Westward Expansion Sensory Bin

Our Westward Expansion Sensory Bin gives my preschool, toddler, kindergarten, and 1st & 2nd grader some hands on sensory fun exploring westward expansion for kids!

Wild West Sensory Bin - Digging for Gold and more!

I created this Westward Expansion Sensory Bin to go along with our unit in history. I thought it would be fun for my tot & preschooler to play along as big brother learned. I surprised by how much Goofy loved playing too!





The main part of the bin is brown rice.  I added flags and black yarn to show the Oregon Trail Route we were studying about (from Independence, Missouri to Oregon). The figures are all from the Wild West Toob. The number wagons are from my {free} Wild West MEGA pack – your child can practice counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, or 10s.





I added “gold” fusion beads to represent the gold found during the Gold Rush in 1849. The kids had fun panning for gold.

Westward Expansion Unit:

• Westward Expansion #1


• Westward Expansion #2 


• Westward Expansion #3  


• {free} Wild West MEGA Pack (70 pages for kids 2-8 years old)


• Oregon Train Skip Counting File Folder Game


• Westward Themed Sensory Bin


• Geography is Fun with a Salt Dough Map

More Sensory Exploration for Toddler and Preschool Early Learners

If you are looking for more Sensory Ideas – check my page here.

• Edible Finger Paint


• Disney's Monsters Inc Inspired SLIME


• How to Color Rice


• Chocolate Playdough


• Microwave Puffy Paint


• Water Bead Sensory Fun


• Fall Sensory Bin

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