SafariLtd LifeCycle of a salmon sensory bag Montessori Sensorial Activity allows babies and toddlers to explore safely changes a salmon undergoes from birth to maturity through a fun hands-on invitation to play.
Calling all toddlers to explore SafariLtd Salmon Lifecycle with a fun toddler-safe sensorial activity! But, yes – I hear you! How can we make sensory play SAFE for little ones when there is a high risk of choking hazards? This is especially true with children younger than 18 months who are generally home, and not in a “formal” Montessori school setting. Well, I have you covered with a baby-safe zip-lock bag! Yes, that simple! Place loose items in a zip-lock, zip it, tape it and let your little one explore safely through sensorial invitations to learn and play without a constant: “Don’t put it in your mouth!” (Well, they might still attempt to nibble on the bag, so close adult supervision is required!)
And, for older children, SafariLtd LifeCycle figure sets are amazing educational tools that help little ones understand organisms’ lifecycles through fun, hands-on sensory play. Besides, these hand-painted figures that show how animals progress are non-toxic and BPA free. Most importantly, this highly detailed and scientifically accurate set enables children to learn about the salmon’s life cycle, from an egg to an alevin, to parr, and eventually to an adult spawning salmon through a fun tactile S.T.E.M. exploration of the natural world.
YOU’LL NEED for this Montessori Toddler Sensorial Activity :
- Salmon life cycle (enter Coupon code: AnyaM1 to get 20% your entire order)
- a zip lock bag
- hydrogels (water beads)
- blue food coloring
- water
- hair gel
- LifeCycle of a Salom Printout
- Montessori 3-Part LifeCycle of Salmon Cards (buy HERE)

Salmon undergo a long journey during their lifetime: hatching from eggs in freshwater streams, growing up into adult fish, and then swimming out to the ocean to live most of their lives in saltwater. When they are old enough to mate, they begin the long journey back to the streams from which they hatched, where they will spawn and, in most cases, die.
HOW to MAKE this SafariLtd Salmon Lifecycle Toddler-Safe Bag:
First, add about one cup of water per one teaspoon of hydrogels. Add blue food coloring to the water before combining it with hydrogels. (I chose a blue color to resemble the water.) In about three hours, your hydrogels will be completely hydrated, reaching its maximum size. Next, place your DIY blue hydrogels into a zip lock bag. Do not overfill the bag – just about 1/3 full. Thereafter, squeeze hair gel into the bag for more fluidity. (Hair gel will allow items to slide inside your bag without rupturing it.) Lastly, place your salmon lifecycle into the zip lock. (Making a DIY light table is optional.) Offer your little one to explore what is in the bag by moving the figurines, while older children might enjoy sequencing the lifecycle.
Since The Life Cycle of a Salmon is part of the Safariology® collection, the set conveniently comes with a detailed description on the back of the package, explaining and illustrating each developmental stage. So, using the information provided, I made Montessori Classified Cards, which can be used by children as young as one-year-old. Classified Cards are generally designed in a 3-Part Series, with one picture card with a label, one picture card without a label, and one label. For older children, I also included description cards. Salmon Lifecycle Montessori 3-Part cards are an identical match to the figurines and are one of the first type of matching you would introduce to a toddler as young as one-year-old. These cards further can be used for vocabulary, classification, reading, writing, zoology and more! READ HERE Montessori Nomenclature 3-Part Cards and the order of presenting them.
LifeCycle of a Salmon:
(1) Eggs (2) Alevin (3) Parr (4) Oceanic Salmon (4) Spawning Salmon
(1) Salmon eggs are laid in gravel nests in freshwater streams. These nests are called “redds.” The eggs are then fertilized by multiple males.
(2) Salmon hatchlings are referred to as alevin or “sac fry.” The yolk from the egg they hatched from is still attached to them. Alevin will remain near the redd for months until they finish absorbing the nutrients from their yolk sac.
(3) As salmon grow, they become “parr” and develop stripes to help them camouflage and avoid predators. They leave the gravel nest but remain in the freshwater stream for up to three years.
(4) Oceanic Salmon: most salmon are “anadromous” which means they are born in freshwater but spend most of their life in saltwater. When a parr is old enough, it will travel to the ocean where it will mature and live much of its life. In the ocean, they lose their stripes and appear more silver and blue.
(5) Spawning salmon: when it is time for the salmon to spawn, they will change dramatically. Many species will change color from silvery to deep red. They also develop a pronounced hump and sharp teeth. Male salmons’ jaws grow long and hooked, which is known as “kype.” They then begin a long and difficult journey to the stream in which they were born. They may travel as far as 900 miles in order to find their spawning grounds. After the females lay their eggs and the males fertilize them, most salmon soon die, exhausted by the toll their long journey has taken on them.
BUY Salmon Lifecycle Learning Kit with 3-PART Nomenclature Cards HERE.



Toddler-Safe Sensory Play:
With this super easy to make and fun Montessori Toddler Sensorial Activity SafariLtd lifecycle of a salmon, your child will be developing fine motor control while stimulating cognitive development. This tactile learning activity makes a great teaching tool for learning about the life stages of these unique and important fish. So, calling all babies and toddlers to explore safely with this fun and engaging hands-on lifecycle that will keep little hands busy and minds active!



Practical Life Activities lay the foundation and develop the skills the child will need for all other academic areas! Real-life lessons such as folding, using a spoon, buttoning, cleaning and more, will help your child develop bodily coordination, focus, independence and a sense of order, thus facilitating immensely in the future academic lives.
Please, always supervise your children.
Follow us on Pinterest ♡
Safari Ltd Toys That Teach:
With the highest regard, this is a sponsored post with Safari Ltd. All opinions are my own and from the heart! Besides, I am so excited to collaborate with this amazing team that brings Toys That Teach to our children! You can read more about Safari Ltd ’s mission of “educating children about the importance of nature and its conservation through the joy of play” here. Remember, children are learning by doing! Most importantly, they cannot learn what they have not been given a chance to experience! As such, children need to touch, manipulate, transfer, and squeeze! So, offer them Toys That Teach that will provide ample opportunities for a fun tactile sensory play!
For more Safari LTD LifeCycles Activities:



For more Safari LTD:









Download my NEW eBOOK ~ THE BASICS ~ Bringing Montessori Home Birth till Age 6



Thanks for following along,



2 Comments
Hello,
Is it possible to purchase the salmon life cycle pdf without the entire kit? Thanks!
can you please email me at anya@montessorifromtheheart.com thank you