Save Those Boxes!

Believe it or not, boxes of all shapes and sizes come in handy in the classroom. Not only can boxes be used as storage, but they can be transformed into games. For example, I like to save tissue boxes or cube-shaped boxes to make dice. Dice can be used for any independent work activity where students can be given a choice (see examples below). All you need to do is wrap the box in colorful paper or images and write the choices on each face. There are many ways dice can be used and who doesn't get a thrill out of being able to roll a colorful box around on the floor or table?

Here are some of my ideas on how to use dice:
1) Summary Cube - Many teacher stores sell these, but why pay the prices they charge in those stores when you can make your own? Use a summary cube to give students practice retelling their favorite stories from read alouds or guided reading. Write the names of stories or parts of a story (as pictured above) on each face of the cube. When a student rolls a story, he/she must retell the entire story or one part of the story to a friend.

2) Write Dice - Put writing topics on each face of the cube. Students must write a poem, story, joke, etc. about whichever topic they roll.

3) Silly Stories - You can even extend the Write Dice activity to include multiple dice. Each die can represent a different aspect of a story (characters, setting, problem, solution). Students roll each die and then have to "sew" the parts together to come up with a silly story.

You get the idea - you can use dice for lots of different activities (sight word reading, rhyming, alliteration, math problems, vocabulary. What activities can you dream up? When you can make ordinary activities feel like games, you can really motivate students (and yourself). Don't be afraid to be creative!