plastic yogurt, applesauce, butter, cottage cheese, etc. containers
These items can be used as manipulatives in the tasks:
old Memory games, Bingo games (missing pieces ok!)— could be used for matching tasks
spare pieces from games—could be used to sort by color, sort by item, items to count or make sets with, etc.
groups of objects to sort—could be used to sort by item, to match item to picture of item, to match item to written word of item, to sort by initial sound of the item, to sort by color
blocks—could be used to sort by color, to match block to color word, to make patterns, to count or make sets
Legos—could be used to sort by color, to sort by size or shape, to assemble a structure like a model
pop beads—could be used to pull apart and put in a container with a lid
plastic links—could be used to sort by color, to extend a pattern, to count or make sets
puzzles—could be used as objects are—to match the puzzle piece to a picture of the item on the piece, to match the puzzle piece picture to the written word, to sort by initial sound of the picture on the puzzle piece
sports cards—to sort by sport, to file by sport, to file by last name
calendars with pictures—to match smaller thumbnail picture (usually found on the back of the calendar) to the larger calendar page
Disney catalogs—I often use the photos as motivational materials for making task boxes—kids like to match pictures of Mickey Mouse, Pooh, etc.
clothespins—to use with motor tasks—pull off the side of a box, pinch and put on the side of a box, write on the clothespins and match to the corresponding spot on cardboard
board books—could be adapted with Velcro® to use in matching or reading tasks
dried-out markers with the tops—can use as a motor task—assembling the correct top on the marker; or as a color sorting task with just the tops, or as objects to count, make sets with
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