These two sensory table ideas are great to set up during a Pond Life unit. Children can play in the water in the sensory table while also exploring a model pond habitat and a float and sink lily pad table.
Lily Pads, Turtles, Frogs, & Fish
This is a fun sensory table to go with a pond or water animals theme. First, cut green craft foam sheets into lily pad shapes. Pour water in the sensory table, and add the lily pads. Then add some small plastic animals, such as fish in the water, and turtles and frogs to place on the lily pads. The craft foam lily pads will float even after you put animals on top of them.
Turtle Habitat
This sensory table resembles a turtle habitat, either a lake, pond, or a riverbed. I placed large river rocks in the bottom of the table (purchased in the floral department of a craft store). I filled in the Ā bottom of the table with natural-looking aquarium rocks. I added some aquarium grass and the small plastic turtles.
More Sensory Table ideas
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That is so cute. Love the green craft foam lily pads.
I love the lily pads! I will have to remember this one for our summer water play at home.
This is my new favorite website and I am telling all my coworkers about it! It is so well organized and useable. The pattern block patterns are perfect for my little guys. I can’t wait to try the playdough mats. Hopefully I can still find some post-Easter grass for our sensory table. And the plasitc carrots – wonderful!
Some fun additions to the pond sensory table – fish nets (the kind that you would use to catch a goldfish from a tank) and plastic plants.
Thanks so much, Alyson! It’s nice to know that other teachers can use the things I make! š
FANTASTIC!!!
You’re site is great! Thanks so much!
Thank you, Val!
LOVE your website!!!! I am new to teaching PreK and I get ideas on here almost every week!!!! Thank you!!!!
I have been using this sensory table activity during our pond unit (we are an environmental studies school and have a frog pond on our school campus). I also add tree branches and rocks as well as white sand for the bottom. We add plastic frogs, turtles and other pond creatures (dragonflies, water beetles, etc.). The students use the logs/rocks for the frogs/turtles; predicting how many will fit and then counting them.
Thanks for so many great ideas! I have shared your site with many of my colleagues!
With the pond do you need to change the water daily or is there a way to keep it for a week?
I always change water in the sensory table daily because of germs and the smell.
I love your website. I use your ideas all the time in our Centers: Science, Art ,and Math.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for the free alphabet lily pad mat. I am starting my FROG unit this week in speech therapy and love this activity.