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Home / Early Learning / Sensory / Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Shared by Mary Catherine 18 Comments

Using a novel technique, like a sensory writing tray, is a great way to check off one of your early literacy activities for the day. Preschoolers tend to be more engaged in learning if they get to use fun new materials for learning. Plus, they have so much fun!

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

As I mentioned in “15+ Name Activities for Preschoolers”, I love using sensory writing trays (also known as tactile writing trays) – both inside and outside the classroom.  Recently, we made a vanilla spice version that was a hit with Engineer and Girly Girl!  You’ll notice I included Jell-O, which is a material Engineer and I have enjoyed experimenting with.

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

To create this vanilla spiced sensory play, I grabbed the following materials and placed them on the kitchen table (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):

  • Table salt
  • Kosher salt
  • Jell-O vanilla pudding powder
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Whole allspice
  • Ground allspice
  • Whole cloves
  • Ground cloves
Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Engineer and Girly Girl helped me add the ingredients to some baking trays.  They drew pictures and wrote their names in the salt before we added anything else.  They noticed the difference between the table salt and the kosher salt right away, which drew them into the activity even more.

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

After the salt, I gave them each a handful of the vanilla pudding powder.  They smelled it, then let it run through their fingers.  They pointed out the pudding powder, “smells yummy and feels all powdery; it’s softer than the salt.”  The powder was added to the salt, followed by more design-making and writing.

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Then came the spices!  Honestly, I wasn’t too sure how the spices would go over with the  kiddos.  Sometimes the scents I like aren’t enjoyed by Engineer.  However, I worried for nothing, as both kids LOVED the spices!  I started out with the whole spices — cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice balls.  Then we added the ground versions of the spices.

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Note — in order for the sensory tray to work the best, just a thin layer should be added to a pan, a plate, or a tray.  This way, the children’s marks are easier to see.  The kids can still reap the benefits of writing in a thicker layer of sensory material, but it’s harder to see what they’ve written that way.

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

After about half an hour of writing and drawing in the sensory trays, Engineer and Girly Girl moved onto pretend play with the ingredients.  They measured, transferred, mixed, and “baked” all kinds of yummy concoctions!  This lasted for another hour or so, before they decided they needed a real snack.  Both kiddos actually went back and played more after snack time, too!  Needless to say, this was a hit!  After the kids were definitely done, I put the vanilla spice mixture into two mason jars.  We’ll definitely be using this again sometime soon!

Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Some of the benefits of sensory trays include:

  • They’re a great way for children to practice writing letters, names, numbers, and words.
  • Sensory trays also help children in the pre-writing stages.  These kiddos can make lines and squiggles on their own, or they can copy marks an adult shows them.
  • The different textures helps connect the children to the form of letters and words.  Fingertips are very sensitive, so finger writing in sand or salt (for example) causes the kids to attend more to what they’re doing.
  • It’s a novel experience for children, which means they’ll remember it more.
  • Mistakes are no big deal when writing in a sensory tray.  Simply shake the pan and everything’s “erased”!
  • They’re FUN, and shouldn’t learning be fun?!
Vanilla Spice Sensory Writing

Have you ever done sensory writing with your children or students?  What kind of materials do you use?

Shared at The Sunday Showcase, Parenting Pin-It Party, After School Link Up, Tuesday Tots, Mom’s Library, Weekly Kids Co-Op, We Made That, Share It Saturday

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Preschool Teacher 101 has created some amazing preschool lesson and activity plans that will be perfect for your classroom. Click on the images below to learn more about our five senses lesson plans!

5 Senses Lesson Plans

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Filed Under: Literacy, Sensory Tagged With: Writing

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  1. Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest says

    July 1, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    What a lovely activity! We enjoy salt trays too so we’ll definitely follow your lead and add some yummy spices.

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      July 2, 2013 at 8:18 am

      Thanks, Ann! 🙂 The kiddos have really gotten a lot of play time out of this! Tons of writing, drawing, and “baking”. I’ve been asked to get it out every day since we made it! Let me know how it goes if you try it.

      Reply
  2. Mum of One says

    July 2, 2013 at 2:31 am

    What a fantastic idea! I have never tried sensory trays but may give this a go with the toddler, I think he would really enjoy it. Thanks so much for sharing with the Pin it Party. Have pinned 🙂

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      July 2, 2013 at 8:21 am

      This has gone over REALLY well here at my house – with kids ages 2 to 6! I’m happy it turned out to be so much fun for the kiddos. Let me know how it goes if you try it with your little one. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jhanis says

    July 2, 2013 at 6:32 am

    I have a 2 year old who I think will enjoy this activity, Come to think of it, I think I will too! 🙂

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      July 2, 2013 at 8:23 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by! The kiddos have definitely gotten a lot of use out of this already! It’s been out everyday since we made it. 🙂 Let me know how it goes if you and your little one try it out. The 2 year old I watch over the summer has loved drawing in it and playing with it.

      Reply
  4. JDaniel4's Mom says

    July 2, 2013 at 8:28 am

    What a sweet smelling way to learn! This really looks like fun.

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      July 2, 2013 at 8:41 am

      It has a yummy smell to it, definitely! Thus far, it’s been a real hit at my house — for writing and for pretend baking. The kids have been having a blast with it. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Blayne says

    July 2, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    This is such a wonderful activity! I can almost smell the deliciousness through my computer screen! How fun! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Emma @Sciencesparks says

    July 3, 2013 at 6:09 am

    ooooh I bet that smells lovely 🙂 Found you from the pin it party x

    Reply
  7. Connie says

    August 5, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    I enjoy using cinnamon sticks on sandpaper, lavendar flowes and Epsom salt, and crushed dried mint leaves with salt and lavendar! Loved your ideas.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      August 5, 2013 at 9:03 pm

      Oh, those are wonderful ideas! Thanks for sharing them, Connie. Last year, we made gingerbread men ornaments using cinnamon and sandpaper. However, we didn’t use the sticks (just the ground version). I am going to have to change that up!

      Reply
    • M Graham says

      April 23, 2020 at 1:06 am

      Oh, thank you so much for sharing your experience!! I was trying to figure out what I had on hand in the house in big enough quantities to use for multiple trays (hi, pandemic with three kids :/) and Epsom salts will be PERFECT! I am wanting to encourage proper letter formation in my elementary kids, and this will be so much more fun than just air writing. I have heard of salt trays before, but never bothered. Adding in the spices is a game changer for me. Littlest mister will enjoy too.

      Reply
      • Mary Catherine says

        May 28, 2020 at 5:47 pm

        So happy to hear that this helped!! Yes, we have loved the addition of the spices!

        Reply
  8. Sherri Hanisco says

    August 14, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    I decided to add a sensory table to my pre-k 4 classroom this year. My paraprofessional told me last year that the custodians got mad in years past from having them so I shouldn’t use it. I decided that my students need it and yes, it may give them a little more to clean up, but there are ways around having a big mess on the floor also. Thank you for the great ideas that I can add to my sensory table. I have a big water table that hasn’t been used at all in the past few years. I am going to add little containers to the table and use the big one to catch some of the “mess” along with having a dust pan just for the table.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      August 14, 2013 at 8:07 pm

      Sherri, I am so happy to hear that! I think sensory play needs to be a part of almost every preschool day! Yes, it’s messy, but you already have some great ideas to deal with that. I also put something underneath the sensory table — a tarp or a mat made for sensory play. Your idea of using smaller containers inside a large one is also a great idea. I would LOVE it if you would keep me posted as to how sensory play goes in your class this year! 🙂

      Reply
      • Joleen says

        September 10, 2013 at 12:25 am

        Love this idea, but I too was worried what the “cleaning” crew may think of this new teachers ideas 🙂 I love the tarp idea or the smaller tray in larger containment area. Can’t wait to try this!

        Reply
        • Mary Catherine says

          September 12, 2013 at 5:17 pm

          I’m so glad to hear that, Joleen! Be sure to let me know how it works when you try it out.

          Reply
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My name is Mary Catherine, and I love to share meaningful {and fun} learning activities for kiddos! Feel free to browse and stay awhile!

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