You guys—I’m listening to your advice and making changes to help you prep less and teach more. My new Kindergarten Morning Bins are designed with YOU in mind: mostly straight cutting lines (because time matters!) and non-seasonal activities you can use any time of the year, no matter where in the world you’re teaching from.
Why Morning Bins?
If you’ve never used morning tubs or bins before, they are a total game-changer.
Instead of giving kids worksheets or free play when they arrive, you give them something hands-on and skill-based to work on independently. It helps settle them in for the day and gives you time to take attendance, greet families, or sip your coffee while it’s still warm!
Benefits of Using Morning Bins
- Smooth and calm transition into the school day
- Builds fine motor, pre-writing, letter and number recognition
- Encourages independence and confidence
- Gives students a structured soft start to the day
- Easy to differentiate and rotate throughout the week
What Makes These Morning Bins Special?
- ✅ Minimal prep (mostly straight cuts!)
- 📦 Easy to store — use small containers, zip pouches, or shoebox tubs
- 🌏 Non-seasonal — no pumpkins, no snowflakes, just pure skill-building fun
- 🖐️ All activities focus on hands-on, tactile learning
- ✏️ Matching materials most teachers already have
Let’s take a look at what’s included in Set 1.
What’s Included in Kindergarten Morning Bins Set 1
Each activity includes a materials list and is easy to prep and explain to students. I’ve also suggested how to store them, so you can keep your mornings running smoothly.
To download some free sample pages from this packet, click here or on the button below. Links to purchase the complete Kindergarten Morning Tubs Set 1 packet are included at the end of this post!
Pre-Writing Cards
Materials needed: dry-erase markers, chenille stems, playdough, small manipulatives
Children trace the lines with a marker or build the lines using manipulatives like playdough or buttons.
Skills focus: Fine motor control, pencil grip, visual-motor coordination
Also use for: Calm start-of-day routines, occupational therapy warm-ups, or early finishers
Build It Upper Case Letter Cards
Materials needed: LEGO-style building bricks and a base plate
Children create the uppercase letter on the card using building bricks.
Skills focus: Letter formation, spatial reasoning, visual memory
Also use for: STEM centers, literacy stations, or fine motor tubs
Upper Case & Lower Case Letter Recognition Cards
Materials needed: clothespins
Children clip a clothespin on each letter that matches the large uppercase letter at the top of the card.
Skills focus: Letter identification, visual scanning, hand strength
Also use for: Alphabet assessments, literacy rotations, or one-on-one review
Lower Case Letter Recognition Cards
Materials needed: clothespins
Children clip a clothespin on each lowercase letter that matches the target letter on the card.
Skills focus: Lowercase recognition, fine motor precision, attention to detail
Also use for: Early intervention, fluency checks, or quiet independent work
Letter Matching Cards: Upper Case
Materials needed: small colorful objects (pom-poms, buttons, bricks, etc.)
Children match the uppercase letter on the card by placing a manipulative on the matching letter on the board.
Skills focus: Letter matching, visual discrimination, color following
Also use for: Sensory bin play, color matching games, or independent alphabet review
Letter Matching Cards: Lower & Upper Case
Materials needed: small colorful objects (pom-poms, buttons, bricks, etc.)
Children read the lowercase letter on the card and cover the matching uppercase letter on the board using the specified color.
Skills focus: Upper/lowercase matching, letter recognition, hand-eye coordination
Also use for: Morning warm-ups or partner review games
Build the Sight Word
Materials needed: magnetic letters or letter tiles, optional magnetic board
Children build each sight word using manipulatives to match the word card.
Skills focus: Sight word recognition, letter sequencing, spelling
Also use for: Word work, intervention groups, or take-home literacy practice
Sorting Letters, Numbers, and Words
Materials needed: none
Children sort “sandwich” cards into the correct lunchbox labeled Letters, Numbers, or Words.
Skills focus: Categorization, early literacy, concept sorting
Also use for: Quick literacy assessments or group vocabulary review
Logic Cards
Materials needed: clothespins
Children determine which set of shapes created the image and clip a clothespin to show their answer.
Skills focus: Visual reasoning, logic, fine motor control
Also use for: Brain breaks, challenge bins, or enrichment time
Copy the Pattern
Materials needed: counting cubes or bricks
Children replicate the pattern shown using matching cubes or building blocks.
Skills focus: Patterning, sequencing, color recognition
Also use for: Math centers, cooperative learning, or fine motor practice
Sorting Colors
Materials needed: small colorful manipulatives
Children sort the provided objects into color-coded gumball machines.
Skills focus: Color recognition, sorting, classification
Also use for: ELL color vocabulary, sensory stations, or fast finishers
Color Identification Cards
Materials needed: clothespins
Children clip clothespins to the color names that match the objects on the card.
Skills focus: Color vocabulary, fine motor development, attention to detail
Also use for: Color assessment or classroom anchor activities
Build It Number Cards
Materials needed: building bricks and base plate
Children build the shape of each number using building bricks.
Skills focus: Number formation, spatial awareness, visual representation
Also use for: STEM tubs, math exploration, or center time
Number Recognition Cards
Materials needed: clothespins
Children clip a clothespin to every number that matches the one shown at the top of the card.
Skills focus: Number identification, scanning, fine motor coordination
Also use for: Number fluency games, warm-up activities, or morning work
Number Matching Cards: Ten Frames
Materials needed: small colorful manipulatives
Children count the dots on the ten frame and cover the matching numeral with a manipulative.
Skills focus: Subitizing, one-to-one correspondence, quantity recognition
Also use for: Small group number talks, game-based centers, or independent math bins
Number Matching Cards: Number Words
Materials needed: small colorful manipulatives
Children read the number word and place a manipulative on the matching numeral.
Skills focus: Number word recognition, early reading, visual matching
Also use for: Cross-curricular literacy + math practice or independent exploration
Number Matching Cards: Counting Fingers
Materials needed: small colorful manipulatives
Children count the fingers on the card and cover the correct number using a manipulative.
Skills focus: Counting, visual number representation, one-to-one correspondence
Also use for: Movement-based math, subitizing support, or fluency centers
Count and Build
Materials needed: counting cubes
Children build a tower with cubes to show the amount on each hopscotch space.
Skills focus: Counting, quantity representation, visual-motor integration
Also use for: Math fluency activities or independent math stations
Roll a die and finish the picture (house and garden)
Materials needed: die, dry-erase marker
Children roll the die and draw the matching item to complete a fun scene.
Skills focus: Counting, number recognition, creative expression
Also use for: Creative storytelling, indoor recess, or artistic warm-ups
Shape Recognition
Materials needed: clothespins
Children identify and clip the shape that matches the one in the picture.
Skills focus: 2D shape recognition, visual discrimination, fine motor strength
Also use for: Geometry review, shape scavenger hunts, or math mini-lessons
How I Suggest You Set Up Morning Bins
You can absolutely use these however fits your routine,but here’s what works well in most classrooms:
- Start with just 2–3 bins during the first week. Model how to use them.
- Use shoebox tubs or small plastic containers with lids.
- Rotate activities every 1–2 weeks — you don’t need to prep all 20+ at once!
- Encourage independence. Set expectations and use a clean-up signal (like music or a chime).
- Allow children to choose a bin, or assign by table or rotation chart.
Suggested Materials to Keep on Hand
- Dry-erase markers
- Household pegs
- Pom-poms, buttons, LEGO pieces
- Magnetic letters
- Counting cubes
- Dice
- Small containers for storage
No fancy supplies needed! Most of these can be found in your classroom already!
Purchase the Kindergarten Morning Bins Set 1
If you would like to purchase the complete 92-page Kindergarten Morning Bins Set 1 packet, click on one of the stores links below.
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Happy Teaching 🙂
If you use these bins in your classroom, I’d love to see them in action! Tag me on social!
Please, can you send me these activities
Hi Hanan,
Thanks for your interest in this packet! The activities can be purchased by following the link in the blog!
– Lavinia