One of the most fun activities our PE department does is hold a annual “hoedown”. At the hoedown, each class performs an original square dance they practiced during PE. It is always so much fun that we decided it would be this week’s theme! The sensory group explored boxes with textures and symbols associated with hoedowns. The fine motor groups made colorful art projects and the language group invited their friends to a hoedown.
SENSORY GROUP
We put some sawdust at the bottom of this box to give it that “barn like” feel. The sawdust was not super fine so no dust was kicked up when little fingers ran through it. It really had an interesting texture that our students found enticing. There were some barn animals and square dancers to find as well as the word FRIENDS.
The science access point select an object or picture to represent observed events.
It wouldn’t be a hoedown without music! We recorded some appropriate music on a voice output device and our students rocked along with a bean bottle shaker. Needless to say, fun was had!
Recognize objects that create sounds is a science access point.
So did we mention how much fun the students had—–and how totally cute they looked 🙂
There were lots of colorful bandanas and a bandana garland in this box. The students had fun waving and shaking the items. There was also an opportunity to compare the SOFT cotton of the bandanas with the ROUGH feel of the burlap on the banner.
Recognize differences in objects or pictures is a science access point.
We included 2 cookie cutters—-a boot and hat—- with the blue moonsand in this box.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
Each classroom decides the kinds of patterns they form in their square dance. The students practiced making some of those same kind of lines—– such as straight, curved, or zigzag—- in our Goo Bag (made with hair gel and confetti stars).
We found that double bagging the gel and taping all four sides down onto the tray helped make it a little more durable.
Initiate a change in the motion of an object are science access point.
There were both upper and lower case letter H’s to find in our rice, dyed blue and yellow which are our school colors.
There was a cute cowboy hat to find at the bottom of the box.
Recognize that pushing or pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Country apple scent from Bath and BodyWorks seemed the perfect scent for our hoedown unit! We put some of the bath gel in our water play and it really was a nice aroma. There were 2 different size scoops to add to the fun.
Recognize different containers that hold liquids is a science access point.
The matching lotion was very popular with our students. As usual, after we asked them to smell the lotion, we asked them to show us where they wanted it applied.
The science access point recognize one or more external body parts can be addressed here.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday our students used markers and stickers to decorate a cowboy boot using this: boot template.
We started by asking the students to choose a marker and identify it’s color using communication symbols.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as size or color.
Our students did a great job coloring within the designated area!
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Applying stickers was great for practicing pincer grasp skills. The students were able to brush up on their math skills by counting the stickers as they were placed on the boots!
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
Ta yeehaw Da!
Ready for the hoedown!
On Wednesday the students made a poster and used this: hoedown girl and boy template to decorate it.
First we asked the students to use communication symbols to identify our paint color—–they did an awesome job!
Match objects with similar observable properties, such as size, shape, color, or texture is a science access point.
Then they stamped “hay” on the poster using UP and DOWN movements. Our stamper was made using a piece of fringed craft foam folded in half and held together with rubber bands.
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down is a math access point.
Next it was time to add dancers—–we have our fantastic volunteers to thank for getting them ready for us. We asked the students to find the one with their picture on it, apply glue, and attach it to the poster.
The math access point recognize when an object is added (addition) or is taken away from (subtraction) a situation.
Ta Da—-swing your partner round and round!
LANGUAGE GROUP
So since we were talking about hoedowns this week we HAD to have one! After we read the book, 2 of our little cowpokes moseyed on down to the other elementary classrooms to invite their friends to join the fun.
We had some cider and vittles—-otherwise known as apple juice, ice cream, and chips 🙂
It was pretty TASTY!
YUM!
There was a fun photo booth….
Say “round ’em up cowboy”!
Of course we did some square dancing—-you can’t have a hoedown without dancing!
We pulled up a bunch of different bluegrass videos from YouTube on the Smart Board and took a turn around the dance floor.
Yeehaw!
A good time was had by all 🙂
Join us again next week for more fun and learning——Group by Group!
At our school, the whole school participates in a hoedown every year. We decided that it might be fun to have our theme for this week be about a hoedown. Our book talks about what a hoedown is and then goes into what our hoedown was like this year. Our students were really excited to see pictures of themselves and our verbal students were able to talk a little bit about the hoedown and what they remembered. Take a look to see the fun we had!
Here is a link to the book: My School Had a Hoedown
