Click any of the links above to find a Unit Study that I've designed (and usually tried with my own kids) just for homeschool families like you! This is a work in progress, so none of the units are completely finished, but hopefully you can find something you can use with your own family!

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Quiet Boxes for Independent Play

 

What is a Quiet Box? Quiet Time Bins are packed with items/activities that a young child can use to entertain him/herself during times of quiet or rest. They are activities that are fun but also go along with what you’re learning during your regular “school” time.

You can store them any way you want: in large plastic bins, in pencil boxes, in plastic baggies, or in sheet protectors. Put 4 or 5 together for the child to choose from during “nap” time or “quiet” time and rotate them out each day or each week. Be sure the child knows how to do each activity independently before leaving them to explore on their own! Here is a great post that may answer any other questions about Busy Bags/ Quiet Boxes.

What can I put in my Quiet Boxes? Here is a gigantic list! These would work well for preschool age up to kindergarten (2-5 or so).

 

Numbers & Math

Pattern Blocks w/ Patterns

Number Pattern Block Cards

Do-a-Dot Number Worksheets

Number Play-Doh Mats

Special Card Game or Memory Game

Milk Cap Numbers & Animal Counting Sheets

Clothespin Number Wheel

Geoboard w/ Rubber Bands (only after you’ve introduced it in Math)

Ice Cube Tray w/ Numbers & Beads

Patterning Grids w/ stickers (only after introducing the concept in Math)

Dominoes

Number Beads & Pipe Cleaners

Linking Cubes

Coin Sorting

 

Sorting, Colors & Shapes

Paint Chips w/ Colored Paper Clips to sort

Race Car Shapes

Bear Counters for counting/ sorting in different colored cups

Shape Sorting w/ Large Buttons

Shape Stencils cut out of craft foam w/ markers & paper

Shape Tracing Worksheet w/ small stickers to outline shapes

Pom Pom Sorting w/ Tweezers & Ice Cube Tray

Color Junk Sort or Medicine Container Color Sorting

Sparkly Jewel Sorting

 

Puzzles & Building Sets

Build-a-Rainbow Felt Set

Build-a-Cupcake Felt Set

Build-a-Snowman Felt Set

Build-a-Robot Felt Set

Butterfly Symmetry

Craft Stick Puzzles

“Getting Dressed” Dolls w/ Magnets

Lauri Stacking Pegs

Dry Erase Eye-Spy Game

Duplo Blocks Counting & Tower Matching

Lego Puzzle Book

Foam Block Puzzles

Store-Bought Puzzles

Toy Matching Game

 

Handwriting/ Language

Mini Chalkboard & Chalk

Small notebook w/ crayons, stickers & scissors

Paint w/ water book or small coloring book & crayons

Travel-sized Aqua-Doodle

ABC Play-Doh Mats (if you dare leave your child alone with Play-Doh!)

ABC Pattern Block Cards

ABC Dot Marker Pages (or use with pom pom magnets)

A to Z Clothespin Cards

Mini Etch-a-Sketch

Alphabet Match-Up w/ Letter Magnets & cookie sheet

Magnetic letter tiles with small cookie sheet & list of spelling words

Dry-Erase Pre-Writing Cards or Letter Tracing Cards

Large Alphabet Lacing Cards

ABC Fishing

Foam Letter Builder Strips

Winter Dot- Marker Pages OR Spring Dot-Marker Pages

Small books to read

 

 

Fine Motor Skills

Mr. Potato Head (or try a Felt Mr. Potato Head)

Magnetic Personalities or store-bought magnetic paper dolls

Nuts, Bolts & Washers

Lacing Cards

Lacing Beads or Pasta w/ holes (add twine or yarn to make necklaces)

Pipe Cleaners in a Colander

Button Snakes

 

 

Creative Exploration

Silly Putty

Little Scientist Busy Bag (mini flashlight, tweezers, notebook & pencil, mini camera,  magnifying glass, plastic bugs in a cup, mini compass, etc.)

Mini Office Busy Bag (calculator, non-working cell phone, toy keys, notepad & pens, watch, etc.)

Small Finger Puppets or stuffed animals

Wooly Willy

Toy Cars w/ small construction signs

DIY Felt Laptop

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