Welcome to the newest recurring weekly post of independent work inspiration. Each week I’m sharing a new independent work task you can make for you classroom. I’ll show you how to make it and include a materials list. I’ll also include options for modifying the task and a video of how the task works.
This week’s task is a shoebox or self-contained task box. These tasks are designed to be used without having to set anything up or organize pieces. Everything is established for the student to pull the box forward, complete the task and put it in the finished basket.
Independent Work Inspiration: Material List
- Shoebox (cardboard or plastic)
- Contact paper (if you want to cover the shoebox)
- Scissors or utility knife
- Small holding container (margarine container works well)
- Toilet paper rolls (as shown) or use pudding or baby food containers for sorting containers
- Card stock for divider
Shoebox Sorting Task: Who is It For?
Shoebox or self-contained tasks are perfect for students just starting out. In order to do a sorting task, students would typically have to take out the container of pieces to sort and the containers to sort into. They would have to organize them to move them from one to the other. The shoebox fixes that so that it’s already set up. Students sort from left to right–from unsorted items to the sorting bins. And it all stays together when they put it away. So for students who don’t yet know how to organize materials, this is a great task to start out.
As it’s shown, I would use this task for students working on basic easy sorting. I set it up with sorting simple shapes. So it would be perfect for preschool or early elementary students. I was using real pictures so if you have older students working on shape sorting.
Independent Work Inspiration Shoebox Task Video
Modifying the Sorting Task
There are a tons of ways to modify this task, many of which I talk about in the video. But you can include many different types of sorting. Have students sort by color, category, starting letter, numbers, features, functions, or almost anything you could sort. You can also change up what’s being sorted. Use little objects instead of pictures, for example.
You could also increase the number of sorting options by increasing the number toilet paper rolls they are sorting into. Just remember if you are using rolls, instead of containers, to add more cardstock dividers to check the sorted items.
Looking for More Independent Work Inspiration?
Check out my Workbasket Wednesday posts for more ideas as well as the resources below.
More Workbasket Wednesday Resources
Looking for more ideas on special education work boxes or work systems and how they can be used? Check out the links in Resources below for more posts. And, I wrote about a book about them!
Buy From Amazon (including Kindle) (see my disclosure policy for more information about affiliate links).
GET ALL THE VISUALS AND ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS YOU NEED to start independent work in your classroom.
These kits include an e-book with directions on setting up independent work systems and using the materials included, data sheets for tracking progress, visuals for the special education work boxes and schedules, what’s next visuals, and mastery sheets to keep track of which students have mastered which task.
GET ALL THE VISUALS AND ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS YOU NEED to start independent work in your classroom.
These kits include an e-book with directions on setting up independent work systems and using the materials included, data sheets for tracking progress, visuals for the special education work boxes and schedules, what’s next visuals, and mastery sheets to keep track of which students have mastered which task.
![Independent Work-3 Ways It can Become Your Best Classroom Management Tool [A sorting task in a shoebox to sort nouns from verbs on popsicle sticks into plastic cups]](https://autismclassroomresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BLOG-22208-3-Ways-Task-Boxes-and-IW-Help-Classroom-Management-2-768x644.jpg)
