Let’s Go To The Zoo

The weather is beautiful so what better time to take a trip to the zoo! The students had a blast dressing up as different animals for our book and the rest of our activities were just as much fun! The sensory group explored boxes with lots of animals. The fine motor groups made animal art projects and the language group made a tasty treat.

SENSORY GROUP

This box was FILLED with zoo related items including plush and plastic animals. There were some sunglasses and an elephant visor—-in case of a sunny day! Other items included a little zookeeper, the word ZOO, a toy camera, some faux snake skin fabric, and some play food—-WOW so much to discover!

Recognize a model of a real object is a science access point. Recognize objects related to science by name is also a science access point that can be addressed here.

The students totally rocked those sunglasses 🙂

The students sorted these really eye catching pompoms into ZEBRA and TIGER piles. We included plastic animal figures by the respective dishes to provide an additional cue.

Match objects with similar observable properties is a science access point.

There was more matching going on in this box. This time the students matched the fake fun pieces to a little plush animal. The fake fur pieces were a real hit with the students!

Again, the science access point match objects with similar observable properties is addressed.

We thought that birdseed was pretty fitting for a unit on the zoo—-it is certainly something you might see there or even feed to some of the animals. There were letters to find that spelled the word ZOO. We also included a measuring cup and spoon for scooping fun!

Recognize that animals eat food is a science access point that can be addressed here.

The students cut bears and lions out of yellow play dough using cookie cutters. The bright yellow color was very eye catching!

Recognize a change in the appearance of an object is a science access point.

An ice cream snack might be the perfect treat while exploring the zoo on a hot day! To make our shaving cream look a little more like the real thing and add a bit of color, we added some candy sprinkles. As usual, the students had a blast!

Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.

Messy hands were rinsed in banana scented water filled with some fun animal bath toys (both the bubble bath and toys were found at Walmart). The students had lots of fun here!

Recognize different containers that hold liquids is a science access point.

Banana scented lotion—-found at World Market but no longer carried by them 🙂 This was a really strong scent that left our students smelling really YUMMY!

Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Tuesday the students made giraffes using this: giraffe

First, we identified the color of our paper using communication symbols.

Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.

Then they gave their giraffe its spots using a rolling pin covered with sticky backed foam circles!

We just put some brown paint on the circles and let the student go to town 🙂

Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.

We added 2 googlie eyes! Most of the students needed a little help with this part.

Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.

The giraffe was glued to a wooden paint stirrer and…….

TA DA!!!!!

On Wednesday the students made tigers using this: tiger

First we identified the color of our paper using communication symbols.

Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.

Then they gave the tiger its strips using a rolling pin—-this time covered in rubber bands! Thank you Pinterest 🙂

The students had fun with this part!

Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.

The tiger was glued to a piece of green paper by the adults —-to make sure the paint wasn’t smeared—-but the students identified its shape first!

Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes is a math access point.

We added 2 googlie eyes—–colorful ones we found at Dollar Tree!

Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.

TA DA!!!!!!!

Let’s go to the zoo!

LANGUAGE GROUP

We had a sweet treat that we think went right along with our zoo theme. Here is the recipe we used: Let_s Make Zebra Mousse

We started out by having our students indicate MAKE on their communication boards to indicate that we were making a recipe.

Our first ingredient was heavy whipping cream. Since we had to PUT in 2 cups of it, 2 students got to HELP. After one cup was put into the bowl, our students had to indicate that we needed MORE.

Solve problems involving small quantities of objects or actions using language such as enough, too much, or more is a math access point.

Next, we PUT some powdered sugar in the bowl. Again, the student who wanted to help had to raise their hand and also indicate HELP on their board.

Each student got to press the wireless switch to turn on the mixer. It took a while for the ingredients to get firm so our students had to indicate MORE each time the switch was passed along to indicate that we had more mixing to do.