5 Activities with a Mystery Box (for All Ages!)

I created my first mystery box during my initial experience teaching a group of children. Over time, however, it proved useful for engaging learners from a wide range of age brackets in occasional ad-hoc tasks. In fact, if you’ve worked with me at any point along this journey, you’ve probably seen me carrying this tool into a classroom at least once.

In this post, I’ll share:

• 5 different activities you can try with a Mystery Box

• How I made mine

Ready?

Creating a Mystery Box

My very first version was a cardboard box. But in 2017, I decided to make a sturdier, long-lasting wooden version— which I still use to this day. I also decorated it with EVA sheets in different colours, but there are plenty of more eco-friendly options, such as upcycling fabric from old clothes or bags.

Here’s how I made it:

1. Assembling the box: 

   I glued the wooden panels together to form a cube. (Though a shoe box or pieces of cardboard are much easier to handle if you’re doing a quick DIY version.)

   
   

2. Making the opening: 

   I cut a circular hole on one side—large enough for a hand to fit comfortably—and covered it from the inside with black EVA. I then cut a slit through the middle so students could reach in.

   
   

3. Adding a handle: 

   To make it easier to carry, especially on my commute, I added a simple plastic handle on top.

   
   

4. Decorating: 

   This was the fun part. I used a different colour on each side to make it eye-catching. Then I drew question marks on glittery blue EVA, cut them out, and glued them onto every side except the one with the opening.

   
   

5. And voilà! 

   A Mystery Box that has now survived five schools, countless classes— and even a pandemic.

Looking for ideas on how to use yours? Here are some of my favourite activities.

Using a Mystery Box

1. Guessing Game 

I place different objects in the box, and students take turns reaching inside and identifying what they’re touching.

• In an adult lesson on travel, the box might contain a passport, sunglasses, keys, tickets, or coins.

• In a children’s lesson on food, it might hold toy foods (as in the photo).

2. Storytelling 

I sometimes fill the box with items from a book or traditional tale. When teaching Goldilocks, for example, I included miniature beds, dishes, a tree, a doll, and bears. Puppets can also help bring the story to life.

3. Vocabulary Practice 

For targeted vocabulary work, I write expressions on small pieces of paper and attach them to plastic balls. Students take turns drawing a ball and use the prompt for guessing games, role-plays, or short discussions.

4. Collective Narrative 

Once, I filled the box with completely random objects and challenged students to create a shared narrative that incorporated them all. The stories that emerged were pretty imaginative.

5. Number Review 

To practise numbers, I place small wooden numerals in the box and ask students to draw one. Then, I play an upbeat song while they walk around the classroom. When the music stops, they pair up and produce all possible number combinations with the digits they have.

For example, if one student has a 5 and the other a 3, they say "fifty-three" and "thirty-five".

Read more: https://www.izabellefernandes.com/post/my-top-7-songs-to-brighten-up-lessons

Have you ever used a mystery box in your lessons? If so, how?

I hope this post has been useful somehow. Until next time!