My 15-month-old granddaughter is so fascinated by orcas that I prepared a special orca tray and sensory bottle for her! It’s perfect for toddlers and young preschoolers.
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Preparing a Tray and Ocean Sensory Bottle
At 15 months, my now-11-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, was obsessed with Baby Beluga and beluga whales. I prepared a baby beluga tray, which she loved. You can see details and a sweet video here.
Having Fun with Orca Tray
Now, my youngest granddaughter, Arabella, is obsessed with orcas. Her fascination with orcas started at 12 months when she saw the orca show at the San Diego SeaWorld. So I prepared an orca tray with Schleich orca, orca sensory bottle (similar to the baby beluga sensory bottle), Baby Orca: Finger Puppet Book, and free photos of orcas from Unsplash.
Arabella loves the Baby Orca: Finger Puppet Book. It’s very sweet and lots of fun to read to babies and toddlers! Arabella loves everything on her new tray!
Here’s a sweet Instagram reel about Arabella’s new tray:
View this post on Instagram
Ideas for Adapting the Tray for Preschoolers
You might want to add one of the free printables (such as parts of an orca) from my Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities.
You might want to replace the Baby Orca: Finger Puppet Book with a book appropriate for the preschooler or preschoolers you’re preparing the tray for. You’ll find lots of ideas here:
Favorite Books for an Orca Theme
More Orca Resources
Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities
Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
Free Montessori-Inspired Orca Pack
Montessori-Inspired Orca Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Ocean Resources and Activities
- Free Ocean Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ocean Activities
- Free Ocean Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations for Kids {Mindfulness Resources}
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations {Mindfulness Resources for Teens and Adults}
- Free Ocean Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Best Ocean Books for Kids
- The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- Free Shark Songs and Educational Videos
- Non-Scary and Montessori-Friendly Resources for a Shark Tooth Dig
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Shark Water-Bead Number or Letter Sensory Bin
- Free Shark Printables and Montessori-Inspired Shark Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Ocean Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Resources for World Oceans Day
Montessori-Inspired Ocean Math Activities - Shells and Starfish Activities + Free Printable from Montessori By Mom
- Farm, Zoo, & Ocean Animal Sensory Bottles for Babies and Toddlers
- Coral Reef Kit and Sensory Bin
- DIY Coral Reef Water Table with Practical Life Activities
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Ocean-themed, Editable Name and Word Tracing Pack in Print or Cursive
- Free Shark Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
More (Non-Human) Mammal Resources and Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Toddler Geography Activities with Baby Beluga
- Montessori-Inspired Horse Unit
- Wonderful Whale and Water-Bead Sensory Bin
- Free Raccoon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Raccoon Activities {Kissing Hand Unit}
- Free Raccoon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Raccoon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Polar Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Printables and Montessori-Inspired Lamb Activities
- Free Lamb Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Lamb Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Free Bear Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bear Activities,
- Free Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download,
- Free Bear Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities
- Free Panda Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Panda Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Red Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities
- Free Giant Panda and Red Panda Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Bat Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bat Activities
- Free Bat and Vampire Bat Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Bat Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Printables and Montessori-Inspired Rabbit Activities
- Free Rabbit and Kitten Do-a-Dot Printables (Montessori-Inspired Phonics Instant Download)
- Free Rabbit Cutting Strips
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources (including a Mammal Printable Pack) for Preschool Through Elementary
- Montessori-Inspired Dolphin and Whale Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
Helpful Animal Classification Posts
- Living and Non-Living
- Plant and Animal Sorting
- Montessori Animal Classification
- Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Animal Units
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Amphibian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Activities
- Free Reptile Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reptile Activities
- Free Fish Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fish Activities
- Free Bird Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bird Activities post
- Free Mammal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Mammal Activities post
- Montessori Invertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
I hope you have a great rest of the summer!
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