April is National Poetry Month so we decided to make nursery rhymes our theme this week! Our sensory groups had lots of messy fun exploring boxes related to different characters. Our fine motor groups made some fun animal character art projects and the language group made a yummy treat based on nursery rhyme character.
SENSORY GROUP
There were three number 3’s to find in our Old King Cole black bean “coal”. The students had fun discovering the hidden numbers as they ran their hands through the beans.
They also like picking up handfuls and watching them drop back into the box.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
Little Bo Peep’s lost sheep could be found in this box as well as some geese—that perhaps belonged to Mother Goose!
Both sets of animals came in a variety of sizes, shapes, and textures for sorting fun.
Match animals that are the same is a science access point.
Our Jack Be Nimble box contained Wikki Stix which are waxed strings like candles.
We also put a light toy that looked a little like a candle when the button was pushed.
The students really had fun with this.
The science access point recognize a source of light energy and the science access point initiate a change in the motion of an object are addressed with this activity.
Spiders scared Little Miss Muffet away but ours were super cute and not scary at all! We had 2 cute little furry spiders, one that jiggled when it’s string was pulled, and a discovery bottle with spiders that scuttled up and down.
The science access point track objects in motion can be addressed here.
Lots of giggles were heard with this box 🙂
The Queen of Hearts and the baker both love to bake so this box was filled with red velvet cake mix. We put in 2 different size scoops and a heart shaped cookie cutter for our little bakers to play with.
This was pretty messy but LOTS of fun 🙂
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
Speaking of Little Miss Muffet, we learned that curds and whey are kind of like cottage cheese. We added cotton balls to our oobleck to get a lumpy kind of texture and were pretty pleased with the results. The oobleck started out white with each group but hands that had explored the red velvet cake mix tinged it pink!
The science access point demonstrate pushing away (repulsion) and pulling (attraction) is addressed here.
While rinsing their hands, the students had fun playing with Jack and Jill’s pail along with a couple of different size scoops.
The science access point recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids (capacity) is addressed here.
As a nod to our Baker and the Queen of Hearts, both our water and lotion were raspberry scented (from Bath and BodyWorks). It was a really yummy smell that our students loved!
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday our students made handprint sheep!
First we discussed the shape of our paper and asked the students to identify it using communication symbols.
Recognize common objects with 2-dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Next we painted one of their hands with white paint. The students were pretty intrigued with this step 🙂
Then we helped them press their hands onto our grassy green paper.
The science access point recognize a change in an object is addressed here.
After their hands were cleaned, the students put 3 cotton balls onto their sheep’s tummy.
Match objects to designated spaces to show one-to-one correspondence is math access point.
Ta Baaaaaaa Da!
Tell Little Bo Peep we found her sheep 🙂
On Wednesday it was all about mice with our Hickory Dickory Dock clock! Our fabulous volunteers did all the set up for this project—-thanks ladies! Here is the template for the mice:mouse template for clock
We started by asking the students to out “mouse heads” using adaptive scissors—-counting how many cuts it took, of course! We also discussed the fact that the shape was a TRIANGLE!
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
After they finished cutting out triangles, the students glued them onto an OVAL shaped body—complete with colorful tail. They added 2 big CIRCLE ears and 1 little circle nose were added.
Recognize similarities and differences in size of common objects is a math access point.
Ta tick tock Da!!!
The students were SO proud!
To finish up, the students glued their mice onto the fabulous clock that our volunteers made. Then we counted them!
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
LANGUAGE GROUP
We channeled Humpty Dumpty for our language group and made some egg salad. We had already pre-boiled the eggs and cut them up.
Before we put them in the bowl, we let each of our students smell the eggs——and got some pretty funny faces from some of the students 🙂
Recognize and respond to one type of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
Once the eggs were put INTO the bowl, our students counted out the spoonfuls of mayo (2) and the squirts of yellow mustard (3) that we put into the bowl as well.
Solve simple problems involving going or separating sets of objects to 5 is a math access point.
Our students helped POUR the cut up green onions and pickles into the bowl and helped SHAKE a little salt and pepper in as well.
We had to STIR the ingredients around until they were all mixed up.
We made 1 sandwich and cut it in HALF to make 2. Then we cut one of the halves in half and counted 3 pieces and then cut the other half and counted 4 pieces. Math with food is always a fun and YUMMY thing!
Partition a rectangle into equal parts with equal area is a math access point that can be addressed with this activity.
Since it was her last day, we also had a surprise for Joy’s practicum student——yummy cupcakes! We are sure going to miss you Ali!