This week we learned about winter celebrations in other countries. This compliments the student’s Unique Curriculum unit for the month. The sensory groups explored boxes related to different holidays. The fine motor groups made some colorful art projects used during the language group’s holiday parade and party.
SENSORY GROUP
On December 8, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi day. One of the ways they celebrate is to decorate a Bodhi tree with colorful lights.
We made a Bodhi tree umbrella using colorful lights and heart shaped leaves.
Science access point: recognize a source of light.
Hanukkah is known as the festival of lights during which, for eight days, a candle is lit on a menorah.
Wikki Stix are strings covered in wax—-just like candles! Since dreidels are also symbols of Hanukkah, we included some of them in this box.
Science access point: recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move.
Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and it celebrates African American heritage.
The students sorted pompoms in the colors of Kwanzaa—-black, green, and red.
Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.
Las Posadas is celebrated in Mexico. We put letters L and P in a box of rice in the colors of the Mexican flag.
There was a picture of a donkey to find at the bottom of the box.
Science access point: match objects by an observable property, such as shape.
Junkanoo is celebrated in the Caribbean with lots of parades and music.
There were feather boas, masks, and noise makers.
Parade music recorded on a voice output device added to the fun.
Our students totally know how to rock a look!
Social studies access point: associate a celebration with an event, such as a holiday.
Natilla Colombiana is often eaten during Navidad en Colombia.
We made our messy play version using oobleck dusted with cinnamon—-it is a shame it doesn’t taste as good as it looks 🙂
Science access point: apply a push to move an object.
In China they celebrate the winter solstice or Dongzhi festival. During the festival people eat Tang Yuan which are glutinous rice balls served in boiling water.
The students used a soup ladle to scoop 3 plastic “rice balls” out of warmish water.
Math access point: associate quantities with number names.
Our scent for the unit was Bath and Body Works winter candy apple. We chose the scent as a reminder of all the sweet treats people eat during the holidays.
The sweet scent was very popular!
Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.
Like the people who celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali we finished with some fireworks, although ours were of the bubble wrap kind 🙂
There were lots of giggles with this activity!
Science access point: observe and recognize a predictable cause-effect relationship related to a science topic.
The students had a BLAST!!!!!
So many giggles!!!!!!
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday, the students made Diwali lamps out of paper plates.
First, the students identified the shape of their plate.
Math access point: recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape.
After choosing a color, the students used markers to color their plates.
Some of the students used a switch operated vibrating massager with a marker attached with velcro.
Science access point: recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move
Next, we folded the paper plates in half and glued a flame on top and……….
Ta Da!!!
Let’s celebrate Diwali!
On Wednesday, the students made colorful costumes to wear during the Junkanoo parade.
First, they identified the shape of their paper.
Math access point: recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape.
They used paper cutters and switch operated scissors to cut the paper into strips.
Science access point: recognize a change in the appearance of an object.
Then, they glued the pieces down on to another sheet of paper. Of course, we counted the pieces!
Math access point: associate quantities with number names.
Next, it was time to add glitter—–shake, shake, shake that glitter!
Singing our glitter song always makes it more fun 🙂
Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.
TA DA!!!
There are a few more things that will be added later but…….
……….we are almost ready…………
for the Junkanoo parade!!!!!
LANGUAGE GROUP
We had a Junkanoo parade and holiday party this week and it was lots of fun!
Our language group students got to wear what they had made in the fine motor group earlier in the week.
Staff joined in also 🙂
Students got to shake rattles and we also had Junkanoo parade music playing as we walked along!
Students and staff lined the hallways.
We even had Santa Claus make an appearance.
One of our students wore the costume and he did an awesome job with the part 🙂
All the onlookers cheered as we went by!
Smiles were everywhere.
It was quite exciting and…….
………..so much fun!
After the parade, everyone gathered for some snacks, drinks, and socialization. Students used sentence strips that were located on the tables to indicate what they wanted.
They had lots of tasty choices!
They enjoyed dancing and taking pictures with their classmates and friends.
We had some great music that you might hear during a Junkanoo parade playing in the background.
Adults and students seemed to have a wonderful time celebrating all of the different winter holidays together!
It was certainly a fun filled week! Join us next time for more fun and learning—–Group by Group!
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