Top Sensory Bin Fillers for the Classroom

When it comes to sensory bin filler materials, not all are created equal!  This is especially true in the classroom.  Oobleck and pudding mud may offer amazing sensory input, but they can be a challenge to manage in a classroom sensory bin.  Don't get me wrong... I am a huge fan of messy sensory play but I keep those activities separate from my sensory bins.

 I find that my favorite classroom sensory bin fillers have 2 things in common:

1. They are dry - Dry materials last longer than wet materials.  The only exceptions I make in my classroom are water beads and the occasional water table.  Other than that, you will probably only get 1 day of use out of most other wet materials.

2. They are reasonably priced - Let's be real.  I would love to fill my sensory bins with fresh water pearls and Mulberry silk scraps but my budget won't allow it.  I like use items that will fill my bins for just a few dollars.

So do you want to know what filler materials are at the top of my list?  Well here ya go!

1. Rice
2. Colored Rice (use food coloring or liquid watercolor) 
3. Black Beans
4. Kidney Beans
5. Colored Pasta
6. Macaroni Noodles
7. Ditalini Pasta
8. Couscous
9. Dried Chick Peas
10. Cut Up Straws
11. Colored Sand
12. Shredded Paper
13. Colored Salt
14. Aquarium Rocks 
15. Water Beads (not dry... I know!) 
16. Easter Grass

17. Pom-Poms
18. Kinetic Sand
19. Popcorn Kernels 
20. Bird Seed
21. Cotton Balls
22. Oats
23. Lentils
24. Split Peas
25. Poly-Pellets
26. Sensory Pellets (a little pricy but fun!)
27. Pony Beads
28. Fuse Beads

Are there any other fillers that you love to use that didn't make my list?  Please share!  And if you want to learn more tips, tricks and ideas for implementing sensory bins into your classroom make sure you check out my sensory bin blog post round up!

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