The Box of Secrets is a wonderful way of introducing a topic to children... or giving them a puzzle that they have to solve. Just find an old box and decorate it with our box labels (available for download below).
Here are some ways that you could use The Box of Secrets in your lessons:
- Use it as the starting point for a writing activity. Place the box somewhere prominent in your classroom and ask children to discuss what might be inside it. Where did it come from? Why is it in the classroom?
- Challenge your children to write a story that explains where it came from and what might happen if it is opened.
- Put something inside the box, linked to your current topic, and show one child what it is. Ask them to describe it to others without saying the name of it.
- Make a list of questions that might help you to identify what is inside the box.
- Choose an item to put inside the box and make a list of clues that will help others to identify what the object is.
- Use it to review children's understanding of 2D and 3D shapes in Maths. Put a shape inside it, along with clues that describe the shape. Pull out a clue and ask children to try and identify the shape that might be inside it.
- Put a historical artefact inside the box and use it to introduce a History topic to your pupils.
- Think about the different types of secrets that people have. Why do people sometimes keep secrets? Are secrets a good or a bad thing?
The resources are available in three different colour schemes (brown and gold, black and red, green and purple). If you prefer to use the word 'Mysteries' (instead of 'Secrets'), an additional version is also included below.
Do you have any other ideas for using this resource in your classroom? Share them by commenting below...
today!
Comments
Estelle
1st June 2013
Absolutely love this - thanks!
Mark Warner
3rd June 2013
Thanks Estelle!
prlp
3rd June 2013
great idea! we have a suitcase for our 'world traveler fridays' and inside we put the flag, currency, maps, etc of the continent or country we are learning about, the kids love it!
Po
7th January 2014
Lovin' it, indeed! Thanks a lot.
HomeEd Mum
26th January 2015
This is great, thank you! It really helped my young ones get into Maths! I posted about how we use the Box of Secrets here, with a link and credit. https://oaksgrow.blogspot.co.uk...
Gail McHugh
10th January 2016
I was immediately impressed by this idea. Just the idea of the box containing a secret will generate a lot of ideas and spoken English in my classroom, I hope! It is so versatile too: other ideas spring to mind and I can't wait to make it part of my "tool box". Thank you.
Rachel
18th February 2016
Hi there, this is a super resource that can be used to create intrigue and fire imagination at all class levels. However, there is a move away from the use of the word "secret" in early education settings here. Is there any chance this could be changed to "mystery" please? Thank you
Mark Warner
4th March 2016
Hi Rachel. I have just added alternative sets of resources that use the phrase 'Box of Mysteries' instead. I hope that they're useful.
Ir.Vikt.
10th May 2016
The idea is super!!!! Thank you very much!!!!