Another classroom favorite of mine has always been my morning choice time…but that too has needed changed this year. Morning choice, sometimes referred to as a soft start, is when you allow students to start the day at their own pace doing something they enjoy before getting started on their academic work. In my classroom, students were given the option to complete puzzles, play board games with friends, build with STEM bins, complete word searches, draw, read quietly, the list goes on. With that list, you can imagine how things would have to change in order to take place in a socially-distant classroom.
Covid Set Backs
Morning Choice has always been my students’ favorite part of the day. When I learned that students would be back in the classroom, I knew I had to figure out a way to make morning choice happen. But how would we accomplish this with all of the current limitations? Students wouldn’t be able to sit together around a game board or share pieces. Students wouldn’t be able to complete puzzles together. (Also, how on earth does one sanitize cardboard pieces?) Drawing and reading could be pulled off, but that is not too different from a traditional start to the school day.
The last thing I thought about was my STEM bin. More often than not, students completed their morning choice activities in small groups. Lots of sharing and collaborating. Things that covid has put a halt to in a lot of ways. My STEM bins consist of legos, brain flakes, hashtag blocks, wooden blocks, and a variety of knick-knacks for building. Most could be sanitized, but my disinfectant wouldn’t last very long that way.
STEM Bin Fun Fridays
I came up with an idea. I took my big bins of different building materials and split them into individual containers. Then, I used the rainbow photo boxes from Michaels, but anything could work. On Fridays, students have the opportunity to choose a container containing either legos, hashtag blocks, or brain flakes. I lay them out for students to grab on their own. Students know that they get what they touch, so it is important that they think before grabbing. When the students finish, they know to place them on our “quarantine table”. There, I spray everything down with disinfectant and let it dry before putting them away until the next Friday.
Of course, I would love for my students to have access to their STEM bins on a daily basis. However, given the current circumstances, this just isn’t feasible. As a teacher, I find myself looking for all the ways to make things “normal.” Both for my students and for myself. It isn’t much compared to last year, but bit by bit, I am starting to accept that. I appreciate being able to still create something that my students look forward to each week.
Why It Matters
Offering opportunities for my students to work with their hands has become more important than ever before. In class, we do just about everything on a device. Because I am hybrid, the most equitable way to instruct would be to ensure that my in-person students receive the same delivery and instruction as my digital students. That and the fact that exchanging papers helps to increase the possibility of spreading germs. Because students are almost always on devices both in school and at home, the STEM building opportunities allow my students to use their imaginations in a different way. Students get an opportunity to tinker around and build new things. They have realized that each type of building block allows them to create different things so they like to switch up their choices each week. I love how proud they are of their creations each week!
Do you offer morning choice in your classroom? I would love to know if you are digital, in person, or both? How do you pull off morning choice or soft start this school year?
