We learned a lot of fun facts about the month of December this week. There is actually more to the month besides holidays! Our sensory groups explored boxes related to symbols and events related to the month. The fine motor groups painted fabulous art projects and the language group made delicious hot chocolate—-YUM!
SENSORY GROUP
Each month has a special “birthstone” and the one for December is turquoise. The students searched for both upper and lower case “D”s in our box of turquoise beans. Beans are always a hit with our students but when they are this beautiful color they are even more enticing 🙂
The science access point match objects with similar observable properties, such as shape, can be addressed here.
The flower for the month is the narcissus. In this box we mixed green holly with white silk “narcissus” petals—–actually, they’re white poinsettias from the dollar store, but we think they totally worked! In addition to sorting by color, there were textures to compare.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color is a science access point.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded during the month of December—–how cool is that! In honor of everyone’s hope for peace around the world we added a big peace symbol to our blue and green rice. Underneath there was a picture of our world as viewed from space.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point addressed in this activity.
This box contained lots of different symbols of December. There were a variety of items representing the holidays of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. A mountain goat was included to represent capricorn—-one of the zodiac signs that fall during the month. Since many people visit FRIENDS and FAMILY during this month, we added those words to the box as well.
                      Some of the toys made noise and these were a HUGE hit!
Recognize an object related to an event is a social studies access point.
There were also some fun Christmas tree glasses and as usual, our students totally rocked them 🙂
                                            Too cute!
National Chocolate Candy Day falls during this month—-how sweet is that, LITERALLY 🙂 We made some delicious smelling chocolate play dough that could be cut into little candy pieces with a cookie cutter.
Recognize that the appearance of an object or material has changed is a science access point.
The Wright brothers made their first flight on December 17, 1903. While they didn’t quite make it up into the clouds that day, our little plane is flying around some shaving cream clouds in celebration of that historic day!
                   Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
Hands were rinsed in water scented with Bath and Bodyworks winter candy apple scent. There were 2 different size scoops and a giant foam “D”.
Recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids.
The students really liked the matching lotion! Asking if they “liked” the scent and “where” they wanted it was a great opportunity to practice communication skills.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday the students made a poinsettia craft in celebration of national poinsettia day which occurs on December 12. We used this:pointsettia template
We started by discussing the color of the paint we were going to use and the students used communication symbols to show us the color RED!
The science access point identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is addressed here.
Bubble wrap was tied with a rubber band around a kitchen scrubber and the students used that to apply the paint to their flowers. We emphasized that we were stamping “up” and “down”. Of course, they all had their own techniques 🙂
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down is a math access point.
After the students finished painting we taped their flowers to a large craft stick and TA DA——
                                       ——-pretty poinsettias!
On Wednesday the students painted a peace symbol in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize. We found this idea at kiwicrate.com
We started by discussing the paint colors we were going to use—–BLUE and GREEN. Again the students used communication symbols to identify the colors.
Identify objects by one observable property, such as color, is a science access point.
Before we started painting, we also discussed the shape of our plates and that the painters tape that had been placed on the paint was called a “peace symbol”. Then we squirted paint onto their plates and the students got to work!
Recognize an object with a 2-dimensional shape is a math access point.
After they had finished painting, they got to peel the tape off their plates—–they really had fun with this part 🙂 It was also a great way to practice pincer grasps.
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Sending wishes for…….
…….PEACE!!!!!
LANGUAGE GROUP
Our language group made a tasty December treat—–hot chocolate!
We started by opening 2 packages of hot chocolate mix, making sure that we counted each package, and pouring them INTO a bowl. This was a great activity for practicing pincer grasps!
Then we added 2 cups of water and began stirring it into the chocolate powder. After each student took their turn we would ask them if we needed to stir MOREÂ or if we were ALL DONE.
The math access point indicate desire for more of an action or object is a math access point.
We set the microwave for 1 minute. After we took it out we asked the students to touch the bowl—it was WARM!
To make the hot chocolate even yummier we gave the students a choice between toppings—–marshmallows or whipped cream!
Time to drink up——-YUM 🙂
Join us again next time for more fun and learning——–Group by Group!