What do you get when suggested themes of monkeys, Cinderella, and birthdays are accidentally combined—–Cinderella Monkey’s Birthday—–of course 🙂 Once we finished laughing we figured birthday parties and animals make a perfect combination.
It was lots of fun to put together both the book and all our activities. The sensory groups explored party themed boxes, the fine motor groups made party related art projects, and the language group had a birthday party treat!
SENSORY GROUP
We filled this box with everything party including ribbons, bows, and a mylar balloon. There was some fun play food like cookies and soda. We even put in a replica of the party girl herself—-Cinderella Monkey 🙂
The science access point recognize a model of a real object can be addressed here.
Since birthdays are all about how old you are, we put some numbers in our colorful rainbow rice. There was also a picture of a birthday cake to find underneath the box.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
This next party box was filled with lights and music. There were a variety of light toys and the Happy Birthday song recorded on a voice output device.
Recognize and respond to one type of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
In our story, Lily Ladybug wants to give the birthday girl a hug. When the students gave our ladybug pillow a hug, it vibrated—–so much fun! This was definitely the favorite item this week 🙂
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
Colorful glitter helped make “funfetti” cloud dough. There were scoops and spoons for the students to use to make birthday cakes. Colorful dowels made for perfect candles.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
We continued with the “funfetti” theme by adding confetti to our oobleck this week. Bright and shiny—-this stuff was irresistible!
The science access point track objects in motion can be addressed here.
There were a bunch of party animals in the water play this week 🙂 These fun bath toys were fun for the students to scoop out with our 2 different sized scoops.
Recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids is a math access point.
Lemonade is the perfect party drink so we chose Bath and BodyWorks pink lemonade for our water 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 wrapped presents—-sort of 🙂
First the students used communication symbols to identify a square. Our squares were cut from colorful wallpaper scraps.
Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Then the students cut 1 piece of paper into 2 pieces to make the ribbons for our present.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
The students glued their paper ribbons onto their presents—-one going “up and down” and the other going “across”.
Recognize when an object is added to a situation is a math access point.
A big bow for a finishing touch and….
……….Ta Da, Happy Birthday Cinderella Monkey!
On Wednesday the students made a birthday cake using this: cake template
First we identified the number 3 since that was how many candles we were going to put on the cake.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
What is a cake without frosting! The students decorated their cakes with homemade puffy paint (shaving cream and glue mixture).
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
A little glitter never hurts 🙂
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Time to add the candles! We used these cool striped chenille stems that look a lot like real candles—-so cool!
The math access point solve simple problems involving joining together sets of objects to 3 can be addressed here.
Ta Da!
                              Time to eat cake!
LANGUAGE GROUP
We were back to cooking this week in the language group 🙂
This week we made Birthday Cake Milkshakes using this recipe: Let_s Make a Birthday Cake Milkshake
We started out by taking out the ice cream and letting everyone feel it. We talked about how it felt COLD. Some of our students didn’t really seem fazed by how cold it felt while others really didn’t like it.
Recognize objects or materials as warm or cold is a science access point.
Once we put the icecream in the blender, we POURed in the milk. Our students then helped us count out FOUR tablespoons of cake batter mix which we added.
The math access point recognize the quantity of a set of objects to 3 and add 1 more can be addressed here.
Our students took turns turning the blender ON using a wireless switch. Once it was nice and smooth, we added some colorful sprinkles. 
Again, our students helped us count out 4 tablespoons.
Once that was all mixed up, we counted out how many cups we needed and then poured the milkshake into each one. When it was time to put the whipped cream on, only a little bit was put in each cup and our students had to convey if they wanted MORE or if they were ALL DONE.
Indicate desire for more of an action or object or indicate desire for no more of an action or object are math access points.
YUM! It turned out great!
Birthdays are so much fun aren’t they 🙂 Join us again for for fun and learning—–Group by Group!