Category Archives: Education

Nov4

Candy Land

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Candy Land

Every kid’s favorite board game and perfect theme for the end of October—-Candy Land! The sensory groups explored boxes related to each of the characters in the game. The fine motor groups made candy inspired art projects and the language group hosted a Candy Land party. It was a super fun week!

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

Candy colored beans filled this King Candy box. There were letter K’s and C’s to find and match in this eye catching box.

 

 

 

Science access point: identify objects by an observable property, such as size, shape, and color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students used Mr. Potato Head pieces and purple Bubber to make their own Plumpy characters. We like how the Bubber feels a lot like circus peanuts, making it perfect for this unit!

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our snowflake umbrella is showing it’s age, but it still looked pretty with the glittery foam candy shapes we added. We think Queen Frostine would certainly approve!

 

 

 

 

The students had fun counting the gingerbread men and candy eggs that were hanging down.

Math access point: associate quantities with number names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a couple more photos—-they really liked this umbrella!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red and black was the theme for Lord Licorice’s box.

 

 

 

 

 

There were hard beads and soft chenille stems to explore or sort.

Science access point: match objects by an observable property, such as size, shape, and color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A circle shaped cookie cutter was used to make “lollipops” in colorful rainbow kinetic sand.

 

 

 

So mesmerizing to watch the colors oozing together! The Lollipop Princess would just love this stuff 🙂

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes, such as a circle or square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The character Gloppy is a big drippy fudge monster. With the addition of cocoa powder and some big googlie eyes, the students made their own Gloppy monsters!

 

 

 

Lots of drippy fun!

Math access point: recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students scooped out foam noodle “peppermints” in our water play this week. We also added Bath and Body Works peppermint scented bubble bath to the water for a totally Mr. Mint experience!

 

 

 

Science access point: track objects in motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used the matching peppermint scented lotion to leave our students smelling sweet as candy this week 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

This strong sweet scent really captured the students’ attention!

Science access point: recognize and respond to one type of sensory stimuli.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Wednesday the students made glittery paper lollipops!

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

 

 

 

 

 

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes, such as a circle or square.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, the students painted glue on to the circle. The lollipop stick was already attached so that made it easier for the students to hold.

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move.

 

 

 

 

 

Then, it was time to “shake, shake, shake that glitter”.

We passed each color around so everyone got a little (or a lot) of each color 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize that the appearance of an object or material has changed.

 

 

 

 

TA—-lollipop—- DA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWEET!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday the students made mini Candy Land boards—-and put themselves in the game!

First, we looked at a real Candy Land game board and identified its shape. The students used communication devices, verbalization, or pointing to communicate their answer.

 

 

 

 

 

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes, such as a circle or square.

 

 

 

 

Each student got to choose a different colored strip of paper. Of course, we asked them to identify the color of their strip using communication symbols.

 

 

 

 

Science access point: identify objects by an observable property, such as size, shape, and color.

 

 

 

 

Then, they cut on the lines to make squares. The students used regular scissors, adapted scissors, or switch operated scissors to cut their paper.

 

 

 

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes, such as a circle or square.

 

 

 

 

 

We divided up the different colored squares among the students so the students could start gluing them down on their “game boards”. Adults drew a curvy guide line with a pencil.

 

 

 

 

Math access point: recognize the next step in a simple pattern or sequence of activities.

 

 

 

 

Cute little gingerbread men (we traced around a cookie cutter to get the shape) with the students faces were added and……….Ta DA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s Play Candy Land!

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

We decided to have a little party during the language group this week.  The students in the language group got dressed up as the characters in Candy Land for a parade.

 

 

 

We talked about who was in the FRONT of the parade and who was in the BACK of the parade.

 

 

 

 

We made our way all around the elementary building,

and the crowd was pretty entertained!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we all joined together to have a little Candy Land party!

Students were able to request what they wanted to eat using picture symbol sentence strips.  They had to indicate “I want _____” in order to get what they wanted: M&Ms, Trix, chips, or a drink.

 

 

 

 

If they were not given a lot at first, they had to request MORE.

 

 

 

 

We practiced our social skills with our friends while listening to Halloween music and eating our snacks.

 

 

 

 

 

We had lots of fun all around 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone got to pose in front of the backdrop we used in our Candy Land book.

 

 

 

Say CANDY LAND!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

What a great way to end the month, join us again next time for more fun and learning—-Group by Group!

Also, don’t forget to look for your confirmation email if you want to follow us. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your SPAM folder!

Nov3

October After Party

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October After Party

Welcome to the After Party! Each week after the weekly blog featuring activities in the elementary department is posted, our sensory cart is parked in the media center where it is available for check out by the rest of the school.

Here are photos teachers have sent of their students exploring the different sensory boxes during the month of October 2018.

Our school wide theme this year is Lights! Camera! Action! The sensory boxes accompanying this unit were matched to featured movies.

The Jumanji jungle umbrella was colorful and eye catching!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Power Ranger sand was fun to sift.

 

 

 

 

There were 4 letter P’s to find buried in the sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students loved the Jurassic Park box.

 

 

 

 

There were lots of dinosaurs, plants, and even a jeep!

 

 

 

 

The Indiana Jones box had some colorful snakes buried in equally colorful lentils.

Not scary at all!

 

 

 

There were lots of Star Wars characters to find here.

There was also a light saber and Darth Vader mask!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superman flew through around a rainbow……

……and some shaving cream clouds.

 

 

 

Hands were rinsed in a pirate lagoon.

This was our nod to The Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our next unit celebrated Italy!

The students found letters spelling ITALY in a box of red, white, and green rice.

 

 

 

The rice was in the colors of the Italian flag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had a lot of fun making “spaghetti and meatballs”!

Great find motor practice with the tongs we put in the box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This box contained a variety of items that represented Italian symbols.

 

 

 

We also recorded some authentic Italian music on a voice output device.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grey Floam was shaped into the roman colosseum.

 

 

 

 

Laminated romans and a chariot were included.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The country of Italy is shaped like a boot.

Students cut out boots in play dough using cookie cutters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We put a fishing net and some fish in our water play.

 

 

 

 

There was also a small “gondola”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italy’s active volcanos were represented with our flame colored oobleck to which we added some pop rocks.

This was a hit!

 

 

 

Our Florida Animals unit complemented the Unique Curriculum theme for the month.

We had a miniature Everglades Swamp!

Complete with bugs and alligators, of course!

 

 

 

 

The students searched for plastic birds in this box of birdseed.

Some of them loved just burying their hands down into the box.

 

 

 

 

 

More birds (pictures of seagulls and pelicans this time) could be found at the bottom of the sandy beach box.

They had a lot of fun with funnels and scoops included.

 

 

 

 

There are lots of squirrels in Florida.

Students used a squirrel shaped cookie cutter to cut some out of moon sand.

 

 

 

 

Animals found in Florida waters such as sharks and dolphins were found in our water play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students also enjoyed the plush black bears in this box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were a variety of Florida animals to find in this woodland box.

Animal sounds were recorded on a voice output device.

 

 

 

 

 

We finished the month celebrating National Book Month with a unit on our favorite book characters.

They made Babar sculptures out of green Floam and had lots of fun with cheerleader pompoms—-

our stand in for Truffula trees!

 

 

 

The Fancy Nancy box was a favorite!

So much fun!

 

 

There were feather boa’s, beads, and fancy sunglasses.

 

 

 

 

Our students can totally rock a pair of sunglasses!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were 4 letter P’s to find

 

 

 

 

in our Pinkalicious rice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Very Hungry Caterpillar box was bright and colorful.

There was play food to feed the caterpillar.

 

 

 

The students had fun making Amelia Bedelia shaving cream pies!

Messy fun is always a hit.

 

 

 

 

We used cheerleader shaker pompoms as a stand in for Truffula trees.

Lots of giggles with these.

 

 

 

 

The letters R E A D were scooped out of water….

scented with banana scented bubble bath!

 

 

 

Thanks for joining the After Party—-see you next month!

 

 

 

 

Oct28

Favorite Book Character book

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Favorite Book Character book

It’s National Book Month this month so we are taking a look at some of our favorite book characters.  We had so much fun putting this book together!  Each page features a student dressed up as different book characters, like Madeline, Pinkalicious, and Babar.  Our students loved trying to figure out which characters were in the book.  Take a look and see our favorite characters!

 

 

 

Here is a link to the book: My Favorite Book Characters

Oct28

Favorite Book Characters

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Favorite Book Characters

We are celebrating National Book Month by looking at some of our favorite book characters. Our sensory groups explored boxes dedicated to the characters featured in our book. The fine motor groups turned book characters into art projects and the language group made a yummy Very Hungry Caterpillar inspired treat.

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

There was a lot of dress up fun and giggles in our Fancy Nancy box. There was a fabulous feather boa, beads, and a variety of “fancy” sunglasses.

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.

Yep, our students totally rocked this look 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOO CUTE……

and way too cool for school  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Pinkalicious rice had some letter P’s to find, a large pink scoop, small pink spoon, as well as a picture of the character herself to find at the bottom of the box.

 

 

 

 

The students found the pretty rice very eye catching and as usual, loved running their fingers through it.

Science access point: track the movement of objects that are pushed or pulled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Floam was used for our Babar box. We picked green to match the suit he wore. The students could make their own elephants or press an elephant shaped cookie cutter in to it.

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the cookie cutter didn’t work to cut out elephants like we had hoped but the students still had fun exploring the Floam 🙂

Science access point: recognize that objects can stick together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a hungry caterpillar and some play food to find in this colorful box of pasta. The bright green caterpillars and red butterflies were very eye catching!

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize that animals eat food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheerleader pompoms made great Truffula trees in this box dedicated to The Lorax. Bright, colorful and SO much fun to shake—–these are always a favorite with our students!

 

 

 

Lots of future school cheerleaders here!

 

Science access point: recognize the change in the motion of an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia Bedelia may not have been a very good maid, but she made fantastic pies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students had fun exploring the shaving cream “meringue”.

There were also a few giggles along the way 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: apply a push to move an object.

 

 

 

 

Foam letters that spelled R E A D were scooped out of our water this week.

 

 

 

 

 

Since one of our favorite book characters is Goodnight Gorilla, we used banana scented bubble bath from Walmart to scent the water.

Science access point: recognize that an object can move in different directions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used our World Market banana scented lotion this week.

 

 

 

 

They loved the yummy way is smelled when rubbed on hands, arms, or behind ears!

Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Wednesday we made Where the Wild Things Are monster puppets using this: monster

First, we identified the shape of our monster face using communication symbols.

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students used scissors to snip around the circle to make monster “fur”. They used regular or adaptive scissors.

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize a change in the appearance of an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to add some MONSTER features—-nose, eyes, teeth, and horns!

 

 

 

 

Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.

 

 

 

 

 

Ta Da!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wild Things!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the students made Babar crowns!

We started by squeezing white and black paint into a container.

Math access point: solve problems involving small quantities of objects or actions using language such as enough, too much, or more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students mixed the paint together and saw that black and white mixed together make GREY.

Science access point: recognize a change in an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, using communication symbols, they chose how many elephants to stamp on their crown.

Math access point: associate quantities with number names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We adapted a foam elephant stamp by hot gluing a plastic thread spool to it which made it easier for our students to use. The students stamped UP and DOWN on their paper strip.

A tiny gold crown was put on the head of one of the elephants to make him Babar!

Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down.

 

 

 

 

TA DA!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students loved their Babar crowns!

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

We’re back to making a delicious treat this week in the language group.  We were inspired by one of the foods that the Very Hungry Caterpillar ate: cherry pie.  We made our own rendition of it, though.  Here is the recipe that we used: Let_s Make Very Hungry Caterpillar Cherry Cheesecake

**Words that are capitalized were targeted on our recipe communication boards**

 

 

 

 

We started by PUTTING the cheesecake pudding mix into a BOWL.  The student who wanted to HELP PUT the mix in had to indicate HELP on their board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the mix was in the bowl, we got some milk out.  Each student touched the milk and located COLD to describe how the milk felt.  2 students got to HELP measure the milk out.  After we PUT 1 milk carton into the measuring cup, we saw that it wasn’t enough milk and we needed MORE.  We PUT 1 more milk carton in and now saw that it was enough and we were ALL DONE with the milk.

Science access point: recognize the temperature of items, such as food, as cool or warm.

Math access point: solve problems involving small quantities of objects or actions, using language, such as enough, too much, or more.

 

 

 

After a student poured the milk into the BOWL it was time to use the MIXER.  Each student had a TURN to press the switch to TURN on the mixer.

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize that electrical systems must be turned on in order to work.

 

 

 

 

Once the pudding was ALL DONE, we got the pie crust ready.  Students HELPed PUT the pudding into the pie crust.

Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our students helped open our can of cherry pie filling then each student got to taste a little bit of it.  They indicated on their board whether it tasted SWEET or SOUR.

We found that our students are not huge fans of cherry pie filling by itself 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

We topped the pie with the cherry pie filling and voila!

Each student had to indicate WANT EAT on their boards so they could have a piece of their pie.

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed our post this week. Join us again for more fun and learning——-Group by Group!

Also, don’t forget to look for your confirmation email if you want to follow us. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your SPAM folder!

Oct21

Florida Animals book

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Florida Animals book

This week, we are learning all about some of the animals that live in Florida.  This goes hand-in-hand with the Unique theme for the month which is all about animal habitats.  We have lots of really neat animals here–from alligators and manatees to black bears and panthers.  The front cover features one of our students as a black bear while the 2 students on the The End page are dressed as a flamingo and alligator.  Take a look to learn about some of our awesome animals!

 

 

 

Here is a link to the book: Look At The Animals In Florida

Oct21

Florida Animals

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Florida Animals

This week we learned about Florida animals and their habitats. This compliments the Unique Curriculum unit of our students this month. Each of the sensory group boxes was centered around a specific animal. The fine motor groups made animal themed art projects and the language group played animal sound Bingo.

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

This woodland box contained leaves, pine cones, and flowers that you might see while walking in the Florida woods. We also put in some plush and plastic animals that also wander those woods such as panthers, deer, raccoons, and squirrels

 

 

The students loved listening to the animal sounds we recorded on a voice output device.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize objects related to science by name, such as animal, and plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Our black bear box contained some soft fake fur and two cute little plush bears.

 

 

 

 

Science access point: match animals that are the same.

 

 

 

 

There were pictures of seagulls and pelicans to find at the bottom of our sandy beach box. We included 2 different sized scoops and a funnel which were lots of fun!

 

 

 

 

Science access point: track objects in motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida has LOTS of squirrels! In our part of the state you sometimes get a glimpse of a white albino squirrel— how cool is that! The students used a squirrel shaped cookie cutter to cut  squirrels out of moon sand.

 

 

Science access point: apply a push to move an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are lots of different kinds of birds in Florida, including the mockingbird which is our state bird. We put models of some of these different birds in this box of bird seed.

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize a model of a real object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along with some leaves, bugs, and snakes, a  couple of different alligators roamed around a green jello Everglades swamp this week.

 

 

 

 

Science access point: match living things with their habitats.

 

 

 

 

Our water play contained a shark and dolphin—marine animals that can be found in Florida waters. There were also 2 different sized measuring cups for scooping fun.

 

 

 

Science access point: Recognize different containers that hold liquids.

 

 

 

 

Oranges are a symbol of Florida and something that our animals might like to snack on, so we thought that Bath and Body Works orange lotion was the perfect scent to finish our group!

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Wednesday the students made zebra longing butterflies—our Florida state butterfly—using this: zebralongwing

First, we identified color of our butterfly.

Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using white paint, the students were instructed to paint LINES across their butterflies.

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: apply a push to move an object.

 

 

 

 

Then they glued their butterflies on to a sheet of blue paper.

Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ta DA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Florida butterflies!

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the students made manatee habitats using this: manatee

First, we identified the color of our paper.

Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students used a glue stick to apply glue ACROSS the back of a manatee, turned it OVER, and glued it DOWN on their paper.

Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the students used scissors, adaptive scissors, and switch operated scissors to snip the green paper “sea grass”. After cutting, we crumpled it up a bit to give it more dimension.

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize a change in an object.

 

 

 

 

 

After they had finished snipping their sea grass, they added it to the paper.

Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA DA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love manatees!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

We changed it up a little bit this week.  Instead of making a tasty treat, we played a fun game of Florida animal BINGO!

Each student took a turn and listened to an animal sound.  They started by using picture symbol supports to say/indicate “I listen”.  The sounds of the different animals were recorded on a Go Talk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After listening to the animal sound, the students had to locate the correct animal.  If they did not know which animal it was, they had to use the picture symbol supports to say/indicate “I need help”.

They would then have to listen to a descriptor about the animal.  “This animal is black” or “this animal lives in the water”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the student figured out the correct animal, they would use the picture symbol supports to say/indicate “I hear a ___” and would either say the animal or locate the picture of the animal on their BINGO board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was really neat watching our students listening to the sounds.  They would get very quiet so they could hear.  They enjoyed hearing the growls and squeaks and tweets.

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize and respond to common sounds.

 

 

 

 

When the game was over, each student got to take the Go Talk and press whichever animal sound they liked the MOST.

 

 

 

 

 

BINGO!!!!

 

 

 

The students really had fun learning about Florida animals!  Join us again next time for more fun—–Group by Group!

Also, don’t forget to look for your confirmation email if you want to follow us. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your SPAM folder!

 

Oct7

Italy book

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Italy book

We are traveling all the way to Italy to learn a little bit about it for Italian-American Heritage month.  Our guidance counselor, Mrs. Lori, was lucky enough to take a trip to Italy this summer and she has graciously allowed us to use some of her beautiful pictures for our book.  You’ll have to read it to find out some really neat facts about Italy.

Take a look and celebrate Italian-American Heritage month!

 

 

Here is a link to the book:  Let’s Learn All About Italy

Oct7

Italy

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Italy

Ciao—-October is Italian-American Heritage month! Our guidance counselor got to visit Italy over the summer and shared some fabulous photos with us, some of which we used for our book. The sensory groups explored boxes related to facts about Italy. The fine motor groups made art projects inspired by Italian symbols and the language group made an Italian inspired treat!

 

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

Letters that spelled “Italy” were found in this box of red, white, and green rice—-the colors of the Italian flag.

 

 

 

 

There was a map to find at the bottom of the box. We also added 2 different sized measuring cups for scooping fun.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used red, white, and green paper shred as the base of this box filled with Italian symbols (postcards of famous buildings) and inventions (eyeglasses).

 

 

 

Other items included an “Italian wolf”, flag, pizza printed oven mitt, a Lamborghini car, and a fashion model. We recorded some authentic Italian music on a voice output device and it was a hit enjoyed by all!

 

 

Associate an object, picture, or symbol with a location is a social studies access point.

 

 

 

 

 

Red and green glitter and green rosemary were added to our play dough, so it was not only colorful but also smelled ohh so good!

Italy is said to look like a boot so, we used boot shaped cookie cutters this week.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

We had a little fun with this next box dedicated to our favorite Italian meal—-spaghetti and meatballs! Plastic spaghetti strings and soft brown pompom “meatballs” made for some interesting shape and texture comparisons.

 

 

 

The students had a blast with the tongs we included.

Counting the meatballs added to a plate addresses the math access point associate quantities with number names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students made their own colosseum using grey Floam. Laminated pictures of ancient romans and a chariot were included.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 3 active volcanos in Italy! We turned our oobleck into lava by adding some food coloring and crackling pop rocks.

 

 

 

 

So much fun!

The science access point distinguish between objects in motion (kinetic energy) and at rest can be addressed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to a little gondola, there was a scoop, small fishing net and fish to catch in our water play this week.

 

 

 

 

Recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We used grape scented bubble bath in our water and pear scented lotion to represent some of the fruit grown in Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

Use senses to recognize objects is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Wednesday students painted a colosseum using this: romancolesseum

First, the students identified the color of our paint.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we gave the students their colosseum page and asked them to CRUMPLE it up! The students were not quite sure what to do—-we usually ask them to STOP crumpling paper 🙂

 

 

Recognize changes in observable properties of objects is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, they spread the paper back out, we think the crumpling gave it an aged appearance! Diluted paint was used so we could continue to see the details of the picture.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

We laid a paper towel on top of their picture to help absorb extra paint and then the 2 layers turned over. Glue was squeezed over the back and then the picture was turned back over onto a piece of background paper. The paper towel was then removed and thrown away.

This method helps reduce the amount of paint that gets on fingers—–and everywhere else!

 

 

Recognize when an object is added to a situation is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

TA DA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s visit Italy!

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the students practiced their cutting skills making an Italian flag.

They identified the colors found in the flag using communication symbols.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, they used paper cutters or scissors to cut 1 red and 1 green strip of paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

They glued their paper strips down onto a piece of white paper. We helped the students by pointing out which side each color went.

The math access point recognize when an object is added to a situation is addressed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA DA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viva Italia!

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

We tasted a bit of Italy during our language group this week.  We made some mini pizzas!  Here is the recipe that we used: Let_s Make Mini Pizzas!

First, we PUT 1/2 of an English muffin on a paper plate.  Each student had to request a plate by indicating WANT and then pointing to the picture of the paper plate.  We talked about how 1/2 of an English muffin was LESS than a WHOLE English muffin.

Solve simple real-world problems involving joining or separating small quantities of objects.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we put 2 spoonfuls of pizza sauce on the English muffin.  Each student had to indicate WANT and then had to help count out 2 spoonfuls.  Our students then got to SPREAD the sauce around.

Recognize when an object is added to or taken away from a situation is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

 

Then they got to decide whether or not they wanted pepperoni on their pizza.  They indicated either YES or NO.  If they indicated YES, then they got to decide how many pepperoni’s they wanted by pointing to either 1, 2, or 3 on a number line.

 

 

 

Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

To top the pizza off, each student was given some cheese.  At first, they were only given a few pieces.  They had to request MORE if they wanted more.

Indicate desire for more of an action or object is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to heat up our pizza!  One of our students is learning to use the microwave, so he helped out with heating the pizzas up.  After they were done cooking, he delivered them to his friends.

We talked about how the pizza was HOT and we needed to let it COOL down. After it cooled down we cut the pizza into bite sized pieces.

Recognize parts of whole objects and parts of sets of objects is a math access point.

 

Finally it was time to eat!  YUUUUMMM!!

 

 

 

The students really enjoyed all our fun activities this week, thank you for joining us! Remember, don’t forget to look for your confirmation email if you want to follow us. If you don’t see it—-check your SPAM folder!

 

Arrivederci and come back next time for more fun and learning—-Group by Group!