Zoo Sensory Bin Feed Monkey | Rhyming Phonological Awareness | SLP SPED Autism
Product Description
These Zoo Sensory Bin Activities, "Feed Monkey," are a hands-on, engaging addition to any zoo, safari, jungle, or rain forest themed unit. Students "feed Monkey" colorful bananas to target colors, sizes, numbers, rhyming words, beginning/middle/ending sounds, and language concepts (feature, function, class). The open-ended format makes this resource flexible for small group instruction, independent centers, or sensory bin play.
🐒 Perfect for:
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) targeting rhyming, phonological awareness, vocabulary, and language concept goals
- Special Education teachers building zoo, safari, jungle, and rain forest themed units
- Autism classrooms needing engaging, repeatable sensory activities
- Occupational Therapists working on fine motor skills and sensory integration
- ABA therapists running receptive language and discrete trial programs
- Early Childhood, Pre-K, and Kindergarten teachers
- Science teachers covering rain forest habitats (NGSS K-LS1)
- Homeschool families with multi-age learners
🍌 What's Included:
Two complete Feed Monkey sets with monkey, banana pieces, and instruction cards:
- Colors, Sizes, and Numbers Set — feed Monkey bananas by color, size, or number
- Rhyming Words Set — feed Monkey bananas that rhyme, share beginning/middle/ending sounds, or match language concepts (feature, function, class)
- Instruction cards for each set to use as an independent center or sensory bin task.
🎯 Skills Targeted:
Rhyming words and phonological awareness, beginning/middle/ending sounds, color identification, size discrimination, number recognition and counting, language concepts (feature, function, class), receptive and expressive vocabulary, following 1-step and multi-step directions, zoo / safari / rain forest vocabulary, fine motor skills, and independent work.
Sample Prompts:
- "Feed Monkey 1 red banana."
- "Feed Monkey 2 pink bananas."
- "Feed Monkey a medium green banana."
- "Feed Monkey a large purple banana and a small blue banana."
- "Feed Monkey something that rhymes with 'bake.'"
- "Feed Monkey something that starts with the /l/ sound."
- "Feed Monkey something that has the /o/ sound in the middle."
- "Feed Monkey something that ends with the /g/ sound."
- "Feed Monkey something with feathers."
- "Feed Monkey an animal."
- "Feed Monkey something we eat."
How to Use:
For small group instruction, the teacher or therapist gives a verbal prompt and the student feeds Monkey the correct banana. For independent work, place all the bananas in a sensory bin (dried beans, green crinkle paper, fake leaves, brown rice, yellow rice, tropical-themed fillers) and post one or more instruction cards for students to complete on their own.
🌴 Ways to Use:
- Zoo, safari, jungle, and rain forest thematic units
- Habitat science units (NGSS K-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1)
- Speech therapy small group sessions
- Sensory bin centers and morning tubs
- Independent work systems (TEACCH)
- ABA discrete trial training
- Literacy centers targeting phonological awareness
- Multi-sensory phonics instruction
- Calm-down or sensory regulation activities
⭐ Why This Stands Out:
The Feed Monkey format combines two highly engaging elements — sensory bin play and a playful "feeding" mechanic — that pull in even reluctant learners. The open-ended design lets you target a wide range of IEP goals with a single resource, and the included instruction cards make this one of the few sensory bin activities that truly works as an independent center.
These sensory bin activities are now part of bundle. You can find the Sensory Bin Activities Bundle here:
If your students enjoy these activities, you can find more sensory bin activities below:
For more hands-on summer, ocean or zoo themed activities, please see the links below:
