A child's drawing of the "Dad Olympics"

The image above is called "Dad's Olympic Gymnastics" by the young artist who created it on a paper placemat.

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Soap Box Cuisennaire Rods (Bubbly Blocks)
 

Curriculum Areas: Math, social studies, science

Appropriate Ages: 12 months and up

Activity: Using the boxes that bar soap comes in, make blocks for children to use.

  1. Collect multiple boxes of the same size.
  2. Stuff each empty box with newspaper to make it sturdy.
  3. Use individual boxes as a "unit". Determine a color of contact paper to serve as the color for all of the one block unit.
  4. Use two and three individual boxes to make two-unit and three-unit blocks. Determine a color of contact paper to serve as the color for all two-unit blocks. Do the same for three-unit blocks.

For older children the blocks can serve much like cuisennaire rods. For younger children, the blocks serve the same purpose as more expensive wooden unit blocks.

Resource Article:

National Association for the Education of Young Children. Block Play: Building a Child's Mind. October 23, 1998. April 24, 2000. <http://www.naeyc.org/resources/eyly/1997/04.htm>