# Pretend Snow I-Spy Sensory Bin
> Hide pom poms, gems, jingle bells and other small winter knick-knacks in a bin of sparkly pretend snow. Kids hunt for the items listed on index cards, then match their finds to the cards. Kids practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence along the way.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/winter-sensory-bin-i-spy-sensory-game/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: counting, number-recognition, one-to-one-correspondence, visual-discrimination, fine-motor, colors
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- Sparkly pretend snow (sensory base)
- 1 piece Sensory tub or clear storage bin (household)
- Clear gems
- Acrylic gemstones (optional)
- Sequins (optional)
- Pom poms
- Jingle bells (optional)
- Buttons (optional)
- Beads (optional)
- Pirate gems (optional)
- Winter themed stickers (optional)
- Index cards (household)
- Colored markers (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of clear gems: Any small knick-knacks you have on hand (The author says you can use whatever you have on hand for this I-Spy game.)

## Safety
- This activity contains small, loose parts (gems, beads, buttons, jingle bells, sequins, mini pom poms). These are a choking hazard, so supervise closely and keep them away from children who still mouth objects.
- Keep the pretend snow and sequins out of mouths and eyes, and wash hands after play.
- Supervise sensory play at all times.

## Steps
1. Pour the sparkly pretend snow into a sensory tub.
2. Write each item and how many you're adding on its own index card, in the item's color, with a small doodle of it.
3. Add the items to the bin, slightly covering some and fully burying others.
4. Stand the index cards up along the back of the bin.
5. Dig through the snow and hunt for the items on each card.
6. Count each treasure as you find it.
7. Match your finds on the right index card as a big sign of victory!
8. Keep hunting until every card is complete.

## Tips
- Write the items in the same color (e.g. red pom poms in red marker with a small doodle of a pom pom). The clues are visual, so your younger player gets a chance to play independently.
- Add the items in increasing order (1 jingle bell, 2 buttons, 3 pom poms and so on). Everyone gets to practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.
- Since my 3 year old was also playing, I just slightly covered a few items so she would be encouraged to try and complete the game.
- More challenging ones, like looking for 10 white gems in a pure white sensory bin, were very exciting for my 5 year old.
- This was an on-the-spot activity with not much planning, since the kids were too eager to hunt for the stuff. The learning add-ons are optional. It can be pure fun.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

An easy [**pretend snow winter sensory bin**](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-winter-sensory-play-with-pretend-snow/) that can be quickly turned into an I-Spy game tub with all the winter elements. From the last couple of posts you can see that we have been having fun with our pretend snow. { Our simple [**winter sensory bin with sparkly snow**](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-winter-sensory-play-with-pretend-snow/) and our [**pre-writing fun in sparkly pretend snow**](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-prewriting-pretend-snow/)} We used the same **[sparkly sensory material](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JJAVPQ/?tag=blmemo-20)** as base and I added some fun knick-knacks to the bin while slightly covering a few and full-on burying a few. I used the following items in the sensory bin. I have tried to link near similar products but you can use whatever you have on hand for this sensory bin I-Spy game. *This activity contains small, loose parts.*

- **[Clear Gems](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JH4SYK/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Acrylic Gemstones](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X7Q9K0/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Sequins](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FTJFR8/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **Pom Poms**
- **Glitter Pom Poms**
- **Mini Pom Poms**
- **Jingle Bells**
- **Buttons**
- **Beads**
- **Pirate Gems**
- **Winter themed stickers**

I wrote down the items I'm adding to the winter sensory bin on individual index cards. This was an on-the spot activity there wasn't much planning since the kids were too eager to hunt for the stuff. You could do the following simply things to incorporate some learning ( if you are inclined to, or else this can be for pure fun)

- *Writing the items being added in the same color ( eg. simply writing red pom poms with a red marker with a small doodle of a pom pom) gives your younger player a chance to play this game independently since the clues are visual.*
- *Adding the items in a proper increasing order ( eg: 1 jingle bell, 2 buttons, 3 pom poms etc) gives everyone a chance to practice counting, number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.*

 Since my 3 year old was also playing I just slightly covered a few items so that she will be encouraged to try and complete the game.  More challenging ones like looking for 10 white gems in a pure while sensory bin was very exciting for my 5 year old. This sensory bin I-Spy game taught them multiple things - obviously math, alertness, fine motor skills, being quick and many more unknown us haha!  After they found their treasure they would match them on the respective index cards as a big sign of victory!  Here is the completed sensory I-Spy game.  So, what do you think? Will your children enjoy playing this hunting game in a winter bin? If your kids would rather move around and find stuff, here is an idea for a backyard color hunt with sticky paper. Be sure to check out this game by clicking on the image.

[](https://www.funlittles.com/scavenger-hunt-for-kids/) Feel free to pin the following image 

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