Sensory tables are a powerful place in the classroom! It is a special place where so much learning can occur IF you plan intentionally. Friends, I’m here with amazing holiday-themed sensory tables your students will LOVE! They are sure to learn a ton too; it’s the power of play! There is a sensory table for every holiday, and on some holidays, I even have two ideas for you.
In each sensory bin or table, try to add some kind of small tool to strengthen fingers and wrists (ex: scoops, tweezers, utensils), something to put the sensory filler into (ex: trays, bowls, plastic eggs, buckets), something to sort or count (ex: mini erasers, pom poms, jewels), and sometimes something to spark imaginary play (ex: animals, people, counters, ). Most of the supplies in the bins come from the Dollar Tree, Michaels, Walmart, or the Target spot. If you want a printable list of Sensory Fillers and Sensory Tools, check out THIS POST, or if you want Sensory Table Ideas for 40 Themes, check out THIS POST.
Since I’m sharing my favorite sensory tables, you also need to know how to make colorful fillers. Check out: How to Dye Chick Peas HERE, How to Color Beans HERE, How to Dye Rice HERE, and How to Dye Noodles HERE.
Just a reminder that red kidney beans are poisonous if ingested without being cooked. DO NOT put them in the sensory table!
This post contains referral links which means if you purchase using my link, I earn a tiny commission.
New Year Sensory Table
- pom poms of various sizes and colors
- tweezers
- colored cups for sorting
- curly ribbon
Lunar New Year Sensory Table
- noodles (dyed red and yellow) with a hole so students can string them
- cut straws and/or beads for students to string
- gold pipe cleaners (cut in half)
- yellow and red gems
- cups
- fake coins
Valentine’s Day Sensory Table
- rice (dyed pink, red, and purple)
- heart gems
- heart table scatter
- candy heart box (clean first)
- measuring spoons and cups
St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Table
- straws (to cut and lace)
- scissors
- beads
- pipe cleaners
St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Table
- green split peas
- clover table scatter
- buttons
- gold coins
- plastic black pots (Dollar Tree during Halloween season)
- magnet numbers
- cookie pan with numbers
- measuring spoons
Earth Day Sensory Table
- pet paper bedding
- tissue paper squares crumbled up
- tweezers
- recycling and trash trucks
- mini trash and recycling bins
Earth Day Sensory Table
- chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) colored with blue acrylic paint. Place in a bag with paint and shake to coat like always, then place on a tray. Squirt a little bit of green paint on the beans and move the beans around on the tray, slightly coating each one to create little mini Earths.
- tweezers
- green and blue pom poms
- green and blue gems
- silicone cupcake cups
- dice
- measuring cups and spoons
- empty plastic bottle
Easter Sensory Table
- navy beans colored pastel colors with acrylic paint to make them look like tiny eggs
- bunny mini erasers
- plastic eggs
- egg carton with numbers written in each spot
Easter Sensory Table
- fake grass
- foam easter eggs
- hand scoopers
- egg carton
4th of July Sensory Table
- rice (dyed red, blue, and white)
- red and blue pom poms
- flag toothpick toppers
- measuring scoops
- silicone cupcake molds
- pail
Halloween Sensory Table
- black beans
- spiders
- pumpkin mini erasers
- colored eyeballs
- pumpkin tray
- mini plastic pumpkin basket things
Halloween Sensory Table
- rice (dyed purple)
- green split peas
- ghost mini erasers
- plastic eyeballs
- spiders
- bone table scatter (Michales during Halloween season)
- letter beads (just the green, purple, and black ones)
- plastic black pots (dollar store during Halloween season)
- measuring spoons
Thanksgiving Sensory Table (aka Pumpkin Pie Sensory Table)
- red lentils (don’t worry, they are an orange color)
- mini pie pans (I can usually find them at places like Home Goods)
- pumpkin cookie cutters
- white pom poms (pretend to be whipped cream)
- pumpkin mini erasers
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
Christmas Sensory Table
- chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) colored green and blue with acrylic paint
- Christmas mini erasers
- small bells
- silicone cupcake molds
- measuring spoons
Christmas Sensory Table (cutting bin)
- strips of wrapping paper
- pieces of ribbon
- scissors
Las Posadas Sensory Table
- rice (dyed red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
- candy mini erasers
- pom poms
- small scoops
- plastic shot glasses
- mini pinata
Kwanzaa Sensory Table
- black beans
- rice (dyed red and green)
- fruit counters
- veggie counters
- small wooden utensils
- small wooden bowls
Hanukkah Sensory Table
- navy beans colored with silver, white, and blue acrylic paint
- mini bread pans
- dreidels
- plastic gelt
- measuring cups
Diwali Sensory Table
- salt colored blue with liquid watercolor
- jewel gems
- sifter
- funnel
- small plastic tubes
- measuring cups
Saint Lucia Sensory Table
- baking soda
- red candles
- pieces of a greenery
- measuring scoops
- star mini erasers
- star cookie cutters
Ramadan Sensory Table
- pasta (stelline) dyed black and gold with liquid watercolor
- start table sequins
- moon cookie cutter
- metal mini utensils (IKEA)
- metal measuring cups
- gold plastic cups
If you need more direction about PLANNING and understanding the benefits of SENSORY PLAY, check out this post with a printable list!
If you need sensory ideas for more themes, check out this post packed with 40 sensory tables!
To help students manage their behaviors at the sensory table, I create this FREE visual routine chart! Grab it HERE.
Now that you are excited about sensory tables, you might need to know how to color the fillers. I have made a few tutorials to help you. Check out: How to Dye Chick Peas HERE, How to Color Beans HERE, How to Dye Rice HERE, and How to Dye Noodles HERE.
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