March is Women’s history month and March 8 was International Women’s Day so this week we chose to learn a little bit about some women who have made history. The sensory group boxes, fine motor group art projects, and the language group’s healthy snack, are all related to women featured in our book!
We had fun and learned a lot!
SENSORY GROUP
Ellen Ochoa is the first female Hispanic astronaut! This space themed box was filled with some “outer space” black beans. We added a little astronaut and some stars to find.
Recognize a space related object is a science access point.
Muriel Siebert was the first women to be on the New York Stock Exchange. There were all sorts of money related items in this box including some play money, a coin filled discovery bottle, and a wallet. They really had fun with this box!
The social studies access point identify coins as money that can be used to buy things can be addressed here.
Oprah is a multimedia giant—-actor, producer, talk show host, and philanthropist! One of her best known roles was in the movie The Color Purple so we chose purple kinetic sand and a letter O stamp for her box.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
Misty Copeland is the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater. Her box is filled with swatches of tulle and satin, some ballet shoes, and a tiara.
Recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
We also put in a stretchy tutu that doubled as a very fun hat 🙂
Beyonce is one of the most well known singer/songwriters of today! We recorded one of her songs on a voice output device then put in some musical instruments so our students could play along.
Recognize objects that create sounds is a science access point.
We also included some cool sunglasses——-
——–which our students totally rocked of course!
We recently watched Chloe Kim become the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the half pipe snowboarding event! We thought she was amazing!! The students had fun making their own “snowboard” trails through our shaving cream “snow”.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Natalie Coughlin is a swimmer who has won 12 Olympic medals and was the first ever woman to swim the 100 meter backstroke in less than a minute—-how cool is that! There were foam numbers 1 0 0 to scoop out of the water this week.
The math access point associate quantities with number names can be addressed here.
Our fruity raspberry scent from Bath and Body Works reminded us of farm to table item that Alice Waters might serve at her restaurant. The aroma was sweet—-just like our students 🙂
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday as another nod to Alice Waters, we chose some healthy apples to PAINT with rather than eat this week!
First our students identified the shape of the paper we were using and then it’s color. They also identified the color of our paint.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color is a science access point. Recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape is a math access point.
To make it easier for our students to hold the apple we inserted a fork into it then we asked the students to stamp UP and DOWN.
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down is a math access point.
We are celebrating Women’s History Month!
On Wednesday we made some scales—-like those that represent the Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day O’Conner!
First the students identified the shape of the our kleenex boxes.
Recognize and object with a two-dimensional shape is a math access point.
Then the students used colorful markers to decorate their boxes.
The science access points recognize a change in an object and recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move, both can be addressed here.
Our scales (made from some cut up cereal boxes, paper plates, and yarn by our wonderful volunteers) were attached with brads by the adults then we got to try them out! The students were pretty fascinated with seeing how their scales worked!
The math access point describe objects in terms of measurable attributes (longer, shorted, heavier, lighter, etc.) is addressed here.
We are celebrating Women’s History Month!
LANGUAGE GROUP
Michelle Obama launched a campaign to end childhood obesity while she was First Lady of the U.S. so we thought a healthy treat would be a great snack to make this week!
Here is what we used throughout the activity: Let_s Make A Healthy Parfait
We started out a little bit backwards today by counting out how many cups we needed for our snack. We counted out 7 cups for 7 students.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
Before we put together the first step of the parfait, our students had to choose the healthier food item: yogurt or ice cream. This can be a little bit challenging, especially since some students like to pick what they’d LIKE to eat rather than what’s BETTER for us to eat 🙂
Once they chose the correct ingredient, it was put into the cups. Next, we moved on to choosing whether chocolate chips or strawberries was the healthier choice. Once we decided the correct ingredient, that was put into the cups.
Next up was oreos or cheerios. Again, the healthier choice was added to the cup.
Finally, our students had to indicate whether honey or chocolate sauce was healthier. (You can really see which kiddos love the sweets more with these types of quizzes!). Of course, the honey went on top.
Each student had to request that they WANTED their snack before they got it.
Healthy choices aren’t so bad after all——–YUM!
We had fun celebrating Women’s History Month and hope you did too! Our spring break is coming up so we will be back in two weeks for more fun and learning—–Group by Group!