Science Boxes: Getting Started

One of the weakest areas in my classroom used to be science. I had a science center but I wanted to do something else. I bought some plastic shoe boxes from WalMart for under a dollar each. I bought the Sterilite plastic 6 Qt./5.7 boxes found in the organization area. You can probably find clear boxes at other stores. Just make sure that they have a flat lid to attach the label. See the flat area in the picture?

We made some really cute labels to put on the boxes.
You can purchase our labels here. (coming soon)


I ran the labels off on Avery White Full Sheet Labels (5165). I love these labels. You can make any shape into a sticker by using these labels. You can find them in any office supply store.

After I ran off the labels, I covered them with clear Contac paper for added durability. You can also cold laminate them. Do not run them through your heat laminator as it will mess up your sticky side.  I know this from experience.  

Each sheet has 5 labels: one large label for the lid, 2 small labels for the ends and 2 longer labels for the sides. You box will be labeled on each side. 

Here are the first ones that we made.

  Then we found and made some activities to go into each box. The boxes were placed on a shelf for the students to use during center time. 

We found out that we had to train the students to use the boxes. We showed them each activity inside the box and told them how to use it and also how to clean it up. 

Here are our rules:

1. Only one person at a time can use a box.

2. After opening the box, the lid is placed underneath it. We had them put the lid with the label facing up because there is a place where the box fits in. 

3. They could only take out one activity at a time.

4. They were responsible for cleaning up the box and putting it back on the shelf.

5. If the rules are not followed, they will lose their privilege for the rest of the day. (We did this because if you have a lot of boxes and things started getting left out, you will have a mess.) Again, I know this from experience!

Check back soon. We are going to show what we put into each box.