Use this high-quality tray as a landing area for marble or ball ramps, loose parts play, magnetic pieces, sensory exploration, or art creation! Made of high quality maple wood with a water tight steel interior, it provides visual depth to the play area and creates dynamic interaction with materials.
This 60cm x 60cm tray has endless uses in the home or classroom, with substantial side walls which will hold water and countless other materials. From a containment tray to a science exploration surface, the magnetic interior is an ideal loose parts work space!
The interior tray has a slightly reflective surface. Use as a landing area for ramps, block play, dramatic play, sensory exploration, or art creation! We love it for melting ice and constructing with ice cubes.
Playful Learning Ideas include:
Contained Ramp Space - A few 30cm Discovery Ramps, wooden balls and the Loose Parts Sensory Tray provides a controlled space with a built in ramp support and containment for the balls. Children quickly understand how to place the ramps to allow the ball to roll, hit the other side and come back. Older children can use the space to construct marble runs and test concepts such as angles, trajectory, force, motion, and speed.
Melt Ice Cubes - The steel interior of the tray provides the perfect surface for experimentation. Melting ice cubes clearly illustrates the transformation of ice to water. The steel tray retains the cool temperature from the ice cube which can be felt both on top of and underneath by the children.
Block Building - Children can benefit and enjoy the challenge that comes with restrictions on their play. For example: 'We are in the middle of the city and this square is the only space available for the construction project.' The Activity Tray provides not only the outline of this loose parts space, but also physical walls to keep them true! By focusing attention on the defined space, children have a spatial purpose and are not drawn outward from the start point of their project. They are challenged to plan ahead to stay within the space. Because the tray is ferrous children can also expand play with with magnets or magnetic builders.
Portable Sensory Tray - It’s sturdy but light enough to move, whenever and wherever a sensory experience would be engaging for children. Fill with sensory or natural materials, add a magnifying glass or two and let the investigation unfold. Place two trays next to one another and fill one with water. Offer some metal shaker cups and other tools such as scoops for some work with filling, emptying, and transferring.
Frame for Art - The Loose Parts Sensory Tray lends itself beautifully to art exploration; from collage to interactive dioramas, the framed space is a canvas. Use various colours of rice or other materials such as linseed and millet and spread them in the tray using small scoops. Slime is also fascinating for children and the shallow tray with its reflective bottom adds to the experience. Simply adding fine sand creates a sensory art experience. As children run fingers or tools through the sand the reflective bottom shines through creating a dramatic visual experience.
Made in the USA.
Please note: (as applicable)
- Not intended for permanent use outdoors, not weather or water-resistant
- Inclusions are listed above, not all items in videos or images are included, and are shown only to illustrate how various packs can fit together to further investigative play
