Salt tray mazes

In our classroom, we have used salt trays in many different ways to promote handwriting skills.  Come discover how our preschool children also used their engineering skills to create their own salt tray mazes…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

The inspiration for this activity came from our very own big cardboard box maze.  You can read all about it here.  After playing with our large cardboard box maze as a group, we wanted the children to be able to recreate their own personal-sized mazes to explore…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

This activity is super simple to set up.  First set out trays or shoe box lids.  These mini art trays are available from Discount School Supply or United Arts and Education.  Add just enough salt to cover the bottom of each tray.  Lastly, set out straws that have been cut down to a variety of lengths.  Before the children were set loose to explore this activity on their own, we demonstrated a few ways that they could create their mazes…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

We also shared with the children a few tips and reminders about how to play with the salt trays.   We reminded the children that this isn’t a scooping and pouring activity.  Throughout the school year, we give the children plenty of opportunity to scoop and pour with a variety of sensory materials.  This isn’t one of those opportunities.  Instead, we asked that they use the salt just for writing or drawing or tracing with their fingers.  We showed the children how to gently shake or tap the tray on the table to “erase” the salt lines that they created.  With a few guidelines in place, the children are free to explore writing and drawing in the salt trays as they wish…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

Some children enjoyed laying the straws out in various patterns, while others focused on creating shapes…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

Some of the mazes that the children built were amazing!  The colorful straw mazes were complete with dead ends, forcing their little fingers to backtrack to find an alternate route…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

These salt tray mazes were a lot of fun for the children to create.  Activities that promote fine motor skills and explore engineering concepts don’t have to be time consuming or costly…

Salt tray mazes by Teach Preschool

You can create amazing opportunities for exploration with simple things found around your home or classroom.  What fun everyday materials have you been exploring with lately?

Salt Tray Mazes by Teach Preschool

Available on Amazon


Links to grow on:

Feather tip salt tray writing by Teach Preschool

Counting activity: A maze of numbers by Hands On: As We Grow

Moon dust sensory writing tray by The Imagination Tree

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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