Using morning tubs is an easy way to begin the day for upper elementary students with a soft start. Morning tubs give students a variety of choices for their morning routines while also keeping students engaged and thinking critically. Morning tubs give students a chance to move around the classroom and adjust before beginning a long day. With a few easily accessible materials, you can create morning tubs and easily store them in your classroom.
Mornings in the classroom can be a busy time. Students may arrive at different times, papers are being handed in, backpacks are emptied, lunches are being counted, jobs are being done, and more. Setting up routines in the morning is an important way to help students adjust and know what to expect when they enter the classroom. Having a soft start to the day can help the rest of the day run smoothly and using morning tubs is the perfect way to accomplish this.
A soft start allows students a choice in their morning routine with more creative options than traditional morning work. The flexibility is ideal for students that may arrive later than others and the variety allows students that arrive early to remain engaged. Students become focused for the day through their choice activities.
Morning tub activities should be something that students can easily clean up so that when the day begins, they can put the tubs away without disrupting the rest of the morning routine. Using small bins to store materials makes it easy for students to grab activities and find a place around the classroom to work. As other students enter, they can join students that are already in progress or find another tub to work with. The wonderful part about morning tubs is that there is no beginning or end; students can join in and not feel they have missed something and there is no work to be handed in. There is flexibility, variety, and choice for students and creating and storing your tubs can be easy too!
Tangram Smart is a fun game students can play on their own or with a group to race and create different shapes using tangram pieces. The critical thinking that is involved to complete the puzzles gets students thinking in the morning while also engaging them in an activity that is fun and different.
STEM activities are a great way to start the day because students can build and create pieces on their own or in groups. Pipe connectors are a fun tool to encourage students to use their imagination while also engineering small pieces.
Letting students choose a STEM Challenge from this box is another fun way to start the day and challenge students to think creatively. These challenges provide a variety of choices so students never get bored.
Writer's boxes offer a unique way for students to write short stories. Students will love choosing cards to come up with ideas for stories they can then share with friends. There are many cards inside each box, so multiple students can write a story based on the same cards or each student can choose their own.
Activity pads filled with crossword puzzles, word searches, and mazes are a fun choice for students and can be used as early finisher activities as well.
Blocks, puzzles, choice reading, or coloring pages also make perfect morning tub activities. I hope you can get morning tubs started in your own classroom to help your morning routine run smoothly!
