Build a Lunchbox

Quick Answer

Children pack a pretend lunch while practicing matching, planning, fine motor skills, and food vocabulary. Follow a picture packing card or choose different foods to create a lunch of their own. The colorful watercolor pictures make it easy for preschoolers to recognize foods and talk about what they packed.

What’s Inside

This 14-page printable PDF includes:

• Five lunchbox mats in blue, purple, pink, green, and orange

• 24 illustrated food and drink cards

• Eight picture packing cards, each showing four foods to match

• A black-and-white “My Lunchbox” drawing page

• A teacher’s guide with setup instructions and activity ideas

• A cover page with Preschool Vibes Standards

How to Use

Print the resource on 8.5 × 11-inch paper. Cut apart the food pieces and picture packing cards, then laminate the reusable materials. Add Velcro dots to the backs of the food pieces and matching dots inside the lunchbox compartments.

Children can choose a packing card, find its four matching foods, and arrange them in their lunchbox. For open-ended play, set the packing cards aside and let children create their own combinations.

Invite children to name their foods, describe their lunch, or give a friend directions for packing. Use the “My Lunchbox” page for children to draw foods they would choose.

Preschool Vibes Standards

• 1E. We can make a simple plan and follow steps during play (build, create, complete).

• 3C. We can use vocabulary to describe, explain, and share ideas.

• 8C. We can use our hands and fingers to build and manipulate materials.