Homemade Cardboard Sink and Refrigerator for Preschool Practical Life Learning Centers

Homemade Cardboard Play House Furniture and Appliances: Sink and Refrigerator 

When I was young, my parents made an entire play house for me from recycled cardboard boxes. You can use your recycle bin to make a cardboard house for homeschool or preschool learning center. Here's a tutorial for homemade child sized sink and refrigerator. 

To make these easy cardboard play appliances in less than an hour, you will need cardboard boxes, box cutter or sharp scissors, permanent marker, plastic dishpan or tub, duct tape or box tape and two pump dispensers from soap bottles. 

To make a play sink, tape a cardboard box closed. Cut slits in the box. Insert a small plastic dishpan or tub like hospitals send patients home with. Push tub down into the hole you cut. Cardboard frame will hold the tub in place and create a 'sink'. 

Make faucet, spout and handle for your play sink from two recycled dispenser bottles. Foaming hand soap dispensers look the most realistic. Cut small holes in the back of the box sink. Drop dispenser pieces into the holes so that just the top pump part shows through. Tape inside box so it doesn't wobble. Children can pretend to run water by pressing pump dispenser. 

Or make pretend handles. Make discs of cardboard, clay or cork. Cover with duct tape. Punch hole in center. Insert old pencils or straws. Cut a hole in the back of the cardboard near faucet. Insert straws/pencils and tape to back inside of box. Label "hot" and "cold." Rotate discs like knobs. Place recycled dish soap bottle on sink.

Use a tall rectangle box placed upright for refrigerator. Duct tape pieces of cardboard to make a shelves. Place an old plastic dishpan or plastic box in the bottom for a vegetable drawer. Cover all cardboard surfaces with contact paper and seal edges with duct tape so cardboard appliances last longer. Place small clothing rack near the play kitchen to hang aprons and chefs hats. Dress up is essential in child's play. 

Free Printable Play Money, Coins, Bills, American and Euro Currency

Money math, banking and finance are some of the most practical math applications. Students learn real-world math lessons by writing checks, balancing checkbooks and managing debit and credit cards, savings and checking accounts. To help, here are free printable blank checks, play money, check register forms, banking slips, deposit slips and withdrawal slips. Use to teach hands-on money math lessons Use for consumer math classes, special education lesson plans and homeschool math activities.

DL-TK has several pages of pretend free printable blank checks and banking slips for play. There are two free printable check varieties, using the American "check" and Canadian "cheque" spelling. Both are available to print in color or in black and white. Visit Free Stuff 4 Kids for free printable blank checks for play and for math lessons. Use these in combination with free printable play money. These links provide free printable play money in denominations of one, five and ten dollar bills. Use these free printable checks to set up a classroom bank, preschool math learning center or token economy. Use banking slips and play money to teach economics, math skills, banking, counting changes and money math lessons.

Money Instructor has many free printable money math lesson plans, blank checks, play money, banking slips and money math lessons and worksheets. Not all printables are free but there is a nice selection of free printable samples. Print free banking slips, deposit slips, withdrawal slips, check registers and checking account slips. Money Instructor has interactive money math lessons, check writing, check endorsing, checkbook balancing tutorials also. It is recommended that teachers of economics, consumer math, life skills, special needs, accounting and personal finance subscribe to these sites. This link will take you directly to a page of free printable practice blank checks.

How to set up a Job Club: Vocational School Lesson Plans

What is the purpose of education? To prepare students for real life jobs, careers and situations. Here are real life lesson plans for students using a Job Club format. Teach economics, technology, marketing, business English, freshman success, STAR, adult education, alternative education, communications and real life skills. 

Job Club Foundation: Prepare students for real life circumstances and choices by working within the world of work. Align content to students' career paths and current job situations. Teach working collaboratively on real life skills, not just busy work. 

Assess career aptitude and interest. Choose measures which reflect current trends, are positive and enjoyable. Informal discussion can produce some useful information. Validate and realistically support student choices. Guide student research into job market and practical career outlook. 

Develop student focus groups. Divide into four basic areas: science/ engineering (electronics, building trades, HVAC, technology, forestry, and trades) helping/ human services (counseling, medical, teaching, child care, culinary arts,etc.), arts and entertainment (media, musicians, sports, design, art, theater). Where you assign students will depend upon the slant they choose to explore, where they may currently work, how far they plan to go into the trade, etc. Match groups based upon common skill Change groups occasionally if after research, students choose different careers or the focus of the career path changes.

Job Club Framework: If job club is part of a larger curriculum (marketing, economics, etc.) meet once a week; Mondays or Fridays are best. 

Job Club Materials:  

  several computers with Internet access for research.

  smartphones to set up interviews, job shadowing, appointments, etc.

  phone books, local maps, and current occupational reference handbooks

  focus group bulletin board for job postings, career seminars and information, opportunities

Job Club Meeting Format of the job club: Focus groups gather to share and then present to large group. 

Each person gets a limited time to share. Discussion should focus on two areas: real life experiences and research. Real life discussion might include: experiences, difficulties, opportunities experienced in workplace, tips to help each other, job openings, new legislation. Research discussion should include training school reviews, internships, career fairs, skill set development, useful websites, trade journals, new frontiers, emerging specialties, job openings, scholarships, college opportunities, course offerings, apprenticeships, test prep, local and state businesses within the field, community resources, job search site evaluations. 

  

Job Club Syllabus and Homework. Students should generate a resume, complete at least three job interviews (for a full year class); one could be simulated, complete and maintain an online job profile, apply for 5 jobs, programs or colleges using different methods (fax, email, in person, ZOOM or virtual, online application, phone), bring in one piece of information per week, practice active listening, provide useful reflective feedback, take notes and disseminate information via meeting minutes, monthly newsletter, emails or a webpage, problem-solve within their groups, be accountable supportive to group members.

This framework should provide a good start toward career preparation within the classroom.