We love ANY excuse to add magnets into sensory play! The magnetic apple sensory bin is delightful STEM fun.
What is a magnetic apple sensory bin?
It’s a quick, easy, engaging sensory activity where the stars of the show are pipe cleaners.
You cut, twist, bend, and violà – magnetic apple sensory bin.
As a bonus, you can keep your apples year after year!
Related: Have you seen our GIANT apple 10-foot coloring page poster for kids? Check it out!
Making a magnetic apple sensory bin is as easy as (apple) pie
We love a quick-prep activity.
We especially love one kids can help you make (like this).
Thankful to have discovered this activity from Modern Preschool years ago!
Looking for more apple activities? You’ve come to the right place:
- Apple Pie Play Dough Recipe – The Best Ideas for Kids
- Marble Painting Apple Craft – Marble Apple Painting Craft
- Apple Vocabulary Literacy Activity – Friends Art Lab
Materials
Friends Art Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- Magnetic wands – or anything else magnetic
- Sensory bin base – ex: colored rice, oats, beans, pasta, etc.
Directions
Cut. Twist. Bend.
Cut your pipe cleaners. I cut a whole pipe cleaner in half for the body of the apple, then smaller pieces for the stem and leaf.
Twist the apple body into a circle and twist the ends to close it. Twist on a leaf and a stem.
Bend the apple’s top and bottom toward the center ever so slightly so it looks more like an apple and less like a circle.
Ta-da!
Can kids help prep the magnetic apple sensory bin?
They absolutely can!
You know how kids are more likely to eat food they have helped prep?
The same logic applies to learning activities like this one.
If I had a child who wasn’t normally drawn to sensory bins, I would definitely invite them to help me prep the apples for this activity.
And even if I had kids that LOVED sensory play, I would invite them to make some apples with me, too!
What do you put in a magnetic sensory bin?
Go on a “magnet hunt” around your home or classroom to find anything else magnetic that you can add in.
Some ideas include:
- 🧲 Magnetic chips
- 🧲 Paper clips
- 🧲 Jar lids
- 🧲 Magnetic letters (how cute are these animal letter magnets?!)
- 🧲 Magnet kits
A note about magnet safety
Magnets should never be used with kids who might try to ingest them.
They are dangerous if swallowed, and children must always be supervised when playing with magnetic toys.
Magnetic apple sensory table is on repeat
The best part about this is that next year, you just grab your apples, and there’s no work involved.
Have fun!
FAQ
Any that can safely use the materials and not try to eat any of the magnets or other materials.
Use any colors you want (blue apples sound cool!), or make shapes that aren’t apples/
I have a full tutorial (and it’s crazy easy).
LEAVE A COMMENT