Garden Sensory Bin for Kids with Autism

Make this garden sensory bin for your child or students quickly and easily! All you need is a bowl or box, some dried lentils and the printable carrots I made for you! Use it to teach new vocabulary, taking turns, cutting skills and colors, all while incorporating sensory play into the every day. Make sure you download the free printable activity to get the most out of this activity.

Garden Sensory Bin Materials

A bowl or bin
Dried lentils
Printable carrots

Download your free printable carrots to use with this garden sensory bin.

How to set up the garden sensory bin

This cute sensory activity is so easy to set up and so much fun to use as part of your home, school or therapy program.

Step 1 – Print out the free printable carrots I made for you!
Step 2 – Laminate* the carrots. (*If you don’t have access to a laminator, don’t fear! Glue or tape the carrots onto a popsicle stick, straw or pipe cleaner instead!)
Step 3 – Cut them out.
Step 4 – Fill a bowl or bin with dried lentils.
Step 5 – Stick the carrots in the lentils with your little learner and build the new skills I outline below!

Download your free printable carrots to use with this garden sensory bin.

What to teach with the garden sensory bin

New vocabulary
Turn taking
Colors
Cutting skills
Sensory integration

How to use the garden sensory bin with autistic learners

Set up sensory breaks

Giving your child or students on the autism spectrum regular sensory breaks during table sessions or class, helps autistic children stay calmer and happier throughout the day. Get my full list of sensory break ideas for autistic learners here.

Pair this activity with these printable sensory break cards for best results!

Download your free printable carrots to use with this garden sensory bin.

Teach turn taking

Take turns to plant a carrot and pick a carrot!

Related : List of Social Skills (62+ social skills to teach kids with autism)

Colors

Point to the lentils and point to the carrots and ask your child or students to name each color.

Teach vocabulary

Use the sensory bowl to teach the word “carrot”. You could also teach related gardening vocabulary if your child or students have the necessary communication and understanding level. You could teach “dirt”, “planting”, “picking”, “growing” and more.

Why not pair this activity with a book like Rachel’s Day in the Garden?

Download your free printable carrots to use with this garden sensory bin.

Cutting skills

Teach cutting skills by having your child or students cut out each of the laminated carrots for the garden sensory box.

Download your free printable carrots to use with this garden sensory bin.

More Fun Sensory Activities

Sensory Toys for Autistic Children
Light Table Activities
Spring Sensory Box
Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin
Shape Sensory Bin
Fall Sensory Bin
Unicorn Sensory Bin
Dinosaur Play Dough Mats
Winter Play Dough Mats
Sensory Swing (how to choose a sensory swing)
Easter Sensory Bin
Ocean Sensory Bin

More Autism Learning Resources

Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
Autism Activities Vault – your collection of 420+ autism activities for the entire school year.
Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
Autism Adapted Books Bundle – a collection of 10 adapted books that will help you build communication skills while teaching more than 120 vocabulary words.
Autism Social Stories Bundle – a collection of printable social stories to help your little learners work on their social skills.
Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!