Noah’s Ark Sensory Bin – A Fun and Faith-Based Play Idea

Sensory bins are one of my all-time favorite ways to keep little hands busy and minds engaged. They’re simple to set up, fun for kids, and (bonus!) they don’t have to cost a fortune. 

Lately, I’ve been finding more ways to weave faith into our everyday playtime, and this Noah’s Ark sensory bin was such a sweet way to do just that. It’s water play—so you know it’s going to be a hit—and it’s an easy, hands-on way to help kids connect with one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. 

Plus, you probably already have everything you need at home! As I’m looking for inspiration for some different Bible-themed sensory bins I plan to make, I’ve found lots of ideas that require buying new toys or supplies for each bin.  And if you have the budget for some new Bible-themed toys, there are a TON of great ones out there.  But I am passionate about sharing ideas that are not only faith-based but also budget friendly.

Feel free to take these ideas and make them your own.  Whether you decide to create your Noah’s Ark sensory bin exactly the same way I did, or you use different supplies and make it a little bit different, I just know your little ones are going to love it!

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Supplies Needed

• Water
• Plastic tub or large container
• One or more small people toys – a Lego person would make a great Noah
• Toy animals 
• Toy boat OR a plastic tub lid, small basket, or a repurposed plastic container as the “boat”
• Optional: Blue food coloring (to tint the water), rainbow toy, small blocks, foam pieces, or natural materials like rocks and leaves for added texture.
• Noah’s Ark printable activities and/or a children’s Bible (also optional, but highly recommended!)

Setting Up & Playing with Your Sensory Bin

Fill the plastic tub with water (you can add blue food coloring if you want).

Create the “ark” using a plastic tub lid, small basket, or plastic container. (Or, if you have a toy boat, use that!)

Gather your “Noah” (we used a Lego person) and toy animals — remember, we’re working with what we have! If you’re in the market for more/new toy animals, something like this is a great deal.

Set up the sensory bin, placing the ark in the water and adding the animals. We happen to have a rainbow stacker so I added that too.

Now for the fun part! Let children explore – they can float the ark, load/unload animals, and retell the Noah’s Ark story through play.

My girls are six and two, and they both had SO much fun with this sensory bin. Ruthie (2) enjoyed splashing the water and taking the animals in and out of the boat. Ella (6) launched into a whole game of imaginary play. (I overheard her making “Noah” say, “Quick! Everyone on the boat! It’s about to start raining!”)

Just getting started with sensory play and looking for more ideas to get you going? My guide to sensory play is packed with tips, tricks, and easy ideas to make sensory play fun—everything you need to get started!

Faith Connection: Teaching the Story of Noah’s Ark

While your little one is splashing and playing, it’s the perfect time to talk about the story of Noah’s Ark from the Bible (Genesis 6-9). You don’t need to make it complicated—just keep it simple and natural as you play together.

You can say something like:

“A long time ago, God asked a man named Noah to build a big boat called an ark. God told Noah to bring two of every kind of animal onto the ark to keep them safe. Then it rained for a long time—40 days and 40 nights! But God kept Noah, his family, and all the animals safe. And when the rain stopped, God made a promise to never flood the whole earth again. He put a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of His promise.”

(It’s also a good idea to have a storybook Bible on hand — we love this one.)

As your child loads the animals onto the boat, talk about how Noah listened and obeyed God, even when it was hard. You can point out how God took care of Noah and the animals—just like He takes care of us every day.

This is a great opportunity to introduce a simple truth:

God is always with us, and we can trust Him.

You might even want to wrap up your playtime by drawing or painting a rainbow together, reminding your child that the rainbow is a sign of God’s love and promises.

Simple moments like these—playing, talking, and pointing back to God—can plant seeds of faith that will grow in your child’s heart over time.

Looking for a more concrete resource for teaching the story of Noah to young children? These printable crafts and activities pair PERFECTLY with your Noah’s Ark sensory bin!

I pulled out the printable mini book that we had created a few months ago. When Ella (my six-year-old) was done playing, she asked if we could read it together. Ummm, yes!!

Sensory Play Benefits

One of the things I love most about sensory bins is that kids are learning so much while they play—sometimes without even realizing it. This Noah’s Ark sensory bin is no exception! Here are a few of the awesome benefits your little one will get while playing:

• Fine motor skills: Picking up small toy animals, placing them in the “ark,” and splashing in the water all help strengthen those little hands and fingers.
• Imaginative play: Kids can get creative as they pretend to be Noah, gather the animals, and set sail on the ark. It’s amazing to watch their storytelling come to life!
•  Language development: Talking about the animals, the story of Noah, and what’s happening in their play helps expand your child’s vocabulary and encourages conversation.
• Calming sensory experience: There’s just something about water play that has a way of calming kids down. (Honestly, it can be pretty relaxing for us grown-ups, too!)
• Faith-based learning: This is the sweet spot for me—playtime that also introduces Bible stories and helps kids learn about God in a hands-on, memorable way.

Budget-Friendly and Adaptable Ideas

One of the best parts about this Noah’s Ark sensory bin is that you can totally make it work with whatever you already have at home. No need to buy anything fancy—just get a little creative!

• Use what you have: Grab toy animals from the playroom or cut animal pictures out of an old magazine. Even simple paper cutouts could work great!
• DIY the ark: No need to hunt down a perfect boat. A plastic tub lid, small basket, or even a clean food container (like a butter tub) can become your “ark.” Kids love using their imagination, so anything that floats will do the trick.
• Natural materials: Want to level up the sensory experience? Add some leaves, small rocks, or sticks to represent land, trees, or mountains. Kids can pretend the ark is landing as the water dries up.
• Adjust for different ages:

•Toddlers might just enjoy splashing and moving the animals around. (This is how Ruthie played!)

•Preschoolers can start matching animals in pairs and acting out the Bible story. (It’s SO cute to listen to them act the story out!)

•Older kids might even build a little “ark” out of Legos  or blocks to float in the water.

However you put it together, the goal is the same—hands-on fun that sparks creativity and invites kids to connect with God’s story. And the best part? You don’t have to spend a dime if you don’t want to!

Simple activities like this one can create meaningful faith-based learning moments in your home. I can’t wait for you to try using everyday play to introduce Bible stories and Christian values to your little ones!

More Sensory Play Fun

If you liked this Noah’s Ark sensory bin, you’re going to love this easy slime recipe for kids, this guide to making homemade play dough, and this easy fall sensory bin.

And don’t miss these Halloween sensory activities for one-year-olds or this guide to dying rainbow rice!

And one last thing before you go – you can’t fill from an empty cup. If you’re a busy mama trying to squeeze more moments of prayer into your day, I made this prayer guide with you in mind. And it’s free!

If you try making a Noah’s Ark sensory bin, will you tell me about it? Comment below or message me on Instagram and tell me how yours came out!