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Home » Reading Ideas » Alphabet Activities » Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin

Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin

April 8, 2015 • 24 Comments

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This week our Playful Preschool Series  explores the Earth!

We decided to let a book inspire our activity.  This sensory bin provides lots of literacy(alphabet practice) and science exploration.  It is perfect for Earth Day or anytime of the year.

Compost Alphabet Activity and Book

Alphabet Activities that teach about letters and science. Best of all you can throw the contents of this bin into your compost pile when you are done!

Full Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.

Why We Chose This Alphabet Activity

My boys found the book, Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe of the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals at the library.   It was a great compliment to all the work we have been doing in our garden this spring.

We don’t have a composting bin, but my boys are eager to start one.  Before we get a real one set up, I thought I would capitalize on their interest and create a compost theme sensory bin.  And, as usual I like to find a way to sprinkle a little literacy practice in the mix.

The Book


Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe of the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals is a fun story about returning items back to the earth to create soil.  Children will be environmental chefs as they learn about 26 different items that can be added and mixed together to create a super rich soil.

The Activity

Materials Needed: sensory table or bin, any combination of these filler ingredients: dryer lint, coffee filters, dirt, grass clippings, dried oatmeal, nutshells, strips of newspaper, tea bags, dried leaves, small twigs, scissors, newspaper or flyers, and small sandbox tools

Create your own alphabet activity with these compost bin components.

1.  Cut out letters of the alphabet from ads that come in the mail or newspapers.

2.  Add the letters and any of the fillers listed above to the bin or container.

Your compost bin is ready to explore!  Have your child name each filler in the bin and talk about how everything in the bin helps to make compost.

Invite your child to “turn” the compost and find the letters of the alphabet.  As each letter is discovered, have your child name the letter, say the sound the letter represents and even name an item for each letter.

matching letters and sounds with a compost alphabet bin

Another fun extension is to place a variety of things that can be composted near the play area.  As a letter is found in the bin, your child can place it next to the object that begins with that letter.  Need ideas for what can be composted?  You can use any fruit, vegetable or plant.

I’m a big believer that alphabet activities should be fun and playful.  I also love to incorporate other subjects into our literacy play.  This activity fits the bill!

Related Posts

Earth Day Books 

Recycled Materials Writing Center

Keep reading.  Visit the links below for more great Earth ideas from the #playfulpreschool team!

Wormery Journaling by Rainy Day Mum
Earth Sensory Table Small World by Mom Inspired Life
Learning about Earth Through Puzzle Play by The Educators’ Spin On It
On Planet Earth There are Five Oceans – Children’s Song by Capri +3
Earth Day Preschool Math and Sensory Play by Fun-A-Day!
Preschool Science Experiements: Layers of the Earth by Learning 2 Walk
Layers of the Earth Felt Puzzle by Powerful Mothering
No Mess Painting Earth in a Bag by Still Playing School
Building Language Skills for Preschoolers: Earth Theme by Live Over C’s
Earth: Water Cycle by Tiny Tots Adventures 

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24 Comments Filed Under: All categories, Alphabet Activities Tagged With: earth day

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

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  1. Jill says

    April 19, 2015 at 10:07 pm

    This looks like a fun hands on storybook activity! My kids would love it!

    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!

    Reply
  2. Mary Catherine says

    April 9, 2015 at 10:46 am

    What an awesome idea for a sensory bin and literacy experience! Thanks for introducing me to a new book! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 9, 2015 at 2:08 pm

      Thank you Mary Catherine!

      Reply
  3. Kim says

    April 8, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    What a fun idea!!! I never would have thought of using dryer lint!

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 8, 2015 at 5:38 pm

      A fun use for an item everyone has on hand!

      Reply
  4. Mary McKenna Siddals says

    April 8, 2015 at 11:35 am

    What a STEWpendous idea for combining literacy play and science exploration! Thanks so much for choosing my COMPOST STEW as the basis for this unique activity, Jodie, and for your kind words about my book. Coincidentally, I’m currently hosting a giveaway on the COMPOST STEW Facebook page, and welcome everyone to DIG IN TO WIN a copy of the book > http://gvwy.io/rd1tsas

    Meanwhile, I’ve added a link to your Compost Sensory Bin in the COMPOST STEW activity section on my website, and wish you all the best as you explore composting with your boys.

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 8, 2015 at 4:20 pm

      Mary, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Most of all, thank you for writing such a great book. I could write so many more posts on extension activities to do with this book! I wish you continued success and will be sure to share about the giveaway on my Facebook page. Best wishes!

      Reply
      • Mary McKenna Siddals says

        April 11, 2015 at 11:44 pm

        Thanks again, Jodie — much appreciated!

        Reply
  5. Cerys says

    April 8, 2015 at 10:45 am

    That looks such a fabulous book I’m going to have to see if we can get a copy and a fantastic compostable sensory bin as well.

    Reply
  6. Theresa says

    April 8, 2015 at 9:26 am

    I love composting and had never heard of that book. It sounds awesome. We will have to check it out. Your sensory bin is a lot of fun!

    Reply
  7. Danielle says

    April 8, 2015 at 8:46 am

    We are definitely going to look for this book at the library. I love this sensory bin!

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 8, 2015 at 5:38 pm

      Hope you enjoy it too Danielle!

      Reply
  8. Natasha says

    April 8, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Never heard of the book, will check it out this Saturday. I love the compost bin, great idea!

    Reply
    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      April 8, 2015 at 5:38 pm

      Thank you Natasha!

      Reply
  9. Devany says

    April 8, 2015 at 7:04 am

    We’ve never heard of this book but definitely need to check it out! Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 26+ Fun Earth Day Projects for Kids - Natural Beach Living says:
    March 9, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    […] ABC Compost Sensory Bin from growingbookbybook.com: This activity is based on the book Compost Stew. Children learn about 26 different things they can use to create nutrient-rich soil simply by composting. The sensory bin is based on this concept. […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Wormery and Journalling with Preschoolers says:
    March 28, 2018 at 9:30 am

    […] Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin – Growing Book by Book […]

    Reply
  3. Top 10 Earth Day Picture Books says:
    April 22, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    […] And make an alphabet sensory bin using Compost Stew from Growing Book by Book. […]

    Reply
  4. Reading Nook Ideas: Cardboard Castle says:
    April 22, 2015 at 6:15 am

    […] It’s a new week of the Playful Preschool Series .  This week’s theme is castles.  This month we have already explored balls, space and Earth. […]

    Reply
  5. Earth Day Sensory Experiences for Kids - Mom Inspired Life says:
    April 8, 2015 at 11:03 pm

    […] Compost Sensory Bin from Growing Book by Book – This sensory bin pairs up perfectly with a really great book while teaching letters and letter sounds. How cool is that?! […]

    Reply
  6. Earth Day Preschool Math and Sensory Play - Fun-A-Day! says:
    April 8, 2015 at 9:38 am

    […] Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin by Growing Book by Book Wormery Journaling by Rainy Day Mum Earth Sensory Table Small World by Mom Inspired Life Learning about Earth Through Puzzle Play by The Educators’ Spin On It On Planet Earth There are Five Oceans – Children’s Song by Capri +3 Earth Day Preschool Math and Sensory Play by Fun-A-Day! Layers of the Earth Felt Puzzle by Powerful Mothering No Mess Painting Earth in a Bag by Still Playing School Building Language Skills for Preschoolers: Earth Theme by Live Over C’s Earth: Water Cycle by Tiny Tots Adventures […]

    Reply
  7. Building Language Skills for Preschoolers: Earth Theme - Life Over Cs says:
    April 8, 2015 at 8:50 am

    […] Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin – Growing Book by Book […]

    Reply
  8. Earth Sensory Table Small World - Mom Inspired Life says:
    April 8, 2015 at 8:02 am

    […] Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin by Growing Book by Book Wormery Journaling by Rainy Day Mum Learning about Earth Through Puzzle Play by The Educators’ Spin On It On Planet Earth There are Five Oceans – Children’s Song by Capri +3 Earth Day Preschool Math and Sensory Play by Fun-A-Day! Layers of the Earth Felt Puzzle by Powerful Mothering No Mess Painting Earth in a Bag by Still Playing School Building Language Skills for Preschoolers: Earth Theme by Live Over C’s Earth: Water Cycle by Tiny Tots Adventures […]

    Reply
  9. Layers of the Earth Felt Puzzle says:
    April 8, 2015 at 6:52 am

    […] Alphabet Activities: Compost Sensory Bin – Growing Book by Book […]

    Reply

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