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Busy Box

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:

Busy Box

Lesson plan developed by Aurora Tollestrup BS Ed.

Age Group:

Preschool

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with school-age children.

Objectives:  

Children will:

• create using open-ended materials.

CDA Competency Standard:   

II.5.2a

• Materials and equipment stimulate children’s thinking and problem-solving
  • ​​​a) Materials and equipment provide a variety of opportunities for cognitive development

Busy Box

Materials: 

• Small tool box

• assorted items such as bolts, nuts, washers, straws, pebbles, cardboard tubes, styrofoam pieces, rubber bands, bottle caps, paper clips, clothespins, corks, etc.

Procedure: 

• Invite children to create anything they would like using the materials in the box.
  
• Keep the busy box on its own table where children have ample room to create.
  
• It may be helpful to have books or photos of possible creations or inspirations.

Assessment: 

• Assess the children in their problem-solving and adaptations using the provided items.

Online Early Childhood Education

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Student-Led Dramatic Play Centers

Flowers
Create a flower shop with artificial flowers, plastic vases, butcher paper to wrap bouquets, cash register, aprons, order forms

Animals 
Create a veterinary clinic with stuffed puppies, kittens, birds, bunnies, mice, etc. along with toy stethoscope, bandages, thermometers and more

Dinosaurs
Create a dinosaur dig site with toy dinosaur bones covered in sand or dirt along with paintbrushes, safari hats, vests, clipboards with paper and pencils, gauze to wrap the unearthed bones with

Fishing
Create a lake from blue paper taped to the ground, cardboard fish cut outs with magnets, toy fishing poles with paper clips on the ends, a fisherman’s vest, and a net

Gift Giving
Create a giftwrapping station with empty boxes, tape, safety scissors, wrapping paper and tissue paper

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