Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set · view 1
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set · view 2
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set · view 3
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Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set · view 5
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set
Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set

Gus + Mabel

Busy Bee Tray, 6 Sixth Inserts, and Lid Set

$165.00

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The Busy Bee Tray with six sixth-section inserts is the most segmented configuration in the line: six narrow compartments for finer sorting work. Every color of beads, every kind of dried botanical, every step in a sequence; the sixth-section setup is the one to reach for when the sorting matters most.

The tray is biodegradable eco-composite: food-safe, weather-resistant, and waterproof, with an embossed Australian flora and fauna texture on the base.

MaterialBamboo fiber
IncludesLid, base + 6 sixth inserts
Size40 cm diameter
Pair withReflective Mirror · Fairy Streamlet mat
Origin DesignedAustralia MadeChina

Age Recommendations

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From age three and up, across the Pre-K to early-primary years. The developmental window for sorting, water play, and nature provocations.

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Why it lasts.

We carry the six-sixth configuration because fine sorting is genuine early-math work, and six compartments take it further than four. Six groups for counting, six colors on the spectrum, six botanical categories from a nature walk: the setup scales with the child's precision. It pairs with the Busy Bee Mirror Insert for reflection play, and any Gus + Mabel felt mat fits directly inside the tray; the tray that holds beads in the morning becomes a small-world landscape in the afternoon.

Who it's for

For the parent
One tray that grows with your child: water and petals one week, a sorting station the next, dough or small worlds after. The lid covers a half-finished scene; the set is dishwasher-safe.
For the educator
Built for the Pre-K to Grade 2 nature table, with ties to NGSS K-2 life science, place-based learning, and Montessori practical life. Inserts reconfigure for sorting, water play, and observation.
For the gift-giver
It arrives in a stunning, gift-ready box. A calm, natural present that does not end on the first afternoon and becomes whatever a child is curious about that season.

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Details

Materials & construction

Material: Biodegradable eco-composite (plant-fiber), food-safe, weather-resistant

Base: Embossed Australian flora and fauna texture

Origin: Designed by Gus + Mabel; made in China

Includes: Tray, 6 sixth-section inserts, lid

Care: Wipe clean; suitable for water use

Ways to play

Fine sorting and classifying, counting and early-math trays, sand and water in single wells, and nature collections kept tidy. A cup for each category of natural loose part: dried flowers, dried citrus, acorns, seed pods, petals, and pebbles, the materials of sensory, natural play, with the lid to cover a finished collection. The Gus + Mabel felt mats sit neatly inside the tray; explore the <a href="/collections/felt-play-mats-and-playscapes">felt mats</a>.
Care & storage
Top-shelf dishwasher safe, or wash with warm soapy water and a sponge. Clean up after messy play, and avoid leaving colored liquids, paints, or dyes sitting in the tray, since the natural material can stain. For stubborn marks, a baking soda and water paste, white vinegar, or lemon all lift stains without harsh chemicals. It is a natural material, so use a non-slip mat on hard tables or play on the floor, and bring it indoors and out of direct sun when play is done.
Shipping & returns

Shipping

In-stock items ship from LA in 1–3 business days, plus 1–6 in transit (contiguous U.S.).

  • $10.95 standard, free on orders $150+ (after discounts, before tax)
  • Partner-warehouse items can take up to 2 weeks, check the product page
  • Pre-orders follow their own timeline; mixed orders ship together when the pre-order arrives
  • Local LA/OC delivery, Quick Ship, Hawaii/Alaska, and international at checkout

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Returns accepted for 30 days from delivery. If the toy isn't right, send it back. Free returns on damaged or defective items.