I constantly have manipulatives all over the place. Sometimes they’re in plastic baggies, sometimes plastic tubs from the store, sometimes they’re just in a bowl, and if the Teeny Tot’s been around they’re all over the floor! But I’ve come up with a solution, and it even means I don’t have to cook dinner which is AWESOME!
After ordering from a local BBQ restaurant this past weekend, I noticed that their plastic containers for their side dishes were the PERFECT size for storing manipulatives!
I washed them out well, and started sorting! They even come with handy little lids and they stack perfectly, which takes up less space! We only had 4 this time, so I’ll have to order out again soon as I have lot’s more to sort!
They work really well, and I like that they’re semi-transparent so you can see what’s inside. Now my daughter can just go grab any bucket she wants for her activities.
So the next time you order takeout, make sure to pay attention to their containers! Maybe you can re-cycle them into your homeschool room!
We get those same exact containers from the Chinese restaurant. I use them for little things & also for leftovers. Or to put kids snacks in if we are going somewhere.yay for Recycling!
That is an awesome container! We reuse the boxes from the deli meat for storing stuff, but your containers are more compact.
Yes I look at all the conatiners I have or get and think it it's something I can use. We like the plastic gerber baby food containers, for small beads and such. I have even asked some of my homeschool friends if they have any of a specific cotainer that they would typically throw out, to save it for me!!
Oh, the sacrifices we make to be organized…not cooking dinner…I guess you'll just have to do that a few more times… :0)
I do the exact same thing with the Chinese take out!! They are perfect!!I even ask them for their little plastic sauce containers so I can have small containers for sorting activities.
For some reason I am unable to email you. I would like to purchase your letter of the week curriculum, but I have some questions before I do. If you could email me so I can email you back that would be great. I'm not sure why its not letting me just email you when I push your email button. Thanks,Monica Monica@meridianpointchurch.com
For those mommas that can't afford to get enough take-out to get the containers, the restaurant may sell some to you super cheap.
I use the containers from the Hillshire Farms lunch meat. They are Gladlock containers with red lilds…I'll glady pay $2.50 for this lunch meat because I get the container afterwards!
We love to re-use containters from lots of items we purchase. We use plastic peanut butter jars for manipulatives, crayons, and more. We also buy Gerber baby food in the plastic rectangular containters and these are great for small things like googly eyes, paper clips, staples and so much more!
We do that too. For bigger things, like blocks, I used ice cream containers…those huge gallon ones. We got a bunch after our church ice cream social once. Here's a photo from my old blog when I did some reorganizing in 2008. http://joycelau319.xanga.com/photos/f2654210738340