Welcome back! We hope everyone had a fun filled summer. Cara, our SLP had an especially wonderful one—-she welcomed the most beautiful baby boy to her family! With Cara on maternity leave, Joi and Joy will be doing a little scrambling to fill her shoes—-so bear with us for the next few weeks until she gets back 🙂 Thankfully Ms. Robin and Ms. Nancy are also helping us out with communication supports!
For our first theme we are chose to feature photos from some of our teachers who were lucky enough to go on a cruise over the summer! Our sensory boxes focused on places you might go or things you might see on a cruise. The fine motor groups made boat related art projects and the language group had fun comparing a cruise to Alaska and a cruise to The Bahamas.
SENSORY GROUP
With our vibrating massager and recorded cruise ship sounds on a voice output device our students got to experience some of the feel of being on a cruise. There was also a glittery ocean themed discovery bottle.
Recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
The vibrating tube was a big hit with the students 🙂
Tropical islands are popular cruise ship destinations. There were shells, a great big plastic foot for making footprints in the sand, some little palm trees, and a little crab hanging out on the beach.
The students found everything to be pretty intriguing!
The sifter spoon we included was especially fun!
The science access point track objects in motion can be addressed here.
Our Disney cruise box included a variety of Disney paraphernalia such as cartoon figures and a set of Mickey Mouse ears. We also put in some sunglasses, beads, and some play food! Lots to explore and discover in this box.
The language access point communicate recognition of familiar objects can be addressed here.
The Mickey Mouse ears were especially popular….
our students totally rock a hat 🙂
There were 2 polar bears ( thank you Ms. Caressa) and a little seal playing in the snow of our Alaska cruise box. There was also a small shovel for scooping fun.
Recognize similarities and differences in size of common objects is a math access point.
Neon food coloring made this bright ocean blue play dough really eye catching! The students cut out boats and dolphins using cookie cutters.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
This was an especially popular box this week!
We encouraged the students to make wavy motions in our shaving cream “ocean foam”.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Different animals might be spotted from a cruise ship, so we included a seal, dolphin, whale, and fun penguin strainer in our water play.
A little boat and measuring cup scoop added to the fun.
The science access point match common living things with their habitats can be addressed here.
Bath and Body Works coconut scented lotion was a perfect end to our group this week. The students really liked the aroma.
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Wednesday we made cruise ship port holes using paper plates.
First the students identified a circle using communication symbols.
Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes is a math access point.
They chose which color marker they wanted to use.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.
Then they used dot markers to decorate the front of their port holes. We asked the students to stamp UP and DOWN.
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship is a math access point.
They identified their photos and glued them on to paper plates.
Recognize a change in the appearance of an object is a science access point.
Adults stapled the 2 paper plates together and……
TA DA! Time to set sail!
On Thursday the students used corn syrup paint and this to make their art project: Cruise ship template
First, using communication symbols or AAC devices, they identified the color of the paper.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.
Next, they glued their ship DOWN on to the paper.
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship is a math access point.
We poured some corn syrup (tinted with blue food coloring) over the paper and the students used their brushes to spread it around the paper.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
TA DA!!
Anchors Aweigh!
LANGUAGE GROUP
This week we asked the students to identify whether a presented item went with a cruise to The Bahamas or Alaska. The adults emphasized that in the Bahamas it’s HOT and in Alaska it’s COLD. In addition to visual supports we used actual objects or models. The social studies access point associate a picture with a place is addressed in this activity.
Here are some of the questions we asked:
If you went to The Bahamas would you need a parka or a bathing suit?
If you went to Alaska would you need a hat to shade your eyes or to keep your ears warm?
Would you see polar bears or parrots in Alaska?
If you went to Alaska would you have a snowball fight or play in the sand?
What kind of food would you eat in the Bahamas—-Alaskan salmon or bananas?
Our students needed a few prompts in order to correctly identify some of the objects, but they did a pretty great job overall. We think they’re ready to go on their own cruise!
It was a great start to the school year so join us next time for more fun and learning—-Group by Group!
Don’t forget if you follow us, you HAVE to click on the confirmation email that gets sent to use (and be sure to check your SPAM folder because it sometimes ends up there).