St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin (Searching for Gold!)
Kids can search for gold in this fun St. Patrick’s Day sensory bin. The filler is vibrant green dried split peas, giving the bin a lush, clover-inspired backdrop. “Hidden” throughout the peas are shiny gold coins waiting to be discovered. Kids use pinchers to “dig” for the treasure and place their findings into miniature black pots.

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Get ready to bring some St. Patrick’s Day magic to life with this fun and engaging Searching for Gold Sensory Bin! Packed with vibrant green split peas, shiny gold coins, and mini pots of gold, this activity is perfect for keeping little hands busy while encouraging fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and imaginative play. Whether they’re digging for treasure or creating their own rainbows, your kids will have a blast exploring this festive sensory bin.
We also have a fun rainbow sensory bin that is great for the spring, but can also be used for St. Patrick’s Day.
When it comes to sensory play, we also have our homemade playdough recipe, glow in the dark slime, and fluffy cloud dough that you can do so many things with!

🌟Don’t Leave Before You Check Out These Seasonal Ideas!🌟

📌What You’ll Need
Dried Split Peas
Gold Coins – around St. Patrick’s Day Dollar Tree should have these.
Mini Pots – you may be able to find these at the dollar store as well.
Pinchers, Tweezers, and/or Scoops
Sensory Trays – these are perfect for playing, but if you wanted to store for later, I recommend getting sensory bin boxes.

✨Ways to Use the Rainbow Sensory Bin
Treasure Hunt Challenge:
Hide the gold coins deep within the split peas and challenge kids to find as many as they can within a set time. Add an extra layer of fun by awarding “treasure hunter” titles!

Count the Gold:
Once kids have collected the coins, have them count how many they’ve found and sort them into the mini pots. You could even ask them to divide the coins equally between two pots for a quick lesson on sharing and math.

Fine Motor Practice:
Encourage kids to use pinchers or tweezers to pick up the coins and place them in the pots. It’s a great way to strengthen their hand muscles while they play.

Rainbow Building:
Use the pipe cleaners to let kids construct their own rainbows. They can practice color order and even tuck the ends into pots to create a whimsical display.

Stack the Coins:
Have kids stack the coins to see how tall their tower can get before it tumbles. This is a fun way to work on patience and coordination.
Pea Scooping Fun:
Let kids scoop the split peas with their hands or small cups, adding a sensory element to the activity. Talk about how the peas feel, sound, and move to engage their senses.
❤️Other Activities That Go With
Story Time
Pair the sensory bin with a storytime featuring How to Catch a Leprechaun.
💡Helpful Tips
- Other fillers that can be used for sensory bins are beans, or dyed rice or pasta.
- Using the boxes makes clean up a breeze and you can easily store and get it back out when toddlers are ready to play again.
This Rainbow Color Sorting Sensory Bin is more than just a fun activity—it’s a magical way for kids to learn while playing! From scooping cereal to sorting by color, your little ones will stay busy while building essential skills.
