We are back and this become a little tradition of ours; we are beginning the school year with a summer themed post highlighting what staff did over the summer. The sensory groups explored boxes related to the different places staff visited. The fine motor groups practiced their cutting skills and the language group made a refreshing summer treat!
SENSORY GROUP
Ms. Joi’s dad celebrated a milestone birthday this summer and we continued the celebration with birthday cake cloud dough 🙂 We added two cookie cutters to stamp the number 70.
Math access point: associate quantities with number names.
An astronaut, rocket ship, and stars could be found in our “spacey” black beans. Ms. Judi visited NASA with her family.
The rocket was a BIG hit!
Science access point: recognize a space related object.
Ms. Robin cruised around the British Virgin Islands so we put a flag banner and little boat in this box.
The boat was pretty much ignored—-waving the banner around was way more fun 🙂
Science access point: recognize an action as fast or slow.
Our yellow and green rice represented the colors of Brazil—-Ms. Maria vacationed there. There were 3 letter B’s and a picture of the Brazilian flag to find.
This colorful rice was very eye catching!
Science access point: recognize objects as the same.
Ms. Danni visited Iceland! Our kinetic sand was just like the black sand beach she saw there.
Fish molds added to the fun for our students.
Science access point: apply a push to move an object.
There were some laminated pieces to build castles in green Floam in this box. Ms. Joy got to see lots of castles while visiting the Scottish Highlands.
Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.
Dolphins and other fish swam around in our mini version of Discovery Cove. Ms. Ashley and her children got to swim with the dolphins there—-how cool is that!!!!
Our students were pretty intrigued with the dolphin and puffer fish toys.
Science access point: match living things with their habitats.
We used Sunset by the Pool Bath and Body Works lotion for our scent this week since it seemed the perfect reminder of summer fun 🙂
This scent was a hit!
Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday, the students made a camping scene using this template: tent
First, we identified the shape and color of our paper.
Math access point: recognize objects with two dimensional shapes.
Science access point: identify objects by one observable property such as color.
Then, they stamped silver stars on their paper—-to look like a starry night sky.
Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down.
The students cut the door opening of their tents. They had to be sure and STOP cutting at the end of the line.
Some of the students used switch operated scissors.
Math access point: solve problems involving small quantities of actions using language, such as enough, too much, or more.
The tent flaps were folded back and glued to the paper with a photo of each student inside.
TA DA!!
Summer camping fun!
On Wednesday, the students made a fun summer memory using colorful craft stick frames.
First, the identified a square.
Math access point: recognize objects with two dimensional shapes.
Then, they used paper cutters to cut a squares out of old calendar pages. We counted the sides of the square as we trimmed it.
Math access point: recognize the sides of a square.
Next, they glued on a picture of themselves on fabulous tropical beach scenes.
Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.
TA DA!!!
Tropical Island fun!
We had a great summer!!
LANGUAGE GROUP
Because it’s still hot here, we decided to make a nice cool drink that we could enjoy during this heat. In honor of the watermelon festival that one of our staff members went to this summer, we are making watermelon lemonade! Here is the recipe we used: Let’s Make Watermelon Lemonade.
We started by measuring out 4 cups of chopped watermelon. We had a measuring cup that can hold 2 cups, so we talked about how we would have to measure the watermelon 2 times. We had 2 students HELP PUT the watermelon in the blender.
Math access point: recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids.
Next, we had to squeeze 4 lemons. Our students HELPED by pressing a switch to activate the juicer. We counted how many lemons we had squeezed. Each student got to smell and then taste a little bit of lemon. They got to say if they LIKED or did NOT LIKE the smell and also got to indicate that the lemon tasted SOUR.
Science access point: recognize and respond to one type of sensory stimuli.
After we poured the lemon juice into the blender, our students HELPED TURN the blender on by activating a switch.
Science access point: recognize that electrical systems must be turned on in order to work.
Once the watermelon and lemon juice was all mixed up, we poured it into a pitcher. Next, we added some water. Each student felt the jug of water. They had to indicate whether it felt HOT or COLD. We had to PUT 6 cups in, so 3 DIFFERENT students got to HELP.
Science access point: recognize objects or materials as warm or cold.
Finally, we added some sugar and stirred it all up until the sugar dissolved.
Science access point: recognize a common substance that dissolves in water.
Each student had to request some of the lemonade by indicating that they WANTED some.
Pretty good first treat of the year!
We are so happy to be back and are looking forward to all the exciting things we have planned for the year.
Join us next time for more fun and learning——Group by Group!