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Insect Sensory Bin

by Angela Thayer 6 Comments

I’m so excited to share with you our newest sensory bin! I was making some macaroni and cheese for my boys the other day and I realized the pasta shapes would make such a fun sensory bin! Thankfully, I had another box so I was able to quickly put together an insect sensory bin for my children to play with.

Here’s what you need to make this insect sensory bin:

  • Back to Nature Crazy Bugs Macaroni & Cheese Box
  • dry black beans
  • plastic tub
  • large Ziploc plastic bags
  • about 3 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol
  • food coloring
  • cookie sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper

I picked up the Crazy Bugs Mac & Cheese from Target, but I’m sure you can find it at most grocery stores. I began by sorting the insects. There are caterpillars, beetles, and butterflies.

After they were sorted, I poured them in a Ziploc bag. I poured about 1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol into the bag. I want enough so that it will coat the pasta, but not too much or it will be smelly and too watery.

Then I put in 2-3 drops of food coloring.

I shook the bag around and then let it sit for 2 minutes or so. After that, I poured it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

I let it sit in the sun for 10-15 minutes. Then they were dry and ready to play with!

I added them to a bin full of dry black beans. They look like insects in the dirt!

My 2.5 year old really loved this bin! Here are some things we did with the bin:

  • dramatic play with the insects
  • scooped with a large spoon
  • poured them in a jar
  • used a magnifying glass (more just for fun!)
  • practiced counting (I would say “Find three butterflies” and he would search for them.)
  • made patterns

This bin was a big hit and I’m so glad that box of mac & cheese inspired me to create a fun way to play! Hope you’ll try it out, too!

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Filed Under: Preschool, Sensory Play, Spring Activities, Summer Activities, Toddlers Tagged With: bugs and insect theme, insects, sensory bin

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  1. Kaylee holcombe says

    May 28, 2019 at 11:24 am

    Gutted I’m in the uk and can’t find or get these anywhere 😩😩😩 my kids would love this at nursery to.

    Reply
  2. Jen says

    September 16, 2018 at 2:34 pm

    Hi there! I am in the UK but have friends coming over next week… I’ve asked them to get me a couple of boxes as I’d LOVE to do this and we can’t get anything like it in the UK. 😢
    I’ve just looked on Target and a few other websites and they don’t seem to have it. Do you know where it can be bought so I can point them in the right direction please?!
    Thanks!
    Jen

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      September 17, 2018 at 8:24 am

      Sure! Looks like you can find them at Walmart – https://www.walmart.com/ip/Back-To-Nature-Macaroni-Cheese-Dinner-Crazy-Bugs-6-Oz/42759521 Hope that helps!

      Reply
  3. Lauren @thesmilelines says

    May 29, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    SO creative and I actually have that mac and cheese in my house right now! Thanks for the ideas!!

    Reply
  4. Aimee says

    May 29, 2017 at 9:36 am

    We really have to try making these colored pasta projects. I’ve read that you can also use vinegar instead of alcohol. I wonder which one works better?
    Aimee recently posted…The Best Travel Toys For Toddlers For Airplane And Car TravelMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Awashima says

    May 28, 2017 at 6:23 am

    Very creative!

    Reply
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