I Can Use That!
Posted by Amy Erickson on 20 Nov 2009 | Posted in: Organization and Supplies
The other day I was dying for a tall, cold glass of lemonade. (Okay, not actually dying, but I really wanted it.) I headed into my kitchen and prepared some lemonade mix. I was eager to quench my thirst, but I paused before I took the first sip. Something caught my attention: the plastic canister that the mix came in. Once I saw it empty, I realized there must be a perfect classroom use for it. It’s sturdy and tall and has rounded corners. I spent several minutes brainstorming ways I could use the canister in a classroom. To store game pieces? To hold math manipulatives? To organize center materials? The next thing I knew, I was wistfully thinking about the storage closet I had in my first-grade classroom. Over the years, I had stocked it with a generous supply of cardboard tubes, plastic containers, foam trays, and all kinds of things I could use for craft projects, games, and activities. To me, it was a gold mine of sorts. I wonder whether anyone else gets so excited about recycling things for classroom use.
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14 Responses to “I Can Use That!”
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More Comments Pages: [1] 2 » Show All Comments
I found Alphabits cereal on Amazon! I looked at stores in my local area and couldn’t find any. I had previously bought cereal online from Amazon so I thought I’d take a chance and i found them! You can buy several boxes at once to save for future use.
We always have an ongoing “save list” for all the families who attend our preschool, so we have plenty of containers of all kinds to use for projects and storage. Parents are happy to collect them and it teaches the children about the importance of recycling.
Ready-to-serve frosting containers work great for easel painting and the lids keep the paint from drying out or needing to be restocked or washed out often. They also work well as individual bubble pots. In the spring, we make a big batch of bubble solution and pour it into these to use on the playground. Just cut a small circle out of the top of the frosting container and preschoolers can easily dip their bubble blower in without spilling.
Save round, orange containers from dry gator aid mix and use them for musical instruments. Cut short pieces of wooden dowel and scrape them along the edge of the gator aid canister and it sounds just like a guiro. You can also make rainsticks from cardboard tubes and tambourines from cardboard bowls.
Empty liquid starch jugs make great scoops for toss & catch playground games. Old CDs have all kinds of uses in the classroom too. There are just so many fun things to do with old junk!
I loved reading about the Alphabits stories. I still haven’t found them! Recently, I found some alphabit pasta though. I’d been looking for either one for a long time!! I hugged them to my chest (must be a familiar reaction!) and immediately bought 3 boxes. Not only are they letters, the small size really works on small motor control!! Hooray for Meijers…..that’s where I found them.
Ranae,
You could use those Sonic drink carriers to store those lemonade containers talked about above to store. Those lemonade containers could also hold items (like seasonal erasers) to sort and make patterns. Just include a sample pattern to complete by inserting a card or simply with a permanent marker on the outside of container.
Hope this helps!
What appears to be trash to the untrained eye is treasure for a creative teacher. I never throw out a jello box, a plastic container, or much of anything else. The clear plastic spinach tubs that I buy at the discount bulk store have myriad uses.
I am constantly hoarding used containers for all kinds of things! Toilet paper rolls are great for making things like Christmas tree toppers, table decorations, and sand-shakers for music. The oatmeal I buy comes in a clear tub with a screw-lid, so I love to use these to store manipulatives or games with lots of pieces. Peanut butter jars can be found all over my classroom, too, filled with all sorts of things!
I would love to find those Alphabits. I thought they quit making them. As a K-1 teacher for 34 years I was so disappointed when our stores stopped carrying them. I just assumed they were not longer be produced. We always had fun with them in the fall doing all sorts of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom projects and word wall word games. I will keep looking for them in Midlothian Virginia. I too will probably buy several boxes and sing when I see them.
Jean,
I can’t believe there is someone out there who gets as excited over finding the Alphabits as I did. I have been looking in every store in my area for them with no luck in sight. The other day I was at a discount retailer and came across them. I purchased 5 boxes for my Kindergarten class. I always do a fun with food Friday activity and can’t wait to show them off.
I am wondering what to do with Sonic drink carriers. I know someone out there has a perfect use for these sturdy boxes.
Let me know!
This isn’t a new idea at all, however, I wanted to share the TEACHER experience. Our local Wal Mart hadn’t had Alphabits cereal for quite some time. While walking through the cereal aisle, I spotted the box! I grabbed the box and hugged to my chest with an excited squeal! My daughter, a college student, looked at me like I was from Mars!
We use those canister that Crystal Light or similar drink mixes come in to make pencil holders for Father’s Day. You can use scraps of tissue paper and paint them on with watered down glue. They come out pretty cute.
Yes!! I am continually coming up with new ways to use recycled materials and it is a way to feed the artist in me as well as to make a hands on project for my children at school. Right now I am thinking of using all the paper towel rolls that my husband so kindly gives me ( he supports my creativity:) and I believe I will use them in the spring to make little trees. Just need a shoe box with a hole in the top to put the main tube (trunk) in and add some toilet tubes for the branches spliced on and held together with masking tape. Take to school and each child can paint their trees and when dry glue on crumpled up pink tissue paper for ornamental plum blossoms-we have two of these trees that bloom every year in the school yard.
This kind of work continually feeds my subconscious and shows up in my own art work which is kept fresh and alive. Yeah for our old hunting and gathering natures!-