We are complimenting our student’s Unique Curriculum theme this week by looking at how activities familiar to our students were done differently in the past. The sensory groups explored boxes related to different activities. The fine motor groups made some fun art projects and the language group learned made a yummy snack from long ago.
SENSORY GROUP
How we get to places has REALLY changed over the years! From horses to spaceships, we put a variety of transportation vehicles for the students to find in this box. The spaceship was especially popular because of its spinning light.
Recognize a model of a real object is a science access point.
Fashion is another thing that has changed over the years! We put lots of fabulous fashion accessories for our students to try on in this box. We had fun seeing what piece each student was attracted to. They had a blast—-total fashionistas 🙂
The science access point recognize one or more external body parts can be addressed here.
Our students totally know how to rock a hat.
                           Just too cute—–and such style:)
While we prepare food differently now, we still GROW it in the ground. There were some vegetable play foods growing in our little plot of coffee grounds dirt. We included some bean seeds for the students to plant and there was also a picture of a fruit bowl to be found at the bottom of the box.
The math access point recognize two objects that are identical to each other can be addressed with this activity.
Back in the day, the abacus was the height of technology for doing math problems—-thank goodness for calculators 🙂 The students counted and sorted  “bead shaped” pompoms. The soft texture of the pompoms made them especially inviting to touch for our students.
In addition to being counted, this activity can address the science access point identify objects by one observable property, such as color.
Today kids often play games on electric devices rather than board games. We filled this box with a variety of game pieces such as cards, checkers, and board game pieces. Smaller game pieces such as dice and jacks were sealed in a plastic jar—–such fun to shake!
Recognize objects that are identical to each other is a science access point.
Like people of long ago, the students used a plastic feather to write with this week.
Of course, people of long ago didn’t write in shaving cream but that made it much more fun 🙂
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
We put an old fashioned water wheel in our water play this week. Lots of scooping and pouring fun for sure!
Track objects in motion is a science access point.
It was a little tricky picking a scent for this week but we decided on Bath and Body Works cotton scent because both in the PAST and in the PRESENT we use cotton. It was a light scent that the students really liked.
Recognize and respond to one type of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR
On Tuesday we talked about how people used to cook all their food over an open fire and then made a picture of one!
We counted the logs on our sample and used communication symbols to identify the number 2.
Associate quantities with number names is a math access point.
The students used a paper cutter or switch operated scissors to cut 2 logs out of brown paper. They all did a great job!
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Then they added glue with a glue stick and put their logs onto a piece of paper.
Recognize that pushing or pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
Next they crumpled up pieces of yellow and red tissue paper to make some flames.
Recognize when an object has been added to a situation is a math access point.
Ta Da—–let’s get cooking 🙂
On Wednesday our students made hourglass pictures using this hourglass-template.
First we discussed the color of the sand we were going to use and used communication symbols to identify the color PINK.
Identify objects by one observable property such as color is a science access point.
Then they painted some glue onto their hourglass. We added a little pink paint to the glue so the mixture would show up better against the white paper.
Apply a push to move an object is a science access point.
Pink sand was then added—–an old spice jar made a perfect shaker! The students really liked this part 🙂
We glued it down onto a nice bright green piece of paper.
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Ta DA—–lets tell some time!
LANGUAGE GROUP
Today, since we LOVE to cook, we made a recipe that is from the 18th century! We made Whipped Syllabub. Here is a link to the recipe: lets-make-an-18th-century-whipped-syllabub
We started out by pouring some heavy whipping cream into a bowl. Our students helped POUR the cream in. We talked about how we needed MORE after putting 1 cup in since it called for 2 cups.
Solve problems involving small quantities of objects using language such as enough, too much, or more is a math access point.
Next, our students got to use a switch to activate the mixer. Each of our students had a chance to turn ON the mixer. It took a while, but we saw the cream change from a LIQUID to a SOLID. Very neat!
Recognize a change in an object is a science access point.
Then, each of our students got to use a lemon squeezer to SQUEEZE out some lemon juice into a DIFFERENT bowl. We squeezed out juice from one lemon and one orange. It smelled so good!
The math access point solve problems involving small quantities of actions using language, such as enough, too much, or more can be addressed here.
Then, our students got to POUR some sugar and sparkling grape juice into the lemon/orange juice mixture. After that was stirred together we added it to the whipped cream and stirred it all together.
The math access point recognize when an object is added to a situation is addressed here.
We counted out how many cups we needed and voila! We got to enjoy our 18th century syllabub.
Thanks for joining us this week. See you next time for more fun and learning—–Group by Group!