We are California dreaming this week! Ms. Jen’s vacation to California inspired us to learn more about the Golden State. The sensory groups explored boxes related to facts about California. The fine motor groups made art projects related to state symbols and the language group dressed up like movie stars!

 

 

 

 

 

SENSORY GROUP

This box was of blue and gold paper shred—-California state colors had lots to discover. Many foods are grown there so we put in a variety of plastic fruit and vegetables. We included state symbols such as the grizzly bear, the dog faced butterfly, a discovery bottle with “benitoite”, the state gemstone, and a picture of President Nixon who was born there! We even included some movie star sunglasses 🙂

The science access point recognize a model of a real object can be addressed here.

 

 

 

 

Death Valley is the driest place in North America! We used play sand for this box and added a funnel and small scoop. There was also a map of California to find at the bottom of the box. They had really had fun with this box!

Track objects in motion is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

The oldest operating McDonalds is in California! The students used a letter M cookie cutter to make some “golden arches” in yellow moon sand. There were also a couple of different sized scoops added to the fun.

Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

The California gold rush started in 1848 and California is known as the Golden State! This box was filled with a variety of gold items included beads, fabric, and holiday garland. Lots of different textures to touch and explore!

Use senses to recognize objects is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

Sally Ride, the first American women in space, was born in California. For her box, we put a little astronaut and 2 big stars to discover in a box of “outer space” black beans.

Recognize objects as the same is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

We sprinkled blue and yellow glitter into “Pacific Ocean foam” shaving cream this week. As usual, our students had a blast with messy play 🙂

Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

California borders the Pacific Ocean so for our water play we put in some dolphins and sharks—- animals that might be seen swimming along the coast. There were also 2 different sized scoops for added fun!

The science access point recognize a model of a real object and the math access point recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids, can both be addressed with this activity.

 

 

 

 

Bath and BodyWorks ocean scent was perfect for our water play and lotion. The scent was a hit with pretty much every student!

Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point that can be addressed here.

 

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR GROUP

On Tuesday we made some giant redwood trees—-redwoods are the California state tree!

We started by identifying the color green and the number 3.

Identify objects by one observable property, such as color is a science access point.

Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

 

Next we used paper cutters or switch operated scissors to cut out BIG green triangles counting each side as it as cut.

Recognize that pushing or pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

The triangles were glued to paper towel tubes and——–TaDA!

                                                                          It’s a giant redwood tree!

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday we made bunches of grapes—-one of California’s largest crops!

We started by identifying the color purple.

Identify objects by one observable property, such as color is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the students used a kitchen scrubber to make circles by stamping UP and DOWN onto a piece of paper.

Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down is a math access point.

 

 

 

 

 

To finish off, we asked the students to identify the number 2. Then they glued 2 leaves onto their bunch of grapes.

Associate quantities with number names, and recognize when an object has been added to a situation are both math access points.

 

 

 

 

 

TA DA!

                                                Some yummy looking grapes!

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE GROUP

This week, instead of making something to eat, we dressed up Hollywood style!

Each of our students got to take a turn pressing the switch to activate an All-Turn-It spinner.  On the spinner we had different things that they can wear: hat, gloves, necklace, sunglasses, and a fur stole.

 

 

 

 

Once our students landed on a picture, they had to indicate where they would wear it.  We had a board with the symbols for “where put” and then symbols for these options: head, hand, neck, eyes.

Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.

 

 

 

 

Our students needed some help with indicating the appropriate body part to answer “where”.  They sure knew where to put them when they wore them though!

We had some pretty classy ladies and gents today 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you learned a lot about California this week, we sure did!

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