What are Maker Bins?
Maker Bins are independent task boxes that give students opportunities to:
- Be creative
- Practice goal-setting
- Think critically
- Problem solve
- Practice writing skills
Maker Bins can be used for:
- Independent work activities
- Morning bins
- Classroom centers
- Fun Fridays
- Early finisher choices.
Maker Bins will give you and your students a soft start each day, so you can DITCH the morning work (that you dread making copies of) and provide students with engaging and meaningful activities instead!
Where should you start?
There are tons of Maker Bin options that you can use in your classroom. Here is a closer look at some of those options:
Maker Bin STEM labels and Task Cards
This resource includes STEM building material labels and task cards with building challenges. These activities will allow students to think creatively and problem solve. For these bins, STEM materials of your choice will be needed. Some of my students’ favorites are hashtag blocks and snap cubes!
Maker Bin Build It Bins
These building bins include direction cards and printable building pieces, as well as differentiated writing task cards to add to each bin. These bins do require prep because of the included printable pieces, but are well worth it. These are a student favorite!
Maker Bin Drawing Bins
Have students that like to express creativity through drawing? These directed drawing maker bins are also an easy print and go resource. Simply print, laminate, and add the drawing task cards, a dry erase marker, and an eraser to a small photo craft bin.
Maker Bin Dough Bins
Rolling and kneading dough can be wonderful for building fine motor skills and hand strength. Students can practice their fine motor skills by rolling “snakes” and “balls” to create the items on the themed dough task cards.
Maker Bin Pattern Block Bins
Pattern Block Maker Bins are a great way to incorporate math standards for geometry and counting/cardinality. You can even add a writing task card to each bin to extend student learning. All you need for these bins are some pattern blocks.
Maker Bin Snap Cube Bins
Do you use snap cubes for counting practice in your classroom? Students can combine creativity with counting practice using these snap cube maker bin activities. Just add some snap cubes!
How do you organize them? Do students choose?
It is entirely up to you if you want to rotate students amongst the materials in your classroom or let them choose.
If you want to allow for student choice, here is how you might organize your bins:
- Smaller individual bins can be taken back to student desks to work individually. For smaller bins/bins with printable pieces, you can use photo craft cases or pencil boxes. The bin cover can be attached with velcro dots or double sided tape.
- Larger materials can be put into tubs/larger bins and students can use these bins around the classroom. I allow up to three students to use materials together at the larger bins. For larger bins, you can put the task cards on loose leaf rings and add to the bins.
Why is learning through play so important?
Learning through play can connect both sides of the brain. The left side of the brain is the analytic side of the brain and the right side of the brain is the creative side. When we provide opportunities for these two sides of the brain connect through play/structured play, it increases children’s ability to learn new things. It is essentially opening their whole brain for learning!
These play opportunities also grow a child’s prefrontal cortex which allows them to be better plan makers, problem solvers, and helps them to regulate their emotions.
Maker bins are a great way to start the day with engagement and whole brain learning. Just a bonus that they can be used ALL YEAR LONG, YEAR AFTER YEAR!
