Whether you are a parent or a teacher teaching summer school, you may be looking for ways to keep your kids engaged in meaningful activities that are a little less academically demanding. Task boxes are a great solution. Below, I have five different task boxes you can set up that are:
- Meaningful and engaging
- Appropriate for older kids
- Use supplies you likely have on hand
- Can lead to employment skills
- Easily differentiated
And, if you are looking for even more ideas for your older kiddos, then download the free list at the bottom of this post!!
1. Matching lids to containers
Having students find matching lids and putting them on containers not only works those fine motor skills, but also is great for visual discrimination. Start washing out various containers as they become empty in your home or classroom. You want lots of variety.
- Lids that snap on
- Tops that screw on
- Twist-off tops
- Plastic containers
- Bottles
- Metal tins with lids
Once you start looking for items to put in this task box, you will realize that there are choices everywhere!! For this reason, I like to set up 2-3 different boxes, each with about 10 containers. You should use less, depending on the skill and tolerance level of your child. Have kids fit all the lids on in the morning, and then have them remove the lids in the evening, separating the lids and containers into two different boxes. (Almost like 2 task boxes for the price of one!!)
Click HERE to download free labeling stickers.
To differentiate: Put stickers on matching lids and containers that have numbers written on them, or write on the lid and container using a Sharpie. For kids who have difficulty with number recognition, use colored dot stickers or draw big colored circles with different Sharpies.
2. Silverware sorting
This task box is pretty standard. You will want to get an empty tray with at least three dividers for forks, spoons, and knives. It is even better if you can get one with five dividers so students can sort big versus little forks and spoons.
Have all the silverware you want sorted in a large plastic bag. You can use either real silverware or plastic alternatives. Depending on the learning level of your student, you can start with one piece of silverware in each slot or have labels. I liked to hot glue the starter piece in place to make it easier to store and travel.
Click HERE for free labeling stickers.
To differentiate: If your kids struggle with this, try starting with only two types of silverware, such as forks and spoons. Once that is mastered, you can add in knives. I also found that some of my students responded better to dot stickers, which were placed on each piece of silverware. So, I would occasionally add red dots to all the forks and yellow dots to all the spoons. You never know what will finally click for some kids, so if this seems challenging, keep trying different ways to add visual structure.
3. Cleaning picture frames
For this activity, you may need to run to the dollar store and pick up some plastic picture frames. I like the ones that go on the refrigerator because they lie flat. I had too many of the stand-up variety breaks with vigorous cleaning. Before the activity, you will want to take some dry-erase markers and draw all over the fronts of the frames. Place the frames, a small bottle of Windex, and paper towels in the box. Students will then use the Windex to clean off each frame. This spray action is excellent for fine motor strengthening. I also like using the markers so that it is very clear when the picture frame is clean. If you have the student “clean the frame,” it can be difficult for them to know when they are done. This is an excellent employment skill to practice, as it translates to not only cleaning but also car washing.
To differentiate: You may need to model this with some students. If they like the iPad, consider creating a short video that shows how to complete the activity. This will not only be helpful, but also can be very reinforcing. For students who are unable to use Windex or for whom it poses a safety concern, use baby wipes instead. Finally, if you find that your student gets frustrated very easily or does not really pay attention when all the markers are gone, then try adding a timer. Therefore, the student would clean each frame for 30 seconds (or whatever length of time seems appropriate).
4. Sorting game pieces
Since we are targeting older students with these task boxes, we want to choose age-appropriate games. This task can be pretty easy if you use games that have very distinct pieces (such as checkers and chess), or it can be more challenging if the pieces are similar (like Monopoly and PayDay).
I have only done this with two games, but I am sure some students could sort the pieces of 3 or even more games. Set up your task box with the game boxes and a baggie filled with the pieces from both games. If the pieces were different, I liked to take a picture of the pieces and tape it to the front of the game box as a guide for the student to follow.
This is another great employment skill. I have worked with several students who later worked in retirement homes, preschools, and churches. There were often games in these locations that were not in perfect order. No one wanted to take the time to put all the pieces back in the correct box. This was the ideal job for some of my kiddos. The students enjoyed the task, and the games were used much more often as a result of being “ready to go.” Additionally, if you are in a school, consider offering this service to your kindergarten teachers. They always have games that need to be sorted.
To differentiate: If students struggle with visual discrimination, stick to games that feature distinctly different pieces. You could even use a puzzle vs a game. So all the puzzle pieces go in one box, and the game pieces in another box.
To differentiate this for high learners, have some pieces that are missing. Students can then circle (using a dry-erase marker) which pieces are missing from each game. This was also an invaluable skill in some employment positions that my students would have.
5. Recycling
This task box is ideal for developing hand and finger strength. Gather cardboard shipping or food boxes. Students will break down the boxes and place them in a recycling container. I always had a sample piece that students could use to check their work against. You want the task to last more than 60 seconds, so having them tear the pieces apart not only lengthens the task’s duration but also allows for more items to fit in your recycling bin. The tearing action is significantly reinforcing for many students. I had one student who wanted to rip apart EVERYTHING. With this task box, we were able to redirect him to the “recycling center” every time he needed to tear up paper. It worked so well, and I imagine this will become a very employable task for him in the future.
To differentiate: If students are not making the pieces small enough, cut a slot in the top of your recycling container. I used a big purple bin, so the slot was still fairly generous, but would require the students to do some ripping. Start slow. The goal is for students to empty the task box and recycle all of the containers in one sitting. Therefore, you may need to start with only one box, or one that is already partially disassembled. It may be that you start with a student simply taking torn pieces and placing them in the slot without having to do any actual tearing themselves.
I hope you found inspiration in these ideas for the summer. It is essential to keep kids engaged and active in age-appropriate ways during their break. It is also important for these kids to be able to do something meaningful and safe while their parents are busy. I have found task boxes to be not only helpful in my classroom, but also at home with my adult son, who has significant challenges. They are easy to set up and can teach some valuable skills for future job placement.
To download a list of 25 more ideas for task boxes for OLDER kids, click the button below.
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