Why I love Second Grade and Sensory Bins
Second grade is such a special transition year—kids are growing more independent, but they still crave play, creativity, and hands-on learning. In this post, I’m sharing why sensory bins are the perfect classroom activity for this age and how they make learning feel fun, social, and low-pressure. They’re quick to assemble, budget-friendly, and endlessly customizable (especially for holidays!). If you’re a teacher looking for easy engagement wins, this post is packed with inspiration for using sensory bins in your classroom.
Christina Henderson
1/10/20261 min read
Why I Love Second Grade + Sensory Bins
Second grade really is what I think of as the “transition year.” They’re not tiny anymore, but they’re definitely not all grown up either. For me, it’s the sweet spot. They’re at that magical age where they still genuinely want to please everyone, but can also cut out their own projects and work more independently. It’s perfect!
But… They’re Still Only Seven!
It’s easy to forget that they’re still little in so many ways. Even though they’re gaining independence, they still love the same hands-on, playful activities they enjoyed in their younger years. I have to remind myself of this when I’m planning, because when I lean into those younger-style activities, the engagement goes through the roof!
Enter: Sensory Bins
One simple way to honor that need for play is through sensory bins. They are:
Easy to put together
Great for creative and cooperative play
The perfect way to reinforce fine motor skills
Budget-friendly and reusable!
They take about ten minutes to assemble, don’t cost a ton to make, and can be saved to use later in the year. Kids love them—like really love them—and it gives them a chance to scoop, sort, pour, pretend, and explore in a low-pressure way.
Endless Possibilities
You can swap out fillers, tools, and themes to keep things fresh. I especially love making themed bins around holidays because the kids absolutely go crazy for them!
In my next post, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite sensory bin ideas you can use in your own classroom—so stay tuned!