Enhancing Seasonal Sensory Tables in TK

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Heidi Bushway Verkler
Grant Co-applicants
Suzanne Beye
School Site
Tahoe Lake Elementary
Grant Category
Misc.
Grant Date
2026-06-09T12:00:00
Description

Sensory play in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) engages children's senses—touch, sight, smell, taste, and hearing—to boost brain development, fine motor skills, and calming abilities. Key activities include tactile bins (sand, water, rice, beans), playdough, shaving cream, and nature exploration to encourage scientific thinking, vocabulary development, and social interaction.

California phased in universal TK in August 2025. Currently there are two TK classes of 4 and 5 year olds in full day programs at Tahoe Lake Elementary (TLE). Students rotate through stations during the day and one important station we would like to utilize more (seasonally) is sensory play. Sensory play is beneficial for all of our students; it is a fun and open-ended way to explore and improve motor skills and language development with peers. This grant would allow us to include seasonal sensory play tables with enriching resources to our classrooms by varying the materials students use. 

Benefits of Program

All TK students enrolled at TLE would benefit from using the seasonal materials in our sensory tables. As mentioned before, these bins would provide our students with more hands-on, tactile learning that boosts fine motor skills, cognitive development, and emotional regulation. By scooping, pouring, and sorting, young children build  practice social skills, hand strength, and engage in calming, sensory-rich play, as well as developing peer relationships.

Success of Program

This grant will successfully enhance our classrooms by offering students hands-on, sensory experiences that will allow them to explore several different types of materials throughout the school year. This would also support the TK curriculum by introducing the 5 senses, as well as allow students to safely explore more textures, learn by doing and trial and error. 

Implementation

Currently, both TK classes physically have sensory tables in the classrooms. We hope to offer more varieties of materials on a seasonal basis. Thus, we'd be able to implement a more enriching hands on experience to the students. Implementation could be offered right away.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

Materials could be shared, however, it would be more beneficial for each classroom to have their own for all TK students to be able to enjoy throughout the season.

Sustainability
Yes, this grant is sustainable. Some of the needed materials are considered consumables (shaving cream, rice, beans, etc.) however, the bulk of this grant could be used over and over for years. We could use classroom funds or make a request to our PTO to assist with purchasing the less expensive consumables.
Amount Funded
$1300.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$1200 - List of items in Amazon cart
Shipping
$0.00
Taxes
$100.00
Other funding sources

Other funding sources to replenish the consumables would be future classroom funds and possibly our PTO.

Supporting Links
Amazon List of Sensory Items
Notes

This grant request is for two TK classrooms. It will supply sensory tables in the classrooms for several years.