I love home improvement stores. (No doubt, it’s because my home needs a lot of improvement.) I go into them frequently enough to know exactly where to find, say, an orbital sander. Oh yes. I have power tools, and I know how to use them.
It’s amazing what you can find in home improvement stores that can help you in the classroom! Here’s an article with a great list of items, but the list is by no means exhaustive. After all, there’s a lot of stuff in those stores! Personally, I would add
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Washers, bolts, and nuts in different sizes. Use them for sorting and for work with magnets. Students could also screw nuts onto bolts for fine-motor work!
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Drywall tape. This is drywall tape, and it’s adhesive—like a big sticker! Put it in your art center for youngsters to experiment with.
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Empty paint cans. The quart size ones are perfect for storing markers, colored pencils, or scissors.
What classroom items have you found in home improvement stores?