Our staff are such a fun loving group that we decided to showcase them for our first theme of the year! We thought our students would also get a kick out of seeing the adults around them being a little goofy 🙂 The sensory, fine motor, and language groups this week were all related to the different ways the staff have fun!
So, welcome back to school and let the fun and learning begin!
SENSORY GROUP
Every time we have an event at school, someone dresses up as Hootie the Owl—-our school mascot. For Hootie we put a little owl and the letters O-W-L in a box filled with birdseed. We don’t use birdseed a lot but it has a really cool feel that our students really loved exploring.
The science access point recognize common objects in the environment is addressed here.
Digging holes on a sandy beach is a fun way to spend an afternoon! Our little beach contains kinetic sand which is always a lot of fun especially with the little shovel and rake we put in this box.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Playing with their dogs is another way some of our teachers have fun. The students used a dog shaped cookie cutter to cut out some green play dough puppies. We chose the unusual color because it’s Ms. Robin’s favorite color and she gave us her picture for our book 🙂
The science access point apply a push to move an object is addressed here. The math access point associate quantities with number names can also be addressed.
Our annual Talent Contest is always a hit with both students and staff showing off their talents! The Dancing Divas were totally fun and this box contained some props and voice output device with recorded music letting the students channel their own inner divas!
Recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli is a science access point that can be addressed here.
Joy got to hang out with some Norwegian mountain trolls last summer—-how cool is that! In this box, 3 laminated trolls were added to climb around or hide in our grey Floam mountain.
The math access point associate quantities with number names can be addressed here.
Everyone knows teachers LOVE to glitter things—–so this week we glittered our shaving cream! We chose a bright pink glitter that was REALLY eye-catching.
Track the movement of objects that are pushed or pulled is a science access point.
Our water play basin was a little smaller than the water slide from Fun Day but there was still fun to be had. The students were pretty intrigued watching the spinning water wheel.
The science access point observe and recognize a predictable cause-effect relationship related to a science topic can be addressed here.
Ms. Maria sure looked like she was having fun eating her Columbian mango dessert so we used Bath and BodyWorks mango scent for both our water play and lotion this week. It was a nice sweet scent that the students really liked.
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday our students used glitter to decorate some “Dancing Diva” musical notes made from black construction paper using this: music note
We started by letting our students choose which color glitter they wanted to use. They had a choice of green, red, or purple—–with the overwhelming favorite being PURPLE!
The language access point adjust body movement or nonverbal expression with prompting as necessary to communicate wants and needs is addressed here.
After squeezing out some glue, the students used a brush to spread it around.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Singing to the tune of that KC and The Sunshine Band song it’s “Time to SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, Shake that glitter”!
The math access point solve problems involving small quantities of actions using language, such as enough, too much, or more can be addressed here.
TA la la DA!
                                 So sparkly!
On Wednesday the students again used glitter but this time they decorated some wooden door hangers. These were left over from another project and we had just enough for this group!
First the students chose their door hanger and then used  brushes to “paint” them with glue.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Next the students identified each glitter color using communication symbols.
Match objects with similar observable properties, such as color is a science access point.
Then the students used the different colored glitters to decorate their door hangers. Shaking that glitter again 🙂
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Ta DA!
                               Glitterville!!!
LANGUAGE GROUP
It is SOOOOO hot here, so our recipe was a cold one that was very appreciated! This week we made mango frosties. Here is the recipe we used: Let_s Make a Mango Frosty!
Throughout the group, picture symbols were presented to the students to help them locate the appropriate symbols on their communication boards. The adults in the room helped model the use of the boards.
We started by measuring out the coconut milk. We talked about how we needed a measuring cup rather than measuring spoons. We then added the honey, vanilla, and salt. Our students were great helpers and poured each ingredient into the food processor.
Recognize when an object is added to or taken away from a situation is a math access point.
Since Cara accidentally forgot the lime at home (whoops!), we skipped that part and went onto the frozen mangoes and bananas.  We brought the frozen fruit around and each student touched the bag. We talked about how COLD the bags were.
Recognize objects or materials as warm or cold is a science access point.
Once all the ingredients were in the food processor, our students helped turn it on by activating a switch. It took a little while to get really smooth so each student had a chance to help out.
The math access point solve problems involving small quantities of objects or action using language, such as enough, too much, or more is addressed here.
When the frosty was ready, we counted out cups for each of our friends.
                             We needed 7!
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
Then, our favorite part, we got to eat!
YUM!!!!!!
What a great start to the school year!
Join us again next time for more fun and learning——-Group by Group!