Every teacher needs to know how to store classroom center games. It is important to have an organized system for storing classroom center games and printables. Teachers need a neat storage option that is accessible to students and clearly labeled. Classroom center games can be stored in plastic mesh bags, containers, storage carts, dry erase pockets, ring binders, interactive bulletin boards, and pocket charts. Different examples that are easy to implement are listed below.

I love to find awesome classroom organization ideas. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission for purchases using my links. The ideas and paid links below are based on Amazon finds that are great for storing classroom centers.

How to Store Classroom Center Games in Drawer Carts

A rolling cart: A drawer storage cart is the best option for organizing your classroom centers. Label each drawer and you’ll have enough space for centers of different sizes. When teachers are asked about how to store classroom center games, this is how most of them do it.

How to Store Classroom Center Games in Pouches

Store classroom centers in mesh zipper bags: For center games that have multi-sized cards, I would recommend using these zipper bags. There are seven different sizes that you can choose from in the Amazon listing, and you can also choose assorted colors or black and white. After organizing your centers in these mesh bags, they can be stacked neatly in a basket or you can hang them from hooks. This is one of the most popular ways of storing classroom centers.

Store classroom centers in clear envelope pouches: These envelopes are large enough to hold papers of different sizes. They come in different translucent colors and have a snap closure on the front to keep your center activities securely put away.

Portable Dry Erase Pockets for Centers: For individual center activities, each student can their own transparent pocket that allows worksheets to show through with the ability to use an erasable marker to answer. When they are finished, just erase and it’s ready to use again.

Store centers in a bulletin board: Stick some plastic envelopes with snap closure like these, or Velcro closures to your bulletin board. Label each envelope with the center activity that will be stored in it.

Use pouches for ring binders: Clear pouches for ring binders have the three holes for keeping small cards secured in the binder. These are great for storing ‘busy binder’ classroom centers. 

How to Store Classroom Centers in Containers

Small storage container boxes: These color co-ordinated boxes all housed in one case. In the picture above, the teacher uses them for center games for her kindergarten students. The small boxes are easy for them to open and the storage case has slots built in to keep the boxes organized. You can number each box with sticker labels. They are great for storing flash cards too. The use of these storage boxes is becoming an increasingly popular idea for how to store classroom center games.

Stack them in a clear container: Stack your card games in a clear container. Cut out the original box label and stick in on the inside of the clear box to label it. Fold the ‘How to Play’ directions/rules and slide it on the side of the cards.

Keep centers in covered bins: I found a school that uses these 4 gallon storage bins for all of its standardized testing materials. The teachers add their own labels on the front and add cover sheets under the clear lids. They can work for classroom centers too.

Pocket charts for centers: Use a table top pocket chart to display flashcards. Decks of cards and classroom center games can be stored in a pocket chart with deep pockets.

Store centers in magnetic pockets: Use magnetic surfaces in your classroom for storing centers. Magnetic whiteboards, lockers, and the sides of filing cabinets can become storage areas just by using magnetic pockets. These are expandable sleeves (with a magnetic base) that you can keep handouts, worksheets, and centers in.

More Classroom Center Storage Ideas

Jumbo paperclips: These can be used to group books and classroom center activities together. I also think they can be used to group flashcards together.

Hang centers in party bags: Keep centers and manipulatives in party bags that you can hang on the wall. These bags are used for an independent reading center.

I hope that you were able to find classroom center strage ideas from this page. More ideas for how to store classroom center games will be added as I find them. Have you discovered a new way to store classroom centers? If you have, please share about it in the comments. Teachers are the ones who innovate and think up the most creative solutions for their classrooms.

If it’s one thing that most of these options have in common, it is that they have some degree of transparency. That is something I always need for classroom organization. If you also prefer to be able to clearly see what is being stored through your storage containers, see many different types of clear storage options in this blog post. The containers you will see can definitely be used to store your center games.

If you need labels for your classroom centers, I have lots of labels in different themes that you can check out in this center labels blog post.

If you have any questions, you can ask me anything in the comments below.