Morning Bins In Kindergarten: A Must Have Routine For A Calm Start

If you’ve ever felt the morning rush hit hard before 8 a.m., you’re not alone! Kindergarten mornings can be a whirlwind of zipping backpacks, breakfast chatter, and last-minute parent check-ins. That’s where morning bins come to the rescue. This trending classroom routine is popping up in classrooms across the country—and for good reason!

What Are Morning Bins?

Morning bins are hands-on, open-ended activities placed in small bins or containers for students to explore as soon as they enter the classroom. They’re quiet, independent, and developmentally appropriate—making them the perfect way for kindergartners to start their day.

Each bin can include:

Activities with Fine motor tools like tweezers and pom-poms

Simple puzzles or building blocks

Letter or number matching games

Pattern blocks, Play-Doh mats, or tracing cards

Seasonal or thematic activities to spark engagement

Why Morning Bins Work In Kindergarten

Morning bins are a powerful tool to help kindergartners ease into the school day with hands-on, engaging activities that require minimal instruction. While students explore fine motor tasks, simple puzzles, building materials, or literacy and math games, you gain a few valuable minutes to take attendance, greet students, and prep for the day ahead. These quiet, independent bins set the tone for a smooth transition and help establish a peaceful morning routine that your little learners will come to look forward to. (Morning Bins For Little Learners)

How to Organize and Rotate Morning Bins

The key to success with morning bins is keeping things fresh and organized. Use small plastic containers, labeled drawers, or stackable trays. Rotate the contents weekly or bi-weekly to keep your little learners curious and motivated. (Rainbow Drawers In The Classroom)

Tips for easy rotation:

Organize bins by day of the week or table groups

Use color coding for different skill types (fine motor, math, literacy)

Store extra materials in a teacher bin for quick swaps

@kindergarten_chaos

➡️What to put in the Rainbow Drawers? O occasionally get DMs for teachers asking about my IKEA Trofast system and the rainbow rolling carts. You can put manipulatives in them, student work, or Station materials! 👉🏻Here are some fun ideas for April! #kindergartenchaos #kindergarten #teachersoftiktok #handsonlearning #kindergartenactivities #spring

♬ So Much Happiness – Lux-Inspira

Make The Most Of The First 15 Minutes

While your kindergarten students are happily engaged, this gives you the gift of time. Use these first 10–15 minutes to:

Take attendance

Check folders or notes

Greet each student individually

Chat briefly with a parent if needed

Mentally map out your day

Morning Bins= Less Chaos, More Connection

Perhaps the best benefit of all? Morning bins shift the classroom energy from chaotic to calm. Students know what to expect. You can begin the day without rushing. And you create a warm, welcoming environment where every child feels set up for success.

Ready To Try Morning Bins in Your Classroom?

Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned pro, morning bins are a game-changer for your daily routine. Start small—just a few bins, a few options—and see how it transforms your mornings.

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