Pumpkin Emotions Sensory Bin

If you’re looking for a hands-on way to explore feelings this fall, this pumpkin emotions sensory bin is the perfect activity! It combines sensory play with emotional learning—something that’s so important during the early years.

Whether you’re teaching at home or in the classroom, this activity fits beautifully into your preschool pumpkin theme, offering a creative way for kids to name, recognize, and express feelings in a safe, playful environment.

With just a few simple materials and a dash of imagination, your little ones can scoop, sort, and talk about feelings—all while building fine motor skills and having fun!

This sensory bin isn’t just fun—it’s packed with skill-building, too! Picking up and sorting the emotion cards helps strengthen fine motor development, while talking about each feeling in a story or pretend play context supports early literacy and emotional vocabulary.

Pumpkin Emotions Sensory Bin

Setting up this activity is quick and easy, making it a great addition to your fall lesson plans or a last-minute afternoon play idea. With just a few supplies, you’ll create a playful space where kids can explore how we feel through hands-on discovery.

Whether they’re identifying feelings on the printable faces or acting out scenarios, this activity encourages meaningful conversations in a way that feels natural and fun.

Looking for sensory bins beyond pumpkins? Check out my A to Z Sensory Bin Ideas for activities all year long.

What You’ll Need

Before you get started, gather a few simple materials to bring this sensory tub to life. Including a read-aloud like The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin adds a meaningful story connection that helps spark conversations about feelings.

• The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano
• Sensory bin or plastic container
• Filler (orange dyed rice, shredded paper, or dried beans)
• Printable pumpkin faces & emotion cards
• Small scoops, tongs, or spoons (optional)
• Mini pumpkins or felt pumpkins (optional for added texture)
• Laminator or dry-erase sleeves (optional for durability)

How to Set Up the Activity

Fill Your Bin
Start by adding your chosen filler to the sensory tray—orange rice, shredded paper, or dried beans work great for a fall feel. Fill it just enough to cover the bottom and allow for scooping and digging.

Print and Prepare Emotion Cards
Print the feelings cards and cut them apart. For added durability, laminate them or slide them into dry-erase sleeves.

Add the Cards to the Bin
Gently tuck the cards into the filler so they’re partially hidden. You can mix them in randomly or place them face-up for easier discovery.

Add Tools and Props
Toss in a few small scoops, tongs, or spoons to encourage fine motor practice. You can also add mini pumpkins or felt pieces for added texture and interest.

Set the Scene with a Story
Begin the activity by reading The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin to introduce the idea that everyone experiences different feelings—and that’s okay! Then invite your child to explore the sensory activity and discuss the feelings they discover.

How to Use the Fall Sensory Bin:

Once your sensory bin is set up, invite your child to dig in and explore. As they find each emotion card, pause to talk about the face and name the emotion it represents. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think made this pumpkin feel sad?” or “Have you ever felt surprised like this one?”

You can also encourage pretend play by making up short stories about each pumpkin’s day or showing moods together using facial expressions and body language. This adds a playful layer of drama and helps kids connect the emotion to real-life situations.

For younger children, focus on naming and matching feelings. Older preschoolers can sort the cards into categories (happy vs. not happy) or draw their own emotion face as a follow-up activity.

After exploring feelings with this bin, try our Pumpkin Seed Sensory Bin for a fun fine-motor twist.

Why This Activity Matters

Helping preschoolers recognize and talk about their feelings is more important than ever. Social-emotional learning (SEL) lays the foundation for emotional intelligence—an essential skill that supports self-regulation, empathy, and positive social interactions.

Activities like this fall bin make those lessons safe and approachable. Through playful exploration, kids begin to understand that all feelings are okay and learn healthy ways to express them.

More Pumpkin Learning Activities:

If you are looking for more pumpkin-themed activities for your preschoolers, try these entertaining learning resources:

• Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch
• Pumpkin Tracing Worksheets
• Pumpkin Cut and Paste Worksheets
• Pumpkin Do a Dot Printables
• Pumpkin Coloring Pages for Preschool

This pumpkin faces activity is a simple yet powerful way to blend seasonal fun with meaningful learning. By exploring feelings through hands-on play, your preschooler builds emotional awareness, language skills, and confidence—all in a way that feels playful and natural. Pair it with a thoughtful story like The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, and you’ve got the perfect fall activity for your preschool pumpkin theme.

Looking for more ways to bring learning to life this season? Be sure to check out the related activities linked below—and don’t forget to pin this idea for later!