Independent work stations are often filled with shoe box tasks, paper tasks, or laminated tasks like file folders. But I want you to consider putting TOYS in your work stations too!

In addition to making our stations really fun and something students look forward to, toys have the added benefit of teaching play! My students were often great workers, but many struggled to play with toys appropriately. We can use their awesome work ethic and teach them how to play. Which may open up opportunities at home to play with siblings. Win-win!

I’ve listed 10 toys below that fit the “put on” or “put in” category of tasks. Many of them also provide practice for other skills like numbers, colors, counting, fine motor control, 1:1 correspondence and others.

Keep in mind you don’t have to follow the game rules. If students are working by themselves at a station, that eliminates the turn taking aspect. Just let the student take all the turns. If your student doesn’t recognize written numbers yet, don’t make that a part of the demand. Putting the piece in or on is enough if that’s what their skill level is.

The piggy bank is the only toy that takes batteries but they are unnecessary. No need to keep a screwdriver and batteries on hand near your work stations!

Click on the pictures for a better look and more information!

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Pop Up Pirate

Pop up pirate is fun and functional! It’s also different than many put in tasks because the game is a vertical surface.

Skills:

  • Put in task
  • Hand eye coordination
  • 1:1 correspondence – 1 slot = 1 sword
  • Turn taking – up to 4 players
  • Color recognition (optional – not necessary for the game)

Laugh and Learn Piggy Bank

Skills:

  • Put in task
  • Counting and number recognition (coins have numbers on them)
  • Colors
  • Fine motor – slot is just the right size for the coins

Bonus of this toy – it has auditory feedback if you want but you don’t need to turn it on to make it a task. Don’t put batteries in and you won’t be disrupting the entire class!

Bead Sequencing

Skills:

  • Put on task
  • Patterning (but not necessary – you can simply have students put the beads on the sticks if that’s where they’re at ability-wise)
  • Colors and shapes
  • Fine motor control
  • Vertical orientation (most of our work is on horizontal surfaces)

Pop the Pig

This crazy game requires players to put hamburgers in the pig’s mouth then push down on his hat. Eventually the pig will be too full and his shirt pops open. A silly surprise for everyone!

Skills:

  • Put in task
  • Counting
  • Taking turns

Connect 4

Skills:

  • Put in task
  • Fine motor control
  • Patterning (optional)
  • Turn taking (optional)

Button Art

Skills:

  • Put on task
  • Color matching
  • Fine motor – button must line up with hole

Jumping Jack

This game is a little different as far as making it a task – the actual game is taking the carrots out of the patch. But you have your students set up the game by leaving the pieces out and they put them in before playing.

Skills:

  • Put in task
  • Counting

Spike the Hedgehog

Skills:

  • Put in task
  • Color recognition
  • Fine motor control

Slice and Bake Cookie Set

Melissa and Doug has infiltrated my house and we LOVE this set for pretend play. And it’s a PERFECT put on task. Students put frosting on the cookie and then put the cookie on the plate. Everything attaches with Velcro so it’s practically made for a work task!

Skills:

  • Put on task
  • 1:1 correspondence

Pizza Party Set

We have this set at home too and I believe this is a great work task in the making. The 6 slices stick together with Velcro and the toppings also attach. There are three toppings and three spots on each slice. Students can make their own creation or you can request different variations!

Skills:

  • Put on task
  • Fine motor
  • 1:1 correspondence
  • Sorting – the box had 3 divided spaces, one for each topping