles across the land, and scooping the rice and pasta between the continents. The map will not stay neat for long, and that is part of the fun. You can rebuild it together another day.
What you need
- A large shallow tray or builder’s tray
- Rice dyed green and pasta dyed blue
- A printed or traced world map outline
- Spoons, scoops, and a few small world toys
This works well for toddlers and preschoolers, roughly ages 2 to 5, and it stretches a little further with older children who can name the continents. For another take on the same idea, see this growing cress world map, or for more dyed-rice play try this rainbow rice fishing.