Classroom Resources
🌱 Classroom Resources We Love
Every resource on this page has been personally used in our classroom and recommended because we've seen how it supports children's curiosity, creativity and learning.
Some resources are completely free, some are natural treasures, some are inexpensive finds, and some include affiliate links where available. We only recommend resources we've genuinely used and believe add value for educators and children.
🟢 Free & Recycled
Free & Recycled Resources
Meaningful learning doesn't have to be expensive.
Brown Paper Shopping Bags
Reused supermarket shopping bags. Children transformed them into masks, dresses, easels and colouring books.
Learning observed
Children transformed simple paper bags into masks, flowers, drawing easels and imaginative creations, showing there was no single 'right' way to use the resource.
Yoghurt Container Lids
Used for flowers, loose parts and art provocations.
Learning observed
Children combined the lids with natural materials to create flowers while exploring pattern, colour, creativity and fine motor skills.
Ice Cream Container Lids
Used with sticks to create flowers.
Learning observed
The lids became open-ended loose parts that children naturally incorporated into creative construction, collage and imaginative play.
Small Drink Bottle Lids
Used in our hot glue gun area. Children designed and created their own unique constructions.
Learning observed
Children used bottle lids in hot glue creations, experimenting with design, problem-solving and creative expression.
🌿 Natural Resources We Love
Natural Resources We Love
Treasures from the beach, forest and garden that spark curiosity and connection.
Pinecones
Pinecones are one of our favourite natural loose parts. Children naturally use them for counting, sorting, small world play, pattern making, construction and creative art experiences.
Learning observed
Children naturally sorted, counted, balanced and transformed pinecones into imaginative creations without needing adult direction.
Seashells
Seashells invite children to observe, compare, sort and create. They inspire sensory exploration, mathematical thinking, storytelling and beautiful loose parts play.
Learning observed
The different shapes, textures and patterns encouraged children to observe closely, compare, sort and tell stories through play.
Driftwood
Every piece of driftwood is unique. Children use driftwood for construction, balancing, engineering challenges, small world environments and artistic expression.
Learning observed
Children used driftwood to build bridges, shelters and imaginative worlds while experimenting with balance and construction.
💲 Budget Friendly
Budget-Friendly Finds
Simple resources that offer excellent value.
Themed Stickers
Used to extend children's interests, storytelling and creative expression.
Learning observed
Themed stickers encouraged storytelling, language development and creative expression as children incorporated familiar interests into their artwork.
Spinning Tops
Simple spinning tops that quickly became one of our favourite classroom resources. Their open-ended nature encouraged children to explore, experiment and share ideas together.
Learning observed
Children explored balance, speed and cause-and-effect as they spun the tops, then began challenging themselves and celebrating one another's successes. The spinning tops inspired turn-taking, perseverance, problem-solving and joyful curiosity.
Gold Medals
Simple gold medals used to celebrate participation, perseverance and shared success rather than competition.
Learning observed
The gold medals became a meaningful way to recognise children's efforts throughout our scavenger hunt. They proudly wore them, encouraged one another and celebrated each other's achievements. The excitement wasn't about winning—it was about participating together.
⭐ Favourites
Classroom Favourites
Resources we've purchased and regularly use because they've genuinely supported children's learning.
Small Magnetic Building Blocks
Why we love it
They invite children to build together, and the ideas keep growing long after the first tower.
Children created towers, castles, giraffes and Minecraft Creepers while collaborating, sharing ideas and encouraging one another. They carefully followed the boundaries around using the cubes and continued asking to use them after they had been packed away.
Learning observed
Children returned to these every day, creating towers, castles, giraffes and Minecraft characters while sharing ideas, encouraging one another and collaborating.
This is an affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through it, Inspired By Children may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we've personally used and genuinely believe support children's learning.
Bubble Gun
Why we love it
A simple thing that turns an ordinary morning outside into something joyful.
Created joyful movement, laughter, shared play and conversations outdoors.
Learning observed
The bubbles naturally brought children together, inspiring movement, laughter, shared games and joyful social interaction.
This is an affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through it, Inspired By Children may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we've personally used and genuinely believe support children's learning.
Paw Patrol Characters
Why we love it
They gave a quieter child a way in, and the play grew from there.
Helped a quieter child invite others into his play, leading to storytelling, friendships and collaborative imaginative play.
Learning observed
The familiar characters inspired storytelling, role play and cooperative play as children created their own adventures together.
This is an affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through it, Inspired By Children may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we've personally used and genuinely believe support children's learning.
🌱
Our Promise
Every resource featured on this page has been personally purchased, collected from nature, reused or used with children in a real classroom.
We only recommend resources that have genuinely supported children's curiosity, creativity and learning.
Some links may be affiliate links, which means Inspired By Children may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the work we do.