November 17 is National Hiking Day, so we are looking at the state of Wyoming—–a great place to go hiking! The sensory groups explored boxes related to facts about the state. The fine motor groups’ art projects were symbols of Wyoming and the language group made a yummy dip using pinto beans—the state food!

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

Since we are recognizing National Hiking Day, we had to include a hiking box with this unit! The box contained plastic pine branches and a “petrified wood” tree.

 

 

 

 

There was also a small backpack, compass, and sunglasses. We even included a plush grizzly bear and bison! Wolf howls were recorded on a voice output device. The students were pretty fascinated by the wolf sound we recorded on a voice output device.

Science access point: recognize a model of a real object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinto beans are the state food of Wyoming!

 

 

 

 

 

The students had fun running their hands through this box of dried beans to find letter W.

 

Math access point: recognize two objects that are the same size or color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wyoming is known as the “cowboy state”. We put 2 horses, a cow, and a little cowgirl to find in this box of brown rice. There was a picture of a cowboy to find underneath.

 

 

 

 

 

Science access point: match animals that are the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fossil Butte national monument has the richest deposit of fish fossils—-which we thought was pretty cool!

 

 

 

 

The students used plastic fish and bones to make “fossil” impressions in kinetic sand. We found a cool plastic frog skeleton that was also included in this box.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wyoming gets a LOT of snow! Insta-snow is pretty close to the real thing—-it even feels a little cold!

 

 

 

 

A small shovel and measuring cup were used to practice scooping skills.

Science access point: recognize objects or materials as warm or cold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The snow capped Grand Tetons are one of our national parks. We had the students swirl shaving cream “snow” around a laminated Grand Tetons.

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of fun here 🙂

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellowstone National Park is also located in Wyoming. One of the features of the park are the colorful prismatic hot springs.

 

 

 

To make our mini version, we used colorful Crayola bath drops and white craft foam (to simulate the crusty top of the springs). A measuring cup and small funnel added to the fun.

Science access point: track objects in motion.

 

 

 

 

 

The state tree of Wyoming is the Plains Cottonwood, so we chose Bath and Body Works cotton scent for this week.

 

 

 

 

As usual, the students used vocalizations, gestures, or communication symbols to indicate WHERE they wanted the lotion.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Wednesday we made a bison using this template: bison

First, using communication symbols, we identified the color of the bison.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the students glued their bison DOWN on to a blue background.

Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up or down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, the students used either tabletop or regular scissors to snip small pieces of brown fluffy yarn.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

The students applied some glue (with help as needed) to their bison then added yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

TA DA!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at our herd of bison!

 

 

 

 

On Thursday the students made the Grand Tetons!

First, the students identified the color BLUE.

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

Then, they identified a TRIANGLE.

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

 

 

 

 

 

The students used paper cutters or regular scissors to cut out triangles. We discussed that triangles have 3 sides!

Math access point: recognize the sides of a triangle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They glued their triangle “mountains” on to a blue background, then used glue spreaders to add glue to the top.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Time to add the snow! We enlarged the holes in the tops of some spice jars and filled them with fake snow. This worked pretty well but we found that it was better if we didn’t “pack” the snow into the container.

Science access point: recognize a change in the appearance of an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TA—-Grand Teton—– DA!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lets visit Wyoming!

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

Since the state food of Wyoming is pinto beans, we decided to make some pinto bean dip for our language group today.  Here is the recipe we used: Let_s Make Pinto Bean Dip

We started by PUTTING a can of rinsed pinto beans into a food processor.

The student who wanted to HELP had to indicate HELP on their communication board or verbally state that they wanted to HELP.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had to turn the food processor on to get the beans mashed up a bit before adding the other ingredients.

Science access point: recognize a change in the appearance of an object.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, we PUT 2 tbsp of sour cream into the food processor.  The students were shown a tsp and a tbsp and had to indicate which one was BIGGER.

Math access point: associate quantities with number names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We added the ranch seasoning mix next.  We talked about how we were using the SMALL measuring spoon.

Math access point: recognize similarities and differences in size of common objects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all the ingredients were PUT into the food processor, each student had a chance to TURN the food processor on until the ingredients were smooth. They always have fun with this part 🙂

Science access point: recognize that electrical systems must be turned on (closed) in order to work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We PUT the dip into a microwaveable bowl and added a little bit of cheese.  The students indicated that we should PUT MORE cheese into the bowl.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our students helped TURN on the microwave.  We talked about how the dip would be HOT once it was done.

Science access point: recognize the temperature of items, such as food, as cool or warm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After each student indicated that they WANTed to EAT, they got a spoonful of dip and some chips.

YUM!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join us 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, be sure to check your SPAM folder!