Large Egg Cartons

[Guest]

We have a ton of those egg cartons that hold a couple dozen eggs. We have no idea what to do with them, other then cutting them apart and making caterpillars- we don't want to do that. Anyone have any ideas? They are taking up too much space and we're so close to just getting rid of them. Our classroom is ages 2-3.

[Leanna]

-Use them as trays for paint (we fill a few cups with paint and leave a few empty so the kids can mix colors)

-Attach many of them together and use (upside down) as a sensory walk

- Cut apart a set of six. Color the bottom of each cup a different color. The kids can match each cup to a matching color Easter Egg

-Plant seeds in a bit of potting soil in each cup. Cut apart each cup after the seeds sprout and plant directly in the ground. The cup will biodegrade and the plant will grow

-sort beads by color for a beading activity (for older kids)

-Make a homemade Mancala game (also for older kids)

-Cut apart into 3's or 4's and dip into paint to make prints

-Cut apart individual cups. Have the kids paint them and let dry. Then fill with beads, etc. and glue/tape together to make shakers

-Cut apart in sections of six. Hole punch corners & thread with yard. Fill with birdseed for a homemade bird feeder.

You can also use them at home to sort small items like jewelry, hardware, and small toys like legos & Barbie accessories.

Also, if are a farmer's market shopper, many egg farmers are happy to reuse cartons.

Hope this helps!

[coolconfidentme]

I just give mine to a friend who has chickens. Sorry, no idea either...

[Scout]

I use mine for paints as well. I would also look on pinterest because there are probably a lot of crafts you can do...one is to make a caterpillar! Very cute-ds made one in school.

[Childminder]

I just recently read a post that it is discouraged from using them because of passing Salmonella. I think I read that some states prohibit their reuse in childcare. Not sure if this forum or another.

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62707&highlight=salmonella

[butterfly]

I use one 36 count egg carton to hold 36 plastic easter eggs. We use these eggs for matching up lower case/upper case letters. I write an Upper case A on one half of the egg and a lower case A on the lower half. Then I break the egg halves apart and let the kids match them and put them back into the carton. After 26 letters, that leaves room for numbers 1-10 in that carton too. I do the same with the numbers. On one half I write the numerial and on the other half I write the corresponding number of dots (like on dice). You could make this activity a little harder for the older kids by using all the same color eggs, but I do a rainbow of colors.

That only accounts for one carton...

I like the paint tray idea.