More pirate fun, but this time it’s sensory play and small world activities! I have two to share from pirate summer camp, along with 8 others from some amazing blogs I follow.
These activities teach kiddos so much, even though it looks like they’re “just playing”. The small world play lets children practice their language skills, as well as cooperation with others. It also lets them use their imaginations and play act what they’ve been learning. The sensory aspects of this play engage the kids on different levels via their five senses. This allows them to learn and react in a physical manner.
Okay, onto the fun pirate-themed sensory play and small world FUN! First are the two we’ve had fun with this summer!
Affiliate links are included for your convenience.
1. Walk the Plank
Engineer helped me hydrate blue water beads to act as the ocean for this activity. We placed them in a long plastic bin on top of a tarp in the classroom. Then we grabbed a long wooden block to place across the top of the “ocean”. Sharks were added to make the ocean even more perilous to the pirates. The children were entertaining as they made the pirates walk the plank, talking about why they’d been banished! A few of the children even went so far as to build a wooden pirate ship next to the ocean! Of course, many of the kiddos just enjoyed playing in the water beads on their own.
2. Pirate Buried Treasure
I placed play sand and coarse sand in our discovery center bins for the week of summer camp. The textural difference between the fine and coarse sand felt really interesting to me, and the children seemed to enjoy it! Blue glass beads were added as the water near the sandy beach. Gold coins, craft gems, and pirates were sprinkled in next. The children had the pirates burying the treasure and digging it up all week long.
I used many of the same items at home for extended play time! The different bits of sand were placed in the lower section of our water table. The upper level held gold coins, shovels, and plastic pirates. Engineer enjoyed setting it all up for Little Hurricane to play in! Little Hurricane had fun transferring the sand between buckets, hiding the coins in the sand, and piling the gems on my back porch. As of right now, the pirates have sailed into our playroom wreaking havoc along the way. :)
Here are more fun ideas for all the little pirates!
3. Pirate Treasure Water Sensory Play {Momma’s Fun World}
4. Pirate Small Play in the Water Table {Rainy Day Mum}
5. Pirate Sensory Bin {Crayon Freckles}
6. The Bling Bin {Rubberboots and Elf Shoes}
7. Alphabet Treasure Sensory Learning Play {Momma’s Fun World}
8. Sunken Treasure Sensory Sink {My Nearest and Dearest}
9. Sandpit Treasure Hunt {Here Come the Girls}
10. Pirate Sensory Bin and Poem Freebie {Rubberboots and Elf Shoes}
Apparently, I couldn’t keep it with just 10 ideas! Here are a few more pirate sensory play ideas:
- Treasure Hunt Sensory Sink {Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails}
- Pirate Week Kick Off Sensory Bin {The Chaos and the Clutter}
- Pirate Sensory Bin {1+1+1=1}
- Pirate Sensory Tub {Counting Coconuts}
- Pirate Bin with Eye Spy Map {Sorting Sprinkles}
Do your little pirates have any special toys or sensory bins they enjoy playing with? Would they enjoy any of the FUN ideas listed here? If you try any out, I’d love to hear about it!
For more pirate fun, please see more of Fun-A-Day’s pirate adventures:
- Pirates in Scented Oobleck
- 10 Children’s Books about Pirates
- Pirate Science: Exploding Pirate Treasure Chests
- Sunken Treasure Discovery Bottles for Little Pirates
- AHOY, Matey! {Pinterest Board}
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