This week our book focused on what some of the adults, such as the registrar, resource officer, and bus coordinator, do at school. Our sensory group boxes were themed around some of these jobs. The fine motor groups made thank-you cards and the language group passed these cards out to those featured in our book. This theme compliments this month’s Unique Curriculum unit on Community Leaders.
SENSORY GROUP
Our reading coach box had a base of paper shred—of course! We also put in some books, toy figures from books, and word cards. One of the books had buttons that made noise when pressed which made it quite popular with the students.
The language access point identify characters or objects in familiar stories can be addressed here.
Our registrar deals with lots of NUMBERS, so we put some numbers for our students to find in our blue and yellow rice. Blue and yellow are our school colors. There was also a picture of a school to find at the bottom of the box.
The math access point associate quantities with number names can be addressed here.
Our yellow play dough had blue confetti mixed in it. With school colors and a cookie cutter in the shape of our mascot, the owl, we decided to call this the ” Principal Play Dough”.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
There were some toy medical items along with medicine cups and a little “student” in our school nurse box. Not only was the bear fun to take care of, but he made funny little noises when squeezed. The stethoscope, however, was the hit of this box!
Recognize a model of a real object is a science access point.
The bus coordinator’s box featured the letters B U S to find and a toy bus in our box of dried bean “gravel”.
Match objects by one observable property, such as shape, is a science access point.
To represent our lunchroom staff we went with some real food for our messy play this week—-jello! There were some play foods and a variety of play kitchen tools in the box and at the bottom was a picture of some healthy foods to eat.
This was definitely a messy box and not all our students were that enthusiastic about exploring it, but those who did had a blast!
Recognize a model of a real object is a science access point.
We are lucky enough to have swimming as part of our PE program at school. Our little miniature pool had some pool noodles, scoops, and a funnel. Lots of fun here!
Recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids is a math access point.
Back to the cafeteria for our scent this week. We went with mango mandarin from Bath and Body Works.
It had a nice citrusy smell that students liked on their arms, hands, or behind ears.
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday the students made thank you cards for the staff featured in our book.
First, we used communication symbols to identify the shape of our paper.
Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Next, the students folded their paper in half to make a card. They had to press down along the edge to make a crease.
Recognize a change in the appearance of an object is a science access point.
Using a glue stick, the students adhered a piece of paper with the words “thank you for all you do to help our school” onto the inside of their cards. They had to turn the paper over so that it would stick!
Recognize when an object is added to a situation is a math access point.
The students used foam stamps to paint 2 different figures (a boy and a girl) onto their cards. With each stamp, we emphasized that they were to only stamp 1 time.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
TA——thank you—— DA!
We made some super cute cards!
On Thursday the students made more thank you cards!
First, they identified the shape and color of our paper.
Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.
Like our Wednesday group, the students folded their paper in half to make a card and pressed down along the edge to make a crease.
Recognize a change in the appearance of an object is a science access point.
Using a glue stick, the students adhered a piece of paper with the words “thank you for all you do to help our school” onto the inside of their cards.
Recognize when an object is added to a situation is a math access point.
Next, the students used markers to draw stems and vines onto the front of their cards.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
The students moved an empty plastic bottle UP and DOWN to stamp blue flowers. We have used this technique before and it is always a hit!
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down is a science access point.
TA DA!!!!
Fabulous thank you cards!
LANGUAGE GROUP
For this week’s language group activity, we handed out some of the thank you cards we made earlier in the week.
For our first stop, we visited the front office.
The students were instructed to GIVE the card to our honoree.
The phrase “thank you for all you do for our school” was recorded on a voice output device.
Everybody loved their cards!
We showed the students the cards we had left and asked them if we were FINISHED or if we had MORE to deliver! Everyone agreed there were more cards to hand out!
More cards meant MORE SMILES 🙂
Thank you for joining us this week for more fun and learning—–Group by Group!
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