It’s Grammy time! Our students really LOVE music so we figured it was the perfect time to do a unit on some of their favorite musicians. We really had fun putting this together and the students got a kick out of dressing up like their favorite musicians for the book—-be sure and check it out. The sensory group boxes are related to some of the singers in our book. The fine motor groups had a lot of shaking going on while making their art projects related to specific singers and the language group had a Grammy party!
SENSORY GROUP
Since we are all about the Grammy’s this week we had to let our students get a chance to make their OWN music! In this box we put some music recorded on a voice output device and a variety of musical instruments such as the always popular finger drums. We also included some sunglasses—-and you know our students can totally rock a pair of glasses 🙂
Observe and recognize a predictable cause-effect relationship related to a science topic is a science access point that can be addressed here.
This jungle themed box is our take on the song Roar—-one of Katy Perry’s hits. Hidden amongst the silk leaves, flowers, and shiny beads (vines), were some jungle animals such as elephants and tigers. These were pretty cool because they made noise when the buttons on their tummies were pushed.
Distinguish between a plant and an animal is a science access point.
Bruno Mars was born in Hawaii so we made his box a little beach. There were some seashells to find, count and then cover up again with a mini beach shovel. A cookie cutter flower was also included so the students could make some sand leis.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
Ziggy Marley is from Jamaica so we made his box in the colors of the Jamaican flag using black beans, and yellow and green rice. This bright colorful box was very eye catching and so much fun to run fingers through while searching for letter Z. We also put a map of Jamaica at the bottom of the box!
Associate a picture with a place is a social studies access point.
Country western singer Eric Church is another favorite! We went totally country with his box filling it with animal feed (bird seed) and some farm animals to find. The students LOVED the way the birdseed felt when they buried their hands down in it!
Recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
Love is a favorite theme when Taylor Swift writes a song so we put 2 different sized HEART shaped scoops in our box filled with red velvet cake mix. We chose red velvet cake mix as a nod to her huge hit album Red. This was another box with an interesting tactile feel.
Recognize similarities and differences in size of common objects is a math access point.
Our scents this week were in honor of two other amazing singers. Since Beyonce has a song called Lemonade we used Bath and Bodyworks lemonade scented bath gel in our water this week. There were a couple of different sized scoops and a little yellow puffer fish for our students to have fun with.
Recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids (capacity) is a math access point.
Rhianna is from the island of Barbados and we learned that grapefruit were first grown there—-how cool is that! We had some Bath and Bodyworks grapefruit scented SHIMMER lotion with a wonderful aroma. Rubbed on hands, arms, or behind ears, it was the perfect choice for our  budding superstars 🙂
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday our students made pictures the musician Prince would love using this: purple-rain-umbrella
First we discussed our paint color and asked the students to identify it using communication symbols. They did an awesome job!
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.
After placing umbrella pictures in a lidded box, the students scooped up TWO paint covered marbles and dropped them on top.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
The lid was closed and then it was time to SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE!
The science access point recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is addressed here.
Ta Da!
Purple Rain, Purple Rain!
Using this: michael-jackson-glove on Wednesday the students made some sparkly silver gloves—-like Michael Jackson!
First we counted the number of fingers on one hand and identified 5 using communication symbols.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
Next the students painted their glove templates with some shiny silver paint mixed with a little glue.
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Time to add GLITTER—–shake, shake, shake!
The science access point track falling objects can be addressed here.
Using glue again, we attached the glove to a paper bag and……..
                                       ………..TA thriller Da!
LANGUAGE GROUP
We had a fun language group this week! We changed it up just a little bit again by not putting together a recipe (although you better believe we still had a snack!).
While snacking on some red jell-o (in honor of Taylor Swift’s “Red” album), our students got to listen to some of the music from the artists featured in our book.
We put a picture of each of the artists on an All-Turn-It spinner. Each of our students had to indicate that it was their  TURN to activate the spinner by indicating “my turn” using picture symbols.
Once the spinner landed on an artist, we played a song by that artist. A symbol for “listen” was used to empasize to our students that they needed to listen to the music.
The students got to pick out some different props to wear such as sunglasses, feather boas, and hats.
It was fun seeing what the different students chose to wear 🙂
Of course with all that music we HAD to get up and start dancing!
                               We got our boogie shoes on big time:)
What a fun week—-hope your favorite musicians did well at the Grammys! Join us again next time for more fun and learning, Group by Group!