So you took my FREE MORNING BIN TRAINING, and you are ready to implement the morning bin system in your classroom. You have your student bins labeled and ready to go, but you’re not sure what to put in your blue bins or your activity bins. In this post, I am going to break down some of my favorite blue bin fillers.

Side note: If you did not watch the training (which I highly recommend you do), all these items are meant to be, sorry, open-ended.

For example, sorting silverware. The end goal was to sort them, but if a child used them to tap together, stack, or line up, that was okay, too. Blue bins are meant to keep kids occupied and engaged but in a meaningful and functional way as they build up their tolerance of remaining on task and in a specific area. We are working on pre-academic skills.

DIY FILLERS

I was a second-year teacher when I first started implementing this bin system. I had next to zero resources and was starting from scratch. Not to mention, I only had $200 for the entire year to purchase anything I needed. Aka, I had zero money to go shopping at Lakeshore. So I had to get creative and think outside the box.

Anything that may be discarded as trash, I was thinking, “How could I incorporate that into a blue bin.” I am kicking myself for not taking pictures 10 years ago, but you’ll get the idea hopefully;

Sorting
  • Plastic silverware
  • Milk caps
  • Pom poms
  • Mini erasers
  • Laminated stickers
  • Scarves, mittens, buttons, or any small item of clothing
Put In Tasks
  • Using any of the items above to put in
    • Tissue box
    • Wipe container
    • Coffee ground canister with a slit in the lid
    • Colored bowls
Reusing classroom materials
  • Shape sorter
  • Small alphabet blocks
  • Magnatiles
  • Bead lacing
  • Any seasonal manipulative, even if it is out of season i.e., mini apples sorting.

PURCHASABLE FILLERS

It took me about 5 years, but was able to purchase about 40 different blue bin fillers. I got a lot of them through Donor’s Choose projects (check out my top 5 tips to getting your project funded HERE), PTA donations, garage sales, other teacher’s discards, and parents donating used toys. (Please note if you bring anything used into your classroom, it should be gently used and in good condition.)

Here are the ones I used in my classroom that are all tried and true:

Creating meaningful and functional morning blue bins doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you DIY with classroom materials or invest in quality educational tools, the key is to keep students engaged and developing essential skills. These bins are not just “busy work”—they’re foundational to fostering independence and enhancing pre-academic learning. Happy teaching, and don’t forget to get creative with your blue bin fillers!