nukeswife Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Hi all, We just got all our MUS stuff and it looks great. We can't wait to start, but I'm not sure how to store the blocks. Do you all keep them in the boxes they came in or do you have a something else that works better. I have 3 kids (one who's still pretty young) and I just don't think the boxes will hold up well. I have both the starter and completer set if that makes a difference in your suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 You can buy special wooden boxes from MUS. Most people I know that have done that love them. I however didn't want to spend the money on that so I took one of each piece to Walmart and bought a fishing tackle box that would hold the pieces. The negative there is that it isn't cute and it is bulky on the shelf. But it works ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aletheia Academy Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 MUS sells wooden storage boxes for both sets, and we use those. I figured it was worth the expense because I have 2 kids and will be using them for several years. I like them. I keep them in my curriculum cabinet, and we only use them for math lessons. A friend of mine has 5 kids from age 6 to 14. They all have used or will be using them. She keeps them all loose in a big wicker basket and allows the kids to play with them. She says they haven't lost any. That works for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I also purchased the wooden storage boxes for the blocks. I have been very happy with them. One box has grooves that the blocks slide into so that you can show the equation there...my kids really like it. Before I got the storage boxes I was using a nice wicker basket to store them in which was ok...but my kids had to dig around to find the right bars. With the boxes every bar is in its own little space and easy to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammi Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 What we have done is put all the units in a ziploc bag, put the hundreds in a clear plastic tote from walmart and the rest in a red tote that we also got from walmart. The kids play with them like they play with legos. Tammi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We use the wooden boxes MUS sells. They were expensive but worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We keep ours in a plastic bin from Wal-Mart. I keep each type of block in a baggie to avoid having to dig for what they need. It did not take the kids long to start really helping with the clean up. We keep the algebra decimal inserts in the box they originally came in (only big kids get to use those) and the big hundred blocks just stack on top of each other. We fold up our block clock poster and put our decimal street lapbook in there so everything is all together. Blessings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We keep ours in a plastic bin from Wal-Mart. Us, too. They don't mind digging for the blocks, that's all they've ever known. I will help if they have trouble finding a certain one. They also like to put the green units on the ends of their fingers and pretend they are tree frogs. The red 100's are sandwich bread, other blocks go in the middle and are the sandwich fillings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks all, I was thinking of some of the small pastic drawer units, but I'll have to see if I have a place for them first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TengoFive Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I use a tool box from Wal-Mart. It was $5 and it works beautifully! It keeps everything sorted. Ours has a lift out tray and storage in the top. We have the top organized with about 4 of every number (no 100s though) and the lift out tray has approximately the same number. Then the 100's and extra 10's are on the bottom level. This way I can have 2 kids using them at the same time with their own set of the lower numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorbackmama Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 12 qt. Sterilite container.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We keep ours in a plastic bin from Wal-Mart. We don't sort, just toss them in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorbackmama Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We don't sort, just toss them in. Ditto! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bella_gitana Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We have a starter and a completer set and use a Sterilite plastic shoe box that has a hinged top. They fit perfectly, and I paid less than $10 for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I attended a workshop at our state conference this past weekend where one of the speakers showed her Math-U-See blocks in tackle boxes from Wal-Mart. They were sorted by color/size. We have the wooden box from Math-U-See. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Clear plastic storage box as some others have mentioned. We just toss everything in. It's pretty easy to see what you want, so it doesn't really even involve much digging to find a piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paintedlady Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I bought the wooden boxes that MUS sells. I started with 2 kids in Alpha and planned to use them for years and years so for me it was worth the extra investment. I love them and they keep everything neat & tidy. Most people I know just throw them all together in a plastic bin with a lid though. If you don't want to spend the extra, I suppose it works well enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMarie Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 .... It's pretty easy to see what you want.... :iagree:I would hate to sort blocks after each use, several times per day for years. oh my! I bought the sterilite box with a hinged lid, so the lid never gets misplaced. perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We bought the wooden boxes and LOVE them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 I'd like to have the MUS boxes.... For now, just in a plastic shoe box. It actually has worked well with digging - forced her to remember the color easier and I can "play dumb" when looking and make her tell me what i'm hunting for :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan25 Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 We use the wooden boxes MUS sells. They were expensive but worth it. Same here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Inna* Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 3 clear zip bags - 1 for units, 1 for tens and 1 for hundreds. Works for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted June 5, 2009 Author Share Posted June 5, 2009 Thanks for all you input folks. I love the boxes that MUS sells but they were a bit out of my price range, so I ended going to Target today for some other items and found these Snap 'N Stack boxes. I bought 3 sets and was able to use 2 sets to fit all our MUS blocks in except for the hundreds blocks. One container in each set has a built in divider to split it into two sections, so I put the 1s,2s,3s,4s,5s,& 6s in those and then the 7s, 8s, & 9s each have their own container and the 10s take up 2 containers. I loved that I could snap the 2 sets together to make a large tower with 1 handle on the top. It's a lot of boxes but for now it will do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chloe Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 I still use the blocks. I just put them in a little basket that has a handle. I think I got it at AC Moore for a couple of bucks. I keep it in the school cabinet, and my dc just get it out as needed. It doesn't keep all the units separated, but it's big enough that it's not a problem getting out the needed blocks without digging around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alegnab Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 We keep them in the original box. That way I know that none are missing. My kids don't use them much, though. We've always kept the Cuisenaire rods in the original box, too. We keep the Cuisenaire jumbo blocks in a plastic shoebox, and some of them have been lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 Bumping this up, because I just wanted to share pictures of our new MUS block container I found at The Container Store. I was really hoping to see photos of some of your containers, so I hope this will help someone. Here's my blog post about our container in more detail. Found this for $14.99. I just ordered the Completer set and it should fit all but a few of the big red ones. http://satorismiles.com/2009/06/24/math-u-see-block-container/ Perfect size for little hands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kari C in SC Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 We keep them in the original box. That way I know that none are missing. My kids don't use them much, though. We've always kept the Cuisenaire rods in the original box, too. We keep the Cuisenaire jumbo blocks in a plastic shoebox, and some of them have been lost. Me too. My dd was only allowed to have them out for math and NEVER in front of her little brother! :tongue_smilie: Now, she doesn't need them. They are just waiting for the little brother to need them in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amandamc0017 Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 We use a sturdy shoe box that my husband had. I think they were the box for a pair of hiking boot. Works fine and it's free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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