How to Put Together Theme Boxes for the Classroom

Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

8 Jun 201906:26

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Jeff from 'Teaching Two and Three-Year-Olds' shares how his preschool organizes and stores theme-related materials using labeled, clear containers. These boxes, used by all classrooms, contain items like printables, art supplies, and activity pieces, making setup for themes easy and resourceful. Jeff explains how materials like laminated circle-time activities are kept organized in bags to avoid loss, and how age-appropriate materials are divided into junior and senior boxes. This system saves time, reduces costs, and keeps the preschool organized for year-round use.

Takeaways

📦 Teachers organize materials using themed boxes, which are shared among classrooms.
🔍 Themed boxes help avoid scavenger hunts through storage rooms when setting up for a theme.
♻️ Reusing old materials in themed boxes allows teachers to be resourceful and avoid unnecessary purchases.
🗂 Themed boxes are labeled and stored with a clear lid so teachers can easily identify contents.
📚 Printables and smaller activity pieces are placed in labeled Ziploc bags to prevent loss.
🎨 Each box contains materials like coloring pages, playdough mats, and sponges, organized for easy access.
👶 Themed boxes are divided into junior and senior categories for different age groups (e.g., 2-3-year-olds vs. pre-K).
📖 Science books related to the theme are stored in a separate section of the preschool library.
🎒 The storage system isn't always perfectly neat but is efficient enough for teachers to quickly retrieve items.
💬 The creator encourages viewers to ask questions via email, which may be answered in future videos.

Q & A

Why did the teacher start using themed boxes?
-The teacher started using themed boxes to avoid scavenger hunts through the storage room and make it easier to organize and find materials for classroom themes.
How do themed boxes benefit the entire preschool?
-Themed boxes benefit the entire preschool by allowing different classrooms to share materials, saving time and resources, as teachers can easily access and reuse items.
Why does the teacher prefer clear containers for themed boxes?
-The teacher prefers clear containers because they allow staff to quickly see what's inside and how full the box is, making it easier to locate materials.
What strategy is used to keep small items organized within the themed boxes?
-Small items, like printables and activity pieces, are kept organized by placing them in Ziploc bags to prevent them from getting lost in the storage room.
How are the themed materials categorized for different age groups?
-Themed materials are categorized into 'junior boxes' for younger students (two and three-year-olds) and 'senior boxes' for pre-K classes to ensure age-appropriate materials.
Where are books related to classroom themes stored?
-Books related to classroom themes are stored in the preschool library, categorized by subject, making it easy to access them when setting up a themed unit.
What types of materials are typically placed in the themed boxes?
-Themed boxes typically include laminated printables, play-doh mats, light table pieces, coloring pages, bulletin board borders, sponges, cookie cutters, decorations, and counting activities.
How does organizing with themed boxes save resources?
-Organizing with themed boxes saves resources by allowing teachers to reuse materials year after year instead of constantly buying new supplies.
What additional features are considered for storage organization?
-Themed boxes are stackable, and labels are used to easily identify the theme, while different sections are designated for junior and senior classrooms to accommodate different age groups.
How does the teacher handle frequently asked questions from other educators?
-The teacher addresses frequently asked questions by responding via email or including answers in her videos, offering practical tips for organizing and using classroom materials.

Outlines

00:00

📦 Organizing Theme-Related Materials for Preschool

In this paragraph, Jeff discusses a common challenge faced in preschool settings: organizing and storing theme-related materials. He explains how for a long time, it was chaotic, with staff having to search for scattered materials. However, about four years ago, they adopted the idea of using themed boxes. These boxes not only serve Jeff's class but are shared among all classrooms in the preschool, allowing for efficient reuse of materials. Jeff emphasizes the importance of being resourceful, as reusing items year after year saves time and money.

05:00

🗂️ How to Set Up a Themed Box

Jeff goes into detail on how to put together a themed box. He suggests using clear containers with lids, sourced from the Container Store, for easy identification and stacking. Each box is labeled for quick access, such as 'fall leaves and acorns.' For smaller items like printables and circle-time activities, he advises placing them in Ziploc bags to keep everything organized. He further demonstrates how various items such as light table pieces, crayon rubbings, coloring pages, and decorations are neatly stored in these boxes. Themed books are stored in a separate library area but are easy to retrieve based on categorized subjects.

🎒 Organizing for Different Age Groups

Jeff admits that the storage room doesn't always stay neat, given the number of teachers using it. However, the system of clearly labeled boxes ensures that everyone can find what they need. For popular themes, they divide the materials into separate boxes for different age groups, such as a 'junior box' for two- and three-year-olds and a 'senior box' for pre-K students. This ensures that the materials are age-appropriate and tailored to the developmental needs of different classes. Jeff closes by encouraging viewers to ask questions and subscribe for more tips.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Theme Boxes

Theme boxes are storage containers used to organize classroom materials related to specific themes. In the video, the speaker describes how their preschool uses these boxes to group all resources for a particular theme, making it easy for teachers to find and reuse materials without constantly buying new supplies.

💡Resourcefulness

Resourcefulness refers to the ability to make the most out of available materials. The speaker emphasizes the importance of teachers being resourceful by reusing items from previous years instead of purchasing new ones, thus saving time and money while maintaining an organized classroom environment.

💡Labeling

Labeling involves marking storage boxes with clear tags to identify their contents. In the video, the teacher highlights the importance of labeling theme boxes, such as 'Fall Leaves and Acorns,' to make it easier for teachers to identify what’s inside each container and where to find the necessary materials.

💡Circle-Time Activity

Circle-time activities are group exercises typically done during preschool classes. The speaker uses the example of a laminated circle-time activity stored in a Ziploc bag, explaining how keeping all the pieces together ensures that the activity can be reused year after year without losing parts.

💡Ziploc Bags

Ziploc bags are used to store smaller items, such as printables and activity pieces, to keep them organized within the theme boxes. The speaker demonstrates how they place individual components of activities, like circle-time pieces, into Ziploc bags to prevent them from getting lost.

💡Shared Storage

Shared storage refers to a common area used by multiple teachers or classrooms to store materials. In the video, the speaker explains how their preschool’s storage room is shared by all teachers, so organizing materials in clear, labeled theme boxes helps ensure everyone can quickly find what they need.

💡Laminated Materials

Laminating materials is the process of covering them with a protective layer to extend their usability. The video mentions laminated circle-time activities, highlighting how this method helps preserve materials, allowing them to be reused for several years without wear and tear.

💡Age-Appropriate Materials

Age-appropriate materials refer to educational resources tailored to suit specific age groups. The speaker mentions creating 'junior' and 'senior' theme boxes to provide materials appropriate for different developmental levels, such as younger students (2-3 years old) versus pre-K classes.

💡Preschool Library

A preschool library is a collection of books organized by subject or theme. The speaker discusses how their preschool keeps books related to specific themes in a separate library section, allowing teachers to easily find relevant books for classroom activities when setting up for a theme.

💡Play-Doh Mats

Play-Doh mats are tools used in fine motor activities for preschool students. In the video, the speaker mentions adding Play-Doh mats to the theme boxes as part of the materials used for hands-on activities related to specific themes like fall, helping children develop their motor skills while engaging with the theme.

Highlights

The challenge of organizing and storing theme-related materials before using a systematic approach.

Introduction of 'themed boxes' as a solution for organizing classroom materials four years ago.

The entire preschool benefits from these themed boxes, as multiple classrooms can share materials efficiently.

Themed boxes save time by having all the materials in one place, avoiding the need to purchase new items.

Themed boxes are made from clear containers from the Container Store, allowing visibility of the contents.

Each themed box is labeled clearly for easy identification, preventing clutter and confusion in the storage room.

Printables and laminated materials are stored in Ziploc bags within the themed boxes to avoid losing pieces.

Circle-time activities, such as laminated items, are stored in bags within the themed boxes for reuse year after year.

Various types of learning materials, such as light table pieces, crayon rubbings, and coloring pages, are also stored in the themed boxes.

Smaller items like leaf-shaped sponges, coloring pages, and other loose items are organized into bags to keep them tidy.

Each themed box contains not only craft items but also bulletin board borders, cookie cutters, and play-doh mats.

Books related to the theme are stored in the preschool library, categorized by subject for easy access.

Themed boxes are divided into 'junior' and 'senior' categories, depending on the age group they are intended for.

Some themes are popular enough to warrant separate bins for different age groups, ensuring the materials are age-appropriate.

The storage system, while not always neat, ensures that materials are easy to find and reuse, increasing efficiency and resourcefulness.