Inexpensive ways to stretch the classroom budget...
The Thrifty Teacher
Here at Teaching Through Nature, we understand that as educators, we want the best for our students. We want the best manipulatives and the best materials to make our lessons and activities extraordinary. However, as educators, we also understand that the best materials and manipulatives are expensive, and often too much for our wallets.
Let Miss Abby and I share with you the many ways that you can be a Thrifty Teacher like us!
Thrifty Teaching Strategies: Inexpensive Ways to Stretch Your Classroom Budget
If your classroom is anything like ours, squeeze pouch caps have become a very popular snack among students. Most of our students bring 2 or 3 pouches in their lunch boxes daily. When we realized that we were throwing nearly 40 pouch caps away every day, we decided to figure out thrifty teacher activities that could utilize these caps for learning.
We let our students know that we were collecting the caps and set up a small labeled box. Our students were very eager to add their caps to the box, and as it filled up, they became enthralled with the number of caps and their varied colors. This initiative not only helped reduce waste but also provided a fun, engaging way to manage our classroom budget tips.
But what to do with the caps?
Counters
Sorting and Graphing
Use the caps as counters for 10 frames and counting mats.
Sorting and Graphing
Sorting and Graphing
Our students love sorting the caps by color.
Using tongs/tweezers with the sorting activity helps students build fine-motor skills.
I sometimes include graphing sheets to the sorting activity.
It allows the students to visually determine more and less in regard to the cap colors more easily.
Addition & Subtraction
We have used the caps for simple addition and subtraction activities.
To play the Uno Addition Game, you will need:
Uno cards (cards 1-6, in 2 colors)
egg carton
pouch caps (in the 2 card colors)
Directions:
Step 1: Make 2 piles of cards ( one pile for each color)
Step 2: Have the student draw a card from one pile, count out that many colored pouch caps, and line them in the egg carton.
Step 3: Have the student draw a card from the other pile, count out that many colored pouch caps, and line them in the egg carton.
Step 4: Have your student count the total number of pouch caps in their egg carton.
This activity allows the student to add the two sums together with visual aid from the pouch caps.
Patterning
We created simple pattern cards utilizing the colors of the caps, and it has been a huge hit in our math center.
Lacing
The caps work wonderfully as a no-cost lacing bead alternative, and we have had several creative students use the caps with pipe cleaners to make beautiful bracelets and necklaces.
Stamping
Pouch caps can be used for stamping. They work well with both paint and ink pads.
Playdough Fun
Our students like to use the caps for stamping, rolling, and as accessories for their playdough creations.
Sensory Fun
The caps make an easy and fun addition to the sensory table.
They can be used in water, sand, shaving cream, rice, etc.
They are great for scooping, filling cups and containers, and make a great fine-motor activity when using tongs.
Music Fun
We have used the caps in boxes and containers to shake and make noise!
Weight & Measurement
Weight & Measurement
The caps make excellent manipulatives for non-standard measurement activities and are a great accessory to counting bears and scale activities.
Building
Weight & Measurement
Dramatic Play
A container of caps makes a great addition to the block area! Students can use them to build towers, ramps, caves, fences, and the list goes on!
In the literacy center, students can use the caps to “build” numbers and letters (uppercase and lowercase) using our alphabet and number mats.
Dramatic Play
Weight & Measurement
Dramatic Play
We must give credit for this use of the caps to our very creative and imaginative students.
They like to use the caps as ingredients in their kitchen; in a pot all together as soup, as pretend candy, and sorted by color for strawberries, blueberries, peas, etc.
Final Thrifty Thoughts
If your classroom is anything like ours, squeeze pouch caps have become a very popular snack among students. Most of our students bring 2 or 3 pouches in their lunch boxes daily. When we realized that we were throwing nearly 40 pouch caps away every day, we decided to figure out thrifty teacher activities that could utilize these caps for learning.
We let our students know that we were collecting the caps and set up a small labeled box. Our students were very eager to add their caps to the box, and as it filled up, they became enthralled with the number of caps and their varied colors. This initiative not only helped reduce waste but also provided a fun, engaging way to manage our classroom budget tips.
