Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow, when we’re all allowed out again, take a trip to your local pound store where dreams really do come true. I love resources which can be used in lots of different ways, don’t have pre-defined uses, and which are cheap or free! So I’ve collated a few of my favourites and would like to share with you how I use them in my classroom. This is definitely not an exhaustive list; I have kept it to 5 options for each item.

TOP 10

1. Cupcake Tin

• CVC word building (as photo)

• One digit addition or subtraction (turn the tray landscape)

• Stretching elastic bands over the sections for fine motor and hand-eye co-ordination (turn the tray upside down)

• Adding a requested number of objects into each section for 1:1 counting

• Mud kitchen/ Woodland kitchen continuous provision

2. Fish bowl

• Storing loose parts (as photo)

• Sorting objects by initial sound. I usually put out three bowls labelled with the sounds of the week with a mixture of objects beginning with those sounds

• Sharing between two (or more)

• Filling with battery operated fairy lights for a magical, calming effect (my favourite use!)

• DIY terrarium

3. Green Flexi tub

• Holding larger loose parts or larger quantities of loose parts

• A manageable and easy-to-carry container for transporting, or filling and emptying in the gravel pit

• Storing water play resources - drill a few holes in the bottom for drainage and hang on a fence using an S hook

• Story buckets - include the book and characters or masks from the story

• Writing buckets - fill with different mark making implements, paper, card, and place in any of the areas of learning in your classroom

4. Spray Bottles

• ‘Spray the…’ Using chalk, write words, letters or numbers on a wall or the ground and ask the children to spray a given word or number

• Fill with watery paint and create a piece of art

• Calming down strategy - ask the child to go and spray the plants outside - also a very important job!

• Car races - children need to spray the back bumper of their toy car to make it move, he who sprays fastest, wins!

• Misting your outdoor plants rather than watering them - when one wants to water the plants, they all want to and plants can end up water logged, so try this way instead

5. Clips

• Den making - clipping material to a frame/ two chairs

• Make shift clipboards - cardboard, paper, and two clips

• Attaching paper to your easel (why do these clips always go missing?)

• Picking up items (similar to tweezer use)

• If you cover your tough trays overnight or between sessions use these to clip your tarpaulin down so it doesn’t blow off

6. Willow Garden Border

• Loose parts (as photo) for the children to access freely and add to their construction

• Counting sticks - bundles of 5, 10 and singles

• Transient art - part of a selection of resources offered to the children to create their masterpieces

• Making shapes - both 2D and 3D - using these sticks and masking tape

• Creating stick people

7. Mini Chopping Board

• Home corner resource

• Individual playdough/ clay/ salt dough boards

• Transient art board

• Each child in a group can have their own when preparing food for smoothies, soup, sandwiches etc

• Used to show how many children can work at a table or workspace defining individual areas

8. Seedling Planting Tray (12 in a pack)

• Planting - obviously - it’s really good value as you get 12 pots in the tray

• Filling and emptying in the sand tray, gravel pit, or water tray - watch the water or sand escape through the holes in the bottom

• Threading dried spaghetti or pipe cleaners through the holes in the bottom for fine motor

• Counting pots - adding the correct amount to the pot

• Stack upside-down and knockdown with a beanbag, small foam ball or spray bottle!

9. Jute

• Use to hang up your bird or butterfly feeder (instructions here)

• Tie pots, pans and tin cans between two trees or two fence posts for children to make music by hitting with a stick

• Thread beads or pasta to make a necklace or friendship bracelet

• Weaving - wrap around a piece of cardboard and weave nature treasures in and out of the string

• Macrame wall hangings

10. Cardboard Cups

• Make a windchime by turning the cup upside down and hanging sticks (or other found treasures) from the rim of the cup; make holes and use jute to hang!

• Home Corner enhancement - takeaway coffee like Mum or Dad

• Fairy light bunting - pierce a hole in the bottom of the cup and poke individual lights through each one

• Fathers/ Mothers day gifts - Best Dad/ Mum trophy. Create by sticking the base of two cups together and adding cardboard handles

• DIY advent calendar - punch two holes in each cup, number 1-25, string together, fill with goodies et voila!