Monday, May 28, 2012

Fast Finisher Done Jar!

I found the idea for a "done jar" on pinterest here and fell in love! Now that it is summer I have time to make my own! Save your peanut butter jars, that's what I used and they are perfect! I made two, one for "before lunch" which is our literacy block and one for "after lunch" which is math, social studies and skills. I used Mod Podge to put the colored papers on the popsicle sticks and it worked great!

Here is a list of some of the literacy fast finishers:
1. Write as many rhyming words as you can on your white board.
2. Make a Missing Poster for a character in a book.
3. Draw a picture of something you would like to invent and write about it.
4 Play Boggle (I will be making a magnetic boggle board)
5. Write a thank-you note to someone who has done something for you.
6. Work on a story in your Writer's Workshop notebook.
7. Write a letter to someone.
8. Play a bottle cap game. (I LOVE bottle cap games)
9. Make a poster telling people about your favorite book.
10. Make a card for someone.
11. Use an 8 page booklet to make a story. Make sure it has a beginning, middle, end, problem, solution, and setting.
12. Read a story then put the story in your own words in an 8 page booklet.
13. Write in your journal about whatever you want.
14. Draw a picture then describe it using as much detail as you can.
15. Read a book.
16. Do a puzzle (literacy matching puzzles)

For the math ones I put a number 2 on the end of the sticks that would require a partner. Here are some of the math ideas:

1. Write a word problem for a friend
2. Make a math test for a friend
3. Addition search puzzle (I will be making those this summer)
4. Subtraction search puzzle
5. Use money adding dice (making those too)
6. Make a schedule for your day, showing what time you do everything
7. Make up your own math problems on your white board and solve them
8. Greater than or less than war
9. Addition war
10. Subtraction war
11. Bottle cap addition
12. Bottle cap subtraction
13. Write on your white board how you would spend 100 dollars
14. Play money memory
15. Find 15 things around the room and measure them with a ruler
16. Draw a map of your house, include a key

 Hope that someone will find these ideas useful!


  1. Fun idea Katrina. Love your new blog design.

    Learning With Susie Q

  2. Thanks for sharing your ideas for after work is finished! I'm looking to create something like this myself, and I'm always looking for more ideas! :)

    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

  3. Love it, love it, love it! Thanks for the idea!

  4. Love this idea!! Can't wait to put it into action.

  5. I love having "I'm Done" jars specific to the subject. I can't wait to use it this year!

  6. I love this idea. I got some colored popsicle sticks at the local craft store and I plan on using different colors for different subjects. Your list has really gotten me going. Thank you!

  7. Do you have these ideas already made in a document? :) I love this because my first graders def. need something to do when done.

  8. I do love it!
    I'm going to make them for my classes, here in Portugal!
    Lovely blog, your's!

  9. I love it - thank you, this is something that often comes up in my room! I am a new follower & I think your blog looks great!
    Multiage Days

  10. I love these!! Can't wait to use them with my class!! Thanks for posting!

  11. Do the students get credit for completing a "fast finishers" task??

  12. super cute idea! Thanks for the ideas!!! :)

  13. I'm not sure if you got this questions or not because I had to sign in when I hit publish... Ok so I love this idea! What rules do you set forth for the kids? Like they get one and thats the one they have to do or can they choose 2 and pick between those? I worry my kids will stand there forever picking. Thanks so much for your blog it is very helpful!

  14. This is amazing! I will be using this. I've been looking for something like this for my early finishers who never have any unfinished work. Thank you!

  15. I love this idea. I am moving to a smaller class room and can't use my big early finishers board that I have. This condensed version is perfect. Thanks for sharing.

  16. Awesome. Thanks a lot for sharing