This is our mail carrier discovery kit. There is a cell phone, truck keys, a blue mail jacket, an orange mail bag and several laminated post cards. We usually set up a letter writing station in the writing center when we pull this out. The children make cards and letters and take turns being the mail carrier and delivering the mail. Last year we had a wrapping station. I put lots of different kinds of wrapping paper, some tape, scissors and blocks and board books on the table. I encouraged the children to wrap presents. They used their fine motor and measuring skills to measure and cut the paper, cut the correct amount of tape and ribbon and wrap the presents. Then they put the presents under the tree. This project went on for over 2 weeks. They were very excited to come work at this station. Wrapping center again Discovery bottles are fun to make. Put liquid into a bottle. You can use Caro syrup, water, mineral oil, or cooking oil. Add some items. Super glue the cap on. Fill a box with several bottles and allow the children to explore. I like to make 2 bottles the same, but change something. The blue bottle and the clear bottle with pink stones are the same except for blue food coloring. The pink stones appear to be clear in the blue bottle. One yellow bottle has food coloring, one has dish soap. They have the same items in the bottom. I have another set that have water and corn syrup in them. The items move quickly in the water and slowly in the corn syrup. Table Toys- We like to set up the table with several table toys at 1 time. This gives the children a chance to choose what they would like to play with. Children need to stay at the table to play with these toys. This keeps the pieces together. This also keeps the small pieces away from the crawling babies. I love to make lapbooks. These file folder books assemble several file folder games, word cards and felt board sets together in 1 easy book. These are pictures of some books and the complete winter lapbook. One of the kits I make are called discovery kits. This is my bug kit. We also have a rock kit, a seashell kit, a hairdresser kit, a pet care kit, and play school kit. I am always looking for new kits to assemble. They are packed in similar size boxes, so they can swap out easily. Discovery Kits A different playroom - in the small apt. I decided to use some of my stuff to make book buddy kits. Each kit has a stuffed animal and at least 3 books. Many kits also have games, toys, dress up or lap books in them as well. I ended up with 52 kits. I sorted my toys (see pictures), labeled everything and placed each kit into a clear back pack. I created a book with the contents of the kit and a photo. The kids look through the book and decide which kit to check out. In addition to the kids taking home the kits, I lend them to other teachers and also use them in my classroom. This is the pictures of making the kits, storing the kits and my Sesame Street fire safety kit.