For the past week, my children have stacked Dixie cups up all over the house. They have built small cities, towering buildings, and forts. I never knew that Dixie cups could keep my children so entertained!
Not only are these cups fun but they can also be very educational within just a few minutes. I first learned of Power Towers over at Teacher Tipster. Mr. Smith used Dixie cups to write basic math facts and sight words on the cups and then used them as a review game for the children in his class. The children have to answer the math fact or say the sight word and when they do they earn that cup. After the cup is earned, the child can let the stacking game begin!
Here are a few ways that we have used the cups in our homeschool.
- For Classical Conversations memory work – I wrote the week and subject on the bottom of the cup such as Week 1, History.
- As Latin flashcards – I wrote the Latin word and the child gives me the English word.
- Books of the Bible – I wrote both the Old and New Testament books and they put the cups in order.
- Sight Words – I wrote the sight word on the cup, the child says the word.
- Math Facts – especially multiplication
- Spelling Words – I wrote each letter of the word on a cup and the child spells the word using the cups.
- Bible Verses – I wrote each word of the verse on a cup and the child puts the words in order.
There are so many ways to use these cups! Mr. Smith also suggests using a Pringles can to store the cups. You can leave it the way it is or decorate it with wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or contact paper. We are currently using leftover Christmas cookie cans to store ours but we will soon be in need of more storage cans so I plan to use the Pringles can suggestion.
Can you think of other ways to incorporate Dixie Cups in your homeschool?
You can join Melissa over at Grace Christian Homeschool where she writes mostly about the adventures of homeschooling.
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