What kind of tools will your students need if we end up learning at home?
Just in case…right?!
Create a bag full of the good stuff kids need to learn! Stuff a bag full of all the hands on tools that you will be using during the school day. Keep the bag ready to go just in case you get word that the typical school day is being moved to home.
Listen, I’m a teacher and a mom of 3 kids. We have tons of craft “stuff”…lol! But I will be honest, the markers are dry, the crayons are broken, and our water colors all look like a different shade of brown. LOL. Ok, so I might be exaggerating.
But let’s be honest, the supplies that kids have at home are not the same as what you would use in your classroom!
How to decide what to include
Look at your lesson plans! Consider the important parts of your day and the tools that you typically pull out for learning. The supplies in kindergarten might look different than the supplies in a 3rd grade class.
Basic Parts of a Day in “your class” and tools that go along with it…
This example is for Kindergarten
- Fine Motor Bins – scissors, paper strips for tear art, playdough, pop beads, chain links, plastic tweezers, glue, bingo dotter.
- Morning Meeting – no tools necessary
- Daily 5 (all parts) – letter cards, sight word list, decodable reader, highlighter, finger pointer for reading and tracking.
- Reading – QR Codes for parents to hide around the house to scan for your read alouds.
- Writer’s Workshop – a couple blank books, QR Codes for the stories you will use to introduce your current and next Writer’s Workshop Project, crayons, pencils.
- Math – unifix cubes, chain links, fun counters, playdough, pack of skittles
- Handwriting – Fun grip, handwriting paper
Decide what tools you want to include in a bag or folder. Also decide where the tools will come from.
- Parents Help Supply the Go Bag- instead of a lengthy school supply list, why not asking parents to supply the items you need for your “Go Bag”! When you get the items have parent volunteers stuff them for you.
- Pull out all your old Classroom Manipulatives – just put a handful of each kind you prefer into each “Go Bag”
- PTO/PTA – ask your parent teacher group to help you supply some of the tools needed for your “Go Bag”
- Extra Junk!!! – I recently moved and can honestly tell you I had more junk in my classroom than I realized (and I’m so not a hoarder!) Pull out the old stuff that was handed down to you and use it!
Start Stuffing!
The bag – I’ve seen different teachers using gallon or 2.5 gallon zip bags, canvas totes, drawstring bags, it’s really your preference.
Lots of my teacher friends are posting their own version of “Go Bags”. Check out Marsha McGuire from Differentiated Kindergarten’s Fine Motor Home Take Home Kits. If you teach kindergarten you know the importance of fine motor work!
My favorite idea that I’ve seen so far is these plain canvas tote bags that your students can decorate. You can easily decorate these bags with crayons, markers, and paint. If you use acrylic paint they can even be washed and the design will stay on! A handprint from the beginning of the year would make a great keepsake that both parents and kids will love!
Put out the supplies and start stuffing. You can ask a parent volunteer to help. If you are starting school face-to-face I suggest filling it slowly as you show your students how to use each supply correctly! Let them play first, work second, stuff it in the bag third! This will make it more meaningful for the kids!
Grab and Go Bags will help your students enjoy hands on learning from home. The last thing we want is for primary students to be in front of a computer all day! Let them be little, let them have fun, let them be curious and excited about learning!
Enjoy Being Their Difference!
