It is Hispanic American Heritage Month ! Ms. Judy, one of our SLP’s, recently visited Cuba and this inspired us to learn more about the country. The sensory group explored boxes related to facts about Cuba. The fine motor groups made art projects portraying symbols of the country and the language group made a yummy dessert that Cuban children might eat.

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

This box contained a variety of items related to Cuban symbols or culture. The base of the box was filled with paper shred in the colors of the flag—-red, white, and blue.

Everyone really enjoyed the authentic Cuban music that we recorded on a voice output device!

 

 

 

Some of the items we included were a guitar (playing music is a popular pastime), a baseball glove (favorite sport), mariposa petals (the national flower), orange (citrus is one of the crops), and a picture of Fidel Castro.

The social studies access point associate a picture with a place can be addressed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuba gained independence in 1898. Those numbers could be found in our red, white, and blue rice box.

 

 

 

 

 

There was also a map of Cuba to find at the bottom of the box.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuba is known as very colorful country and we wanted to come up with a way to represent that, so we decided to use our multi-colored pasta.

 

 

 

 

 

The students practiced their fine motor skills by threading the pasta tubes on to chenille stems.

The science access point identify objects by one observable property, such as shape, can be addressed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since the country of Cuba resembles a crocodile from the air, in Spanish it is nicknamed El Cocodrilo” or “El Caimá”. Using our crocodile cookie cutter, the students made their own versions of the island in green kinetic sand.

 

 

Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

In Cuba, most meals contain rice and often beans as well. Our box of black beans and rice contained a 4 letter C’s for the students to find. Running hands through sifting beans is always fun!

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We tried to make our messy play resemble Dulce de leche by adding some cocoa powder to oobleck. Not an exact match but as close as we could get, and the students still had a great time!

 

 

 

 

So much drippy, goopy fun 🙂

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a fishing boat and fish to catch in our water play. Fishing is one of Cuba’s industries.

Both the big and little fish could squirt water which added to the fun!

 

 

 

Recognize similarities and differences in size of objects is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

Sugar cane is Cuba’s biggest crop, so Bath and Body Works vanilla sugar seemed the perfect scent for this week. The students really seemed to like the sweet, yummy aroma!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Wednesday the students made a map of Cuba using puffy paint. Our homemade puffy paint was made with shaving cream, glue, and green paint. We pre-cut the islands out of cereal boxes using a map we downloaded as a guide.

First, the students identified the color of the puffy paint using communication symbols.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students used foam brushes to apply paint. We found that dabbing the paint rather than spreading it around worked best. When the paint dries it will add a nice texture and 3-dimensional aspect to our project.

 

 

Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

The island was then glued to a piece of blue paper and we added a pre-printed title.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA DA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Republic of Cuba!

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the students made a Cuban flag.

First, the students identified a triangle—-one of the shapes found on the flag.

 

 

 

 

 

Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes, such as a rectangle is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

The students glued a pre-cut star  to a red triangle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match one object to a designated space to show one-to-one correspondence is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

 

Then they cut 1 piece of white paper into 2 pieces using standard scissors, paper cutters or switch operated scissors.

 

 

 

 

 

Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

The 2 white strips were glue ACROSS a sheet of blue paper.

Then the triangle was added to the flag.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Ta DA!

Let’s visit Cuba!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

We decided to make Flan, a dish many Cuban children might like to eat! We used a Jello box mix picked up at the grocery store.

The students used communication symbols to indicate their desire to HELP pour the syrup into small cups.

 

 

 

 

 

We counted out how many cups we needed. There were enough for students AND staff—–of course! 🙂

Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

We found the MIXING BOWL on our communication board and then PUT the dry Flan mix into a mixing bowl.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

The students felt the measuring cup containing milk. It was COLD!

Recognize objects or materials as WARM or COLD is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The milk was poured from a MEASURING CUP into the mixing bowl and we began stirring it up so the dry powder was absorbed.

 

 

 

 

 

Since the next step was heating the mixture up on the stove top, we left that to the adults!

The science access point distinguish between items that are wet and items that are dry can be addressed here.

 

 

 

We carefully poured the cooled mixture into the small cups and then put it in the refrigerator to set.

The math access point solve problems involving small quantities of objects or actions using language, such as enough, too much, or more can be addressed here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally the Flan was ready! Fortunately we didn’t have to wait long—-Ms. Joi had actually whipped up a batch the day before. Just like they do on tv cooking shows 🙂

The cups were turned upside down into bowls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our tasters all agreed——-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flan tastes very good——–YUM!!!!!!

 

 

 

We so enjoyed learning about the colorful country of Cuba this week and hope you did too!

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—-check your SPAM folder!