January 30 is National Croissant Day and to celebrate, we decided to learn about famous people in French History! Our sensory groups explored boxes dedicated to some of the different people we learned about. The fine motor groups crafted art projects inspired by some creative French geniuses and the language group made a tasty French snack!

 

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

We used red, white, and blue rice to represent the colors of the French flag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were pictures of Napoleon both in and underneath the box as well as letter N’s to find.

Science access point: recognize objects as the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marquis de Lafayette helped us win the Revolutionary War so we made a patriotic box for him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students explored pasta in different patriotic shapes including the Liberty Bell, flag, and star.

Science access point: match objects with similar observable properties, such as shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Marie Curie we used colorful discovery bottles that looked like they contained science experiments!

 

 

 

 

 

Their whirling, swirling contents were all pretty mesmerizing!

Science access point: track objects in motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students made castles out of sand and wooden blocks in this box dedicated to Joan of Arc.

 

 

 

 

We found some plastic knights in the dollar store and included some of them too.

Science access point: recognize that objects can stick together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coco Chanel was a famous designer. We filled her box with a variety of items including beads, fabric, sunglasses, and some fashion model dolls.

 

 

 

 

There were lots of different textures to explore!

Our fashionistas had a blast 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli.

 

 

 

 

 

We made royal oobleck using bright food coloring and LOTS of gold glitter for King Louis the XIV!

Colorful, shiny and very eye catching.

 

 

 

 

Science access point: recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacques Cousteau’s ocean was filled with ocean animals, different sized measuring cups, and a large “net”.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the fish squirted water when squeezed—-so much fun 🙂

Science access point: match living things with their habitats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If Nostradamus had predicted we would use Bath and Body Works french lavender this week he would have been right 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Put on arms, necks, hands, or ears—-the perfect scent to go with a French unit!

Science access point: recognize one or more external body parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Tuesday we made some Degas ballerinas using coffee filters!

First, we identified the shape of the coffee filter.

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also identified the color of our markers.

Science access point: identify objects by one observable property, such as color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then each student colored 2 coffee filters.

Science access point: apply a push to move an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we folded the coffee filters in HALF and then into QUARTERS.

Math access point: recognize a half of an object as part of the whole object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We glued them onto a ballerina coloring page—-to make the ballerina’s tutu! The coloring page was an internet freebie.

Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA—let’s dance— DA!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Degas worthy ballerinas!

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, the students became fashion designers like Coco Chanel!

First, the students identified the shape of the fabric swatches.

Math access point: recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They chose a variety of fabric squares and began gluing them down on to a shirt shaped poster board. We used food coloring to tint the glue a little bit to make it easier for the students to see.

 

 

 

 

Math access point: recognize when an object is added to a situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA—-runway—- DA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our students are fashion designers….

…..and ready for the show!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

We celebrated National Croissant day by making some croissant sandwiches!  Here is the recipe that we used: Let’s Make Croissant Sandwiches

We started out by measuring 3 cups of chicken.  Since our measuring cup only holds 2 cups, we measured out the 2 cups and then our students indicated that we needed MORE.  After measuring out the chicken, we PUT it in the BOWL.

Math access point: solve problems involving small quantities of objects or actions using language such as enough, too much, or more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we had to measure out a cup of chopped pickles.  Students HELPED to measure and PUT the pickles in the BOWL.

We added some chopped celery next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the celery, we had to measure out 1 cup of mayonnaise and a 1/4 cup of mustard.  Students had to indicate which measuring cup was SMALLER to show which one was the 1/4 cup.

 

Math access point: identify parts of a whole.

 

 

 

 

 

Once we added all of the ingredients to the bowl, students had to HELP STIR them all up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each student had to request a plate and a croissant.  Once they had each item, they had to request some chicken salad.  If they were not given as much as they wanted, they had to request MORE.

Math access point: indicate desire for more an action or object.

For the most part, our students enjoyed making and eating their croissant sandwich!  It was a pretty good croissant celebration 🙂

 

 

 

Join us again next time for more fun and learning—–Group by Group!

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