All you need is a box

A great way to ignite your students’ curiosity and expand their imagination!

We spent quite a bit of time exploring different ways you can use a box in our classroom.  Of course, if you haven’t read the book “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis then you might not understand that any box you may have around is really not a box…

 

Introducing a Story

“Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis is a simply illustrated book about using one’s imagination to consider what else a box could be…

Gathering Materials

I started collecting boxes all throughout the summer so I had put together a nice assortment of empty boxes before school started this year to share with the children…

Expanding on the Story

After reading our story, I had each child go and select 2 boxes (I had saved way more than I really needed) and then we did a little imagining of our own to decide what could be done or made if we put all of our boxes together…

Using Trial and Error

We worked together to build a tall tower. This was no easy task because we had to figure out which boxes were largest to smallest as the tower got higher and higher and we had to make sure our boxes were balanced well so they wouldn’t fall over…

Promoting Teamwork

Our tower got so high that we had to bring over the step ladder to try and reach the very top of our tower…

In fact, our tower got so high that no one could reach the very top except Mrs. Courtney.  She even had to use the step ladder, too!…

Other Discoveries

We also discovered a box just might be a bridge to walk across…

Or a box might just be a chair you can sit on…

Or a box might just be a footstool you can stand on…

Or a box might just be a brick you can build castles with…

Expanding their Imagination

The children explored all the empty boxes during our center time and then we took them all outside to play a simple relay game…

Which I will share in my next post!  Now, what else could we build with all of these boxes?

Available on Amazon

Link to “Sitting in My Box” is a Kindle edition

Links to Grow on

A Story in a Box

The Little Box Carpenter 

Pizza Box Games

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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