Easy and Versatile Feel Box

When I think about teaching resources, I like easy ideas...and ideas that are little cost. I like things that can be used in different ways or for different types of activities. That's why I love this feel box.

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.

5 Ways to Use Jingle Bells

Do you like jingle bells? One of the benefits of working with preschoolers is that we get to play with jingle bells all year long, not just in December! Here are a few ideas to use jingle bells in the classroom.

1. Play them.
Of course, string the jingle bells on chenille stems and make homemade instruments. My kids love to make these. They love to use them as much as purchased instruments.

With younger preschoolers, stick several in a empty plastic bottle and seal the lid. It's a great bell shaker instrument. And so simple to make.

2. Spy them.
Speaking of bottles, make great "spy bottles." Fill small bottles with shredded paper, sequins, jingle bells, and other various small items. Challenge children to find the bells (and other specific items) in the bottle. (We made these as gifts for our kids - they can play spying games at home.)

Or make this great discovery bottle from Preschool Inspirations: fill the bottle with mineral oil and jingle bells and use a wand magnet with it.

3. Practice number skills.
Provide bells and other items to string on a chenille stem or length of yarn. Add numbered cubes and a key. Kids can roll the numbered cube and add the specific item.

This activity was planned for first graders, so we used two cubes. For younger kids, use only one cube and adjust the list. Kids can practice their subitizing skills (recognizing quantities without counting) and counting skills.

4. Paint with them.
We love to paint with balls and marbles in an oatmeal box. Change this up a little and paint with large jingle bells. You have some sound in addition to the physical (rolling the box) and creative (painting).

Another way to paint with them is this idea from No Time for Flash Cards: Tie jingle bells onto paintbrushes to add sound to your easel painting.

5. Quiet them.

This STEM challenge from Little Bins for Little Hands is wonderful. Kids explore how to put a jingle bell into a plastic ornament with other materials in ways that will make it quiet. I think this would be a great fun exploration experience. And so counterintuitive to what we do with bells.

What fun ways have you used jingle bells?