We had a lot of fun learning about different traditions this week! Our sensory groups explored boxes related to the different characters. The fine motor groups made holiday themed art projects and the language group made a tasty treat that any of the gift bringers would like to sample!
SENSORY GROUP
Children in France leave out carrots for Pere Noel’s donkey! There were 3 carrots to feed the donkeys—-ok so ours are actually horses, but that is all we had on hand 🙂
We put a picture of Pere Noel to find at the bottom of the box.
Science access point: identify basic need of animals.
Our box of garland was gold just like the Christkindl’s wings and hair!
The students had a lot of fun with the garland—-whether shaking OR wearing it!
Science access point: distinguish between objects in motion and at rest.
Los Reyes rice in the colors of the Spanish flag was very eye catching. There were numbers 1, 2, and 3 to find.
There was also a picture of the 3 kings at the bottom of the box.
Math access point: associate quantities with number names.
We put a whole bunch of Christmas things in this box——lots to explore and discover!
In a base of green, white, and red paper shred there was a mini kaleidoscope, mini sweater and scarf, reindeer, Santas, and other symbols of the season.
Of course, we included a Santa hat 🙂
Social studies access point: associate a celebration with an event, such as a holiday.
La Bafana fills children’s socks with candy. We thought our colorful pasta resembled candy and put in a small sock for the students to fill.
It was also fun to run hands through pasta to listen to it rattle.
Math access point: solve problems involving small quantities of objects using language such as enough, too much, or more.
Sinterklaus put coins and candy into children’s shoes! Chocolate cloud dough was perfect for this box and was so much fun to run fingers through. It smelled really good too!
Five colorful coins were hidden in the dough.
Social studies access point: recognize coins as money.
Our water play had 2 different sized scoops to use for scooping up foam letter C’s.
We used Bath and Body Works sugarplum swirl which gave the water a lovely holiday aroma!
Math access point: recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids.
The matching sugarplum swirl lotion was the perfect reminder of all the fun we had in group.
Whether placed on hands or behind ears 🙂
Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday we made Los Reyes Magos crowns. We used craft foam crowns we found at the craft store.
First, the students identified the color of their crown and glitter.
Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.
Then, they squeezed glue on to their crowns.
Science access point: apply a push to move an object.
Time to add glitter and sing our glitter song—–shake, shake, shake, that glitter 🙂
Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.
TA DA!!!
Our Kings and Queens like their crowns!
We are ready for 3 Kings Day!
On Wednesday, the students made ornaments for their families—-so they could become gift bringers!
First, the students identified a circle—-we used circle shaped embroidery hoops with fabric for this activity.
Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes, such as a circle.
Next, they glued precut felt trees to their ornaments. To attach the tree, they had to turn the tree to put the glued side down.
Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down.
Then, they  added pompoms to decorate their trees.
Math access point: match one object to a designated area to show one to one correspondence.
TA DA!!!
Our gift bringers…..
……with their fabulous gifts!!!!
LANGUAGE GROUP
We made a holiday sweet treat today. After we made it, we figured out a way to make it more appealing to the eye, but here’s the recipe for how we made it this week: Let’s Make A Sweet Holiday Snack Dip
We started by touching the milk. Students identified the COLD symbol to describe how it felt.
Science access point: recognize objects or materials as warm or cold.
Students who wanted to HELP pour the milk in the bowl had to locate the symbol HELP.
Next, we added 5 drops of green food coloring into the bowl. Students helped by counting out each drop. We observed the bowl to see that there were 2 different colors–green and white. We talked about how it would look DIFFERENT when we were done mixing.
Each student got to HELP turn on the mixer using our wireless switch.
Next, we crushed some Oreos. Our students HELPED by using a can to crush the Oreos.
Once they were crushed, we mixed them into the pudding.
We added some red sprinkles to the mix by singing our “shake shake shake the sprinkles” song we love so much 🙂
Each student had to request a PLATE by indicating WANT and then the picture of the plate or by verbalizing “I want plate”. They then had to request some pudding and Teddy Grahams (which were supposed to be for dipping, but this turned out to be a little bit difficult, so we used some spoons as well.)
Sooo…this turned out to look PRETTY interesting to say the least lol. We think this might be a better suggestion as to how to put this snack together: put the crushed Oreos in cups first, then put the green pudding on top and then top with the sprinkles. Much more appealing to the eye; however, our students didn’t seem to mind too much about how it looked as it tasted really yummy 🙂
Join us again next time for more fun and learning——Group by Group!
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