I am so excited to share this FUN and MOTIVATIONAL classroom management tools/incentive board…PUNCH IT! This board is super easy to make, only requiring a few tools. How it works is students earn letters (one letter at a time) on the whiteboard every time the class is working well as a whole. For example, if the class is working cooperatively in groups, you would compliment them and write the letter “P” on the board. The next time you catch the class doing something great you would write the letter “U” on the board. Once the class has earned all of the letters, plus the exclamation mark (PUNCH IT!), they get to punch out one of the cups.
Inside the cups are strips of paper with a class prize on it. I have included 35 free class idea strips for you, as well as a blank template for you to quickly write in your own ideas. These are prizes like “Movie and lunch with the teacher,” “Teacher surprise,” etc.. Many of the prizes are open for interpretation, too. 😉 Students LOVE getting to punch the cups and it’s fun to see them working together as a class to earn a “punch.”
Here’s a quick peek at the PUNCH IT! prize strips I have included:
Here’s what you need to make your own PUNCH IT! board:
1. One large 30×40 foam board (found at Staples for less than $10)
2. 35 plastic cups (I used the pastel bulk pack from Costco)
2. A pack of rubber bands
3. Different colored tissue paper
4. A hot glue gun/glue
5. PUNCH IT! prize strips
Here’s how you make the PUNCH IT! board:
1. Lay the foam board on a hard, flat surface and evenly spread out the 35 cups. Make sure you leave enough room for your title, “PUNCH IT!”
2. Use the hot glue gun to glue down each cup in place and let the glue dry overnight.
3. Place your prize strips inside of each cup.
4. Cut the tissue paper into square sized pieces that will fit over the opening of each cup. Put one piece of tissue on each cup and secure it with a rubber band.
5. Add PUNCH IT! letters to the top of the board. That’s it! Easy peasy!
Your board is ready to go and can easily last the entire school year! The great thing about this board is that all you have to do to set it up again is print the prize strips and cover the cups with tissue!
I have also seen a punch board used for test review! You can put review questions in each cup and make a game out of it. You could also use this board for sight words, punching out one extra special sight word for the week, or even use it daily as an “exit ticket” class review question. So many possibilities….
Let me know over on Instagram if you plan to make your own Punch It! board!
I HAVE to try this. I do something similar, but it doesn't involve punching…that part is genius!!!
This is such a cute idea, Erin!! 🙂
Thank you! I love how motivated students get to earn a "punch!" 🙂
I love this idea! How do you decide who gets to actually punch for a prize?
Great idea. I'm not a teacher but I am a mom with 2 young teens that need to get along better. I will use this idea in my home. It's fun, colorful, and they'll get prized for improving their relationship. Great!!!
Hi, Aimee! I almost always used Flip Sticks to decide who got to punch, that way it was random. However, one year I did let the "Star of the Week" be the "puncher," and that was a big hit, too! Those two ways always helped me avoid the "It's not fair," comments. Best of luck in your classroom! Erin 🙂
Great idea! What is actually holding up the board? How do you make it sturdy?
Hello! I actually don't attach the board to anything, as I like to be able to move it around the room. I just hold the board steady as students make their "punch." 🙂
I just made my Punch It board for this school year. I love how it came out and I can't wait to try it with my group of firsties! Thank you for the great idea!
Awesome! If you end up taking a picture of it, I would love to see it! You can tag me over on Instagram @inspiredelementary
Have a wonderful start of your year! Erin
How did you glue the cups securely? I tried a rendition of this for a birthday party as a punch piñata and the cups didn't hold in tact very well. Any pointers you have would be great!
Hi, Cori! So sorry, I missed this comment…I used a hot glue gun and did a double layer of glue on the cup before securing it to the board. Also, I used foam board, which seemed to secure the cups the best. I do tell students that they have to punch in the cup, and not at it, too. 😉 Hope that helps!
Erin
That,s a great idea and i;m going to try it.
Thank you, Fatima! 🙂
Does each child punch it? I have a class of 6. Thanks.
Wow great idea, I am definitely going to try it in my esl classroom.