You need an oatmeal box and a large NEW men's athletic sock. Slide the sock over the oatmeal box - and the feel box is ready. Put in anything that you want kids to feel--small toys, nature items, magnet shapes, anything.
The box is recycled and the sock can be purchased at the dollar store. The items that go in the box are things you already have. Easy. Little cost.
Kids reach in through the sock and feel the items. They can easily pull them out.
This is a great activity for all ages of kids. I've used it with one-year-old toddlers and kindergartners. With younger kids, I just put in 1 or 2 items. With kindergartners, put in several items and lay similar items beside the box.
They can feel one of the items they can see and then find items that feel the same inside the box.
Another advantage - no peeking! Kids cannot see inside the box, even when they reach inside it.
This box can be used in games in circle time. You can add it to any center, depending on what is inside it. Use it in small groups to feel letters or shapes. Place something inside to develop thinking and reasoning skills - guess what it is by the clues you get from its shape, size, and texture.
When you're done, you can store it as is, or pull off the sock and drop it in the box for storage.
When you're done, you can store it as is, or pull off the sock and drop it in the box for storage.