Image from BreakoutEDU.com
So I have done BreakoutEDU boxes a couple times. At edcamps, as well as during a half-day PD where a colleague brought in her set. I love them. If you have no idea about BreakoutEDU boxes, check out this video to get you started.
Anyhow, I love the boxes as I said, but I could not figure out how to justify paying $125 per box. Sorry BreakoutEDU people, that’s a toughy for me. Apparently they used to have an open source list to build your own, but it has since gone away (see link at the end). So, in true Jennifer Lagarde style (who unbeknownst to me literally just wrote a blog post about this exact thing!) and #MacGyverLibrarianship, I searched online, sourced different blogs, and made my own.
So, I should mention some things. First, I love Menards. Obviously. Second, I bought several things on sale or for different prices that what I have found as of today. That will definitely change prices if you choose to go a similar way to me. Third, my goal was to create 5 boxes. I have almost 4 sets (reason is because of that one darn 4 digit lock that has failed.) I have a few things I need to add to make the 5th set, which may or may not cost a bit more overall. But, I think I did well in doing a little bit of #MacGyverLibrarianship! I’m really looking forward to using these with my students, as soon as I get them to school.
What have your experiences with these boxes been like? How about when students open them? Did you add a treat or something other than just the sign? I’d love to hear what you did!
Other blogs sourced (link goes directly to the post):
Reademption 