Kindergarten curriculum’s are pretty varied and there are many wonderful activities that are done in really good kindergartens.

Using activity boxes in your kindergarten curriculum is something I came across in an article when going through old material I had. It was an article that originally came out of Young Children about using boxes or containers with everyday objects that have relationships to each other in various ways.

These activity boxes are given to children to learn to explore real objects that adults use. It can take a while to get together but can be done slowly over the year.

Activity boxes can serve many functions in a kindergarten or a preschool curriculum.

Types of boxes to use

• Inexpensive containers like shoe boxes
• Cardboard boxes with and without lids
• Plastic storage containers,
• Lunch boxes

Do not put small objects in the boxes if you have infants or toddlers as there is a danger of them swallowing small pieces.

It would be a good idea to label the boxes with pictures along with words for both adults and children.

Uses for activity boxes

• Perfect for transitional activities. When children are finished lunch early or any other activity early they can use activity boxes wile they wait.
• They can be used as portable learning centers. By including different objects of single properties in common like all soft things or all green or different textures or all cooking utensils.
• The boxes can spark language between the adult and child as they discuss likenesses and differences, color and shapes etc in the particular boxes they are using.
• Items in boxes can encourage dramatic play.
• Can promote multicultural and non sexist play (like gadgets and dolls for both genders).
• Encourages children to explore.
• Strengthens the home school relationships as parents can send in things to add to the boxes. (If you are in a school setting)

I am now going to give you a bunch of of sample activity boxes you can create with the possible goals for each box.

Of course the children may extend their learning and are not limited to those particular goals of the box.

These of course are only ideas and are not cut in stone. You can make up your own box ideas and you add or subtract to the boxes as you wish.

Clocks Box

• wind up alarm
• wrist watch
• radio with clock
• wall clock
• stop watch

Goals: Manipulative activities, dramatic play, problem solving

Green and Red Objects box

• green lids
• green berry baskets
• green cup or two
• green napkin
• red heart
• red ribbon
• red lids
• red cups or tow
• red napkin

Goals: Sorting by color, color recognition, matching

Cameras Box

• old film camera
• digital camera
• polaroid if you can find one
• photo albums
• old postcards or snapshots

Goals: Dramatic play and problem solving

Writing Box

• spiral notebook
• loose leaf paper
• notepad
• pencils, pens, markers
• rulers
• envelopes
• stamps
• eraser

Goals: Pre-writing skills, dramatic play

Things that measure box

• ruler
• tape measure
• measuring spoons
• measuring cups
• hour glass

Goals: Problem solving, measuring/math, language skills

Spools Box

As many spools as you can collect in different sizes

Goals: Stacking, rolling

Kitchen Box

• pitcher
• cups
• dishes
• spoons
• round coasters
• spatulas
• large bowls

Goals: Dramatic play, language skills, pouring, stirring

Rubber objects box

• erasers
• tires
• rubber toys
• rubber balls

Goals: Manipulation, tactile exploration

Zippers box

All sizes and colors zippers

Goals: Manipulation, fine motor skills, dramatization, problem solving

Containers with lids box

A variety of of  food boxes of different sizes and shapes and their lids.

Goals: Fine motor skills, manipulation, problem solving, rolling, stacking

Boxes of sizes

• little blocks
• big blocks
• small lids
• big lids
• small toys
• big toys

Goals: Visual discrimination, comparisons, sorting by size

Plumbers box

Different pieces of screwed together piping all sizes and shapes

Goals: Manipulation, problem solving.

Texture box

• fur
• velvet
• silk
• burlap
• cotton balls

Goals: Tactile awareness

Quilt box

An assortment of fabric squares that are same size that have snaps on each corner that they can snap together to make a quilt

Goals: Fine motor skills and problem solving

Sewing box

• fabric scraps with holes punched through
• large safe yarn needles threaded with yarn
• scraps with buttons sewed on and button holes
• scraps with zippers or snaps sewed on

Goals: Fine motor sills, problem solving, eye hand coordination

Explore box

• magnifying glasses
• seashells
• rocks
• laminated leaves
• laminated dried flowers
• pieces of bark

Goals: Manipulation, science, tactile awareness, visual discrimination

Plastic objects box

• soda bottle
• mikl bottle
• bubbles bottle
• small transparent square container
• condiment dishes
• lotion bottle
• various detergent bottles
• plates
• bowls with lids
• pitcher with lid
• cups
• cookie cutters
• measuring spoon
• ice container

Goals: Dramatic play, language skills, pouring, stirring

Bookmaking box

• paper
• crayons, markers, pens, pencils
• hole punchers
• yarn
• needles to sew book

Goals: Writing skills, problem solving, creativity

If anyone decides to use these activities with their children in a home school environment or in a nursery, preschool or kindergarten I would love to her how it goes.

Enjoy!