Classroom Uses for the Old Fashioned Clothespin

 

Photo Credit: L. Marie

When it comes to cheap office supplies, clothespins are tough to beat. Bonus? There are loads of things you  can use them for in the classroom. Following are just a few.  

Project clamps.

Great for all the old stained ones that parents are getting ready to chuck anyway.

Art clothesline.

A bit old fashioned? Maybe. But they still get the job done, and are a great way to finish drying those water color paintings without clogging up desk space.

Communication with classroom specialists.

Working at a place where Post It notes are outside of your budget parameters? Clip a directional note to the seatwork of a student who leaves the room for support in another room. 

 Stick a magnet on the back and use it to hold student artwork or reminders.

This is also a great project to have the kids create and take home to the folks. 

 Get a grip on classroom snack storage.

They’ll help keep those plastic bags of crackers fresh.

Make a reindeer ornament at Christmas time. 

Simple, affordable, and kids dig it. Here’s a link.

Insect crafts.

I’ve seen several different variations over the years that would be fun to try when doing a classroom unit on insects. Here’s a cute simple one with a grasshopper theme.  I think the kids would have fun using these to keep their desk papers organized.

Make a multicultural doll.

Here’s a link to one celebrating Asian heritage.  As simple as the design is though, I would think you could easily modify with various shades of paint to match different skin tones from around the world. I’m already picturing one dressed with an African tribal cloth. Here’s another link with resources on making clothespin dolls as well, with a couple pictured that could easily represent the heritage of certain European countries. Cute!

Make a center game using clothespins and the cardboard circles that come inside your pizza box.

I love this idea because it is so inexpensive.  

Student communication.

I’ve seen teachers successfully use these for students to communicate their location. Each one would have one with their name on it clipped to one side of a poster board. On another side of the board or across the bottom would be various locations such as bathroom, nurse’s office, etc.  Children simply clip their pin under the name of the appropriate destination. Simple!

These ideas represent my top ten picks only. As always, please feel free to share your ideas. These things are so cheap that almost any PTA should be able to pick you up a bag at the dollar store as part of a classroom support package.

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