Sometimes the simplest solution works better than you could have ever anticipated.
Back in December or earlier I’m sure I saw a post on Instagram about some tinker boxes that someone created. Basically, it’s a small box (I used plastic pencil cases) that contains a variety of materials.
And when I say variety, I mean VARIETY! As you can see, snap/Unifix cubes, wooden cubes, a dice, bottle caps (left over from catapults for STREAM night), cotton swabs (thrown in as last minute inspiration), craft sticks and some yellow and red “bingo” marker chips (or counting chips). These were materials that I had an abundance of so that I could include a few in each of the 20 boxes that I made.
Yes, I made 20 boxes because I have 20 PreK4 students in each class and for these lessons, I wanted them to have their own box. And it was MAGICAL!
When I go to the PreK4 classroom to do my lessons, I often bring a large bag (from Homegoods I think) with my materials, the students have even started to figure out that THAT bag has the fun stuff in it! So they start to get really curious.
I stood in front of the class (they were sitting at their tables) and said “Today we are going to be explorers and use some special TOOLS to build and create” - or something along those lines. I said “You will each get your own STEAM Box with materials to use. Today you can build whatever you want but sometimes when I bring them, I will ask you to make something specific, like a snowflake or something else”
I wanted them to have one full class period (about 20 minutes) to really explore the materials, because I know, at this age, they will do that anyway so why not let them?
I handed out the boxes with the instructions: “DON’T open the boxes before I say GO” - that worked for most of the students.
I told them they could COUNT the items in their box, they could SORT them into groups, it was completely up to each student but they were ONLY to use the materials in their box and just right at their spot at the table. If stuff falls on the floor, pick it up. We have to use these boxes in the other class too, so we need to be nice to the materials.
They understood. I handed out the boxes, I said “GO” and they went! I absolutely LOVE teaching this age group. They are so creative and most of them don’t have any fear about if it’s “right” or “wrong” (yet).
This is when I had a realization that every lesson I do doesn’t have to be uber structured. Yes, it’s fine to introduce a concept with a book, it’s fine to mix in “craftivities” sometimes, but for this group, let them PLAY and EXPLORE and see what happens!
To be honest, a lot of this was inspired by the Loose Parts Play Facebook group that I’m in, where teachers (and I think parents) post photos of the ways they are allowing their children (I believe fairly young, 2-4 years maybe?) play with various materials. Seeing the creativity is so inspiring to me!
Here are some photos I snapped while the students were working, I really wish I could have recorded their voices talking about their creations, because that was just a bonus to hear their explanations (language development for the win!)
I can’t wait to introduce the STEAM boxes to the other PreK4 class next!
I’ve also considered using these with a rather challenging group of Kindergarten students because sometimes, children are just not quite ready to share and having their own materials to work with might be just the ticket to maintaining a calm classroom.
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Until next time!