Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin

Create a vibrant, multi-colored rice bin for tactile play. Kids will learn about colors and sensory exploration while helping to mix and dry the rice.

Materials

• White rice (6 cups)
• White vinegar (6 teaspoons)
• Food coloring (6 colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
• Aluminum foil (1 large sheet)

Safety

• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Line your tray with aluminum foil to make cleanup easier and provide a surface for drying.
2. For the first color, pour 1 cup of rice into a Ziploc bag.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar and a few drops of your chosen food coloring into the same bag.
4. Seal the bag tightly and shake it vigorously until all the rice is evenly coated in color.
5. Massage the rice in the corners of the bag to ensure no food coloring is stuck to the sides.
6. Pour the colored rice out onto the foil-lined tray and spread it out to dry completely.
7. Repeat the process (steps 2-6) five more times using the remaining colors of the rainbow (yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple).
8. Allow all the rice to dry fully so the vinegar evaporates and the color stays on the grain rather than transferring to fingers.
9. Once dry, mix the colors together or place them in separate sections of a bin for sensory play.