Even though we live in a technology driven world, it’s still so important for our primary aged kids to have hands-on learning experiences. If you need some fun and engaging activities for your students to work on independently then you’re going to love these Hands-On Challenge Kits! They are absolute game changers for the classroom! Below I’m sharing 5 ways to use Hands-On Challenge Kits with your students.
Here are 5 Ways To Use Hands-On Challenge Kits In Your Classroom:
1. Indoor Recess
Let’s just be honest, indoor recess can be a struggle for all involved! We know our kids greatly benefit from having outside recess, but on the dreary days when the weather keeps us inside we need a good alternative! Hands-On Challenge Kits are the perfect solution for indoor recess!
The monthly Indoor Recess Kits will revolutionize your indoor recess time! The fun building, drawing, and creating activities in the kits will have your students actually looking forward to rainy days and keep them engaged the entire time! Which means you’ll no longer dread indoor recess time too. Now, that’s a win-win to me!
Just change out the cards each month! Your students will be so excited for the new challenges!
2. Morning Work
I wish I had learned sooner to keep my morning work simple and consistent. For too many years I was scurrying around last minute trying to come up with brand new morning work to keep my students engaged.
The morning time can be crazy! We’re welcoming students, checking papers, taking attendance, trying to trouble-shoot technology issues, listening to stories about what our students did over the weekend, answering the ringing phone from the secretary asking for lunch count because we forgot to turn it in….and the list goes on. Phew! As teachers we really don’t need one more thing to do!
Using Hands-On Challenge Kits as morning work makes the morning time run so much smoother! When students have a set routine to look forward to each morning, it just helps everything else start on a positive note.
The best part is that these kits are low prep! Once you have them set up, the supplies stay the same all year long. You just need to change out the cards weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to keep students engaged! Any of the kits can work for morning work! There are fun non-seasonal themed kits like Zoo, Dinosaurs, and Pets or you can choose the seasonal monthly themed kits. Or you can tie the activities into what you are learning by using content based kits like Letters & Numbers or Science & Health!
3. Centers
Easy to prep, yet highly engaging activities–now that is my kind of center work! These Hands-On Challenge Kits work great for center time. You can use the Letters and Phonics kits for literacy centers. The Shapes and Numbers kits for math centers. And the Science & Health kits are great for adding some fun themes into your centers that tie into the content you are teaching!
Play is important work and these kits allow your students to learn without realizing that they are doing work! Once you start using them for centers, you’ll never look back!
4. Fast Finishers
We all have them–those sweet students that always seem to get done with their work so darn fast! I can’t tell you how many times I thought I had planned enough activities to keep students independently working. But some kids are just born with the gift of speed and can finish their work in a blink of the eye.
I don’t like giving my early finishers busy work. And while I’m all for extra independent reading time, sometimes it’s nice to have some other meaningful activities at your fingertips ready to go!
Say goodbye to your fast finisher problems by training your students to get out their Hands-On Challenge Kit when they are finished with their work. These kits are not only easy to use, but they also have so many great benefits! The kits allow students to explore, create, and be innovative. They encourage problem solving and screen-free learning. They also allow students to strengthen their fine motor skills. Plus, they are fun and students love doing them!
5. Anytime You Need Them
Do your kids need a brain break? Set the timer and let them use their Hands-On Challenge Kits!
Have a few extra minutes before you need to line up for specials? Have students tackle one of the challenges in their kit!
Did you get ready for dismissal time too early and now have ten minutes before the bell rings? Hands-On Challenge Kits are easy to get out and clean up!
These kits are an incredible tool to have in your classroom and can truly be used in so many ways!
Keep Students Engaged With Hands-On Challenge Kits!
Hands-On Challenge Kits are absolute lifesavers for centers, indoor recess, morning work, fast finishers, or anytime you have a few extra minutes. These kits will keep your students engaged and working independently the whole time!
The beauty of these kits is that they are low prep and easy to maintain! By having the materials stay the same throughout the year the only thing you’ll need to do is change out the cards. Changing out the cards weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly keeps students excited and engages so that they don’t lose interest with the kit.
Once you use them in your classroom, you’ll be hooked and wish you would have started using them sooner! Click HERE to see all of the different themed kits and topics available!
If you’re wondering where the best place is to get the supplies, you can click HERE to read about the best places to get your supplies!
Try The Space Hands-On Challenge Kit For FREE!
Want to try it out? Fill the form out below to grab this Space themed hands-on challenge kit for FREE! Your students will LOVE using the 24 challenges in the kit! The activities are truly out of this world! 😉
Leave a Reply