We are so excited about the Winter Olympics! We are talking all about it this week during our groups. The book features some pictures of some of the events that you might see while watching the Olympics. These pictures are special, however, because they feature our students participating in the events!
You really need to check it out to see the fun 🙂 Enjoy the Olympics and the book!
Here is a link to the book: Let_s Watch The Winter Olympics!
We stayed in a sports mode this week with our Winter Olympics theme. Our sensory groups explored boxes filled with wintery sports fun. The fine motor groups made olympic themed art projects and the language group hosted our own Winter Olympics!
It was a super fun week and we hope you enjoy seeing all that we did!
SENSORY GROUP
Paper shred at the bottom of this box was in the colors of the Korean Flag. We filled it with a variety of winter and olympic themed items including medals and a medal stand. The olympic fanfare was recorded on a voice output device and we even had a mask of the olympic mascot—-a white tiger!
The science access point recognize a model of a real object can be addressed here.
This box contained chenille stems in the colors of the olympic flag. The students loved the soft texture of the rings and loved bending them into a variety of shapes—-including circles.
Recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape, is a math access point.
We put some gold glitter in our yellow play dough this week. The students used a circle cookie cutter to make their own olympic gold medals!
Again, the math access point recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape is addressed.
Colorful costumes are a feature of the ice skating competitions. The students loved wrapping themselves in the sparkly sequin fabric. They also found the three glittery discovery bottles to be very eye catching!
Track objects moving up and down is a science access point.
Did we mention how much they loved the fabric 🙂
The winter olympics is all about snow so of course we had to have some! Insta Snow is great and really feels pretty close to the real thing! There were 2 different sized scoops—-perfect for making snowmen or snowballs 🙂
Recognize similarities and differences in size of common objects is a math access point.
Red and yellow food coloring was added to shaving cream to make olympic torch flames. The students had fun mixing the colors and seeing them change to orange as the colors combined!
Recognize a change in the appearance of an object is a science access point.
Bath and BodyWorks peppermint scented the water this week. That icy aroma seemed the perfect choice for a wintery unit. There were some pool noodle olympic rings to match, count, or stack!
Recognize two objects that are the same size or color is a math access point.
Matching peppermint lotion was very popular with the students—-whether applied to hands, arms or behind ears 🙂
Recognize one or more external body parts is a science access point.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday, the students made an ice skating themed project using this: ice skaters
First, using communication symbols, they identified the shape of the paper.
Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes such as a rectangle is a math access point.
Next, they used blue markers to make skate tracks on the “ice”.
Recognize that pushing and pulling makes an object move is a math access point.
They also got to make some skate tracks using our switch operated writing tool—-always fun 🙂
Distinguish between objects in motion and at rest is a science access point.
Then the students glued their ice skater DOWN on the paper—-pat, pat, pat!
Recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship, such as up and down, is a math access point.
Ta DA!
Perfect scores!
On Wednesday, the students made their own gold medals using paper plates.
First, they identified the shape of plate the using communication symbols.
Recognize objects with two-dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Then they painted their paper plates with gold paint.
Recognize that the appearance of an object has changed is a science access point.
Pincer grasps were practiced as the students pulled ribbon through a hole in the plate.
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move is a science access point.
TA DA!!!!!
Our gold medalists!
LANGUAGE GROUP
We had lots of fun this week in the language group! We had our own school Winter Olympics (although the weather made it feel more like it should’ve been the Summer Olympics). All of the elementary classes participated in the events.
We started with a parade led by our very own torch bearer and the host country carrying their flag!
The other classrooms created their own flags and had a flag bearer parade with it through the hall to represent the class.
There were some very colorful flags!
Our first event was ice skating with ice skaters on switch toys! We had pairs skating, so 2 students got to activate the switches at the same time.
We used the ice skater templates from our fine motor group glued on to pieces of cardboard then attached to the switch toys with velcro.
The skaters danced to music from Beauty and the Beast which was recorded on a voice output device.
The switch we used for the boy skater was wireless so we got some super cool twirls which the students (and adults) found quite exciting!
We had another student who was the score keeper.
He used an All-Turn-It spinner with numbers around it so whatever number it landed on was the score that was received.
There was some controversy with scoring—-not everyone agreed with the judge 🙂
Next, we had the curling event. We had 2 students from different classes compete with each other.
They had to push/sweep the ball through the cones to win the game.
They needed a little bit of guidance, but overall they did really well.
From that event, we went outside for the bobsledding. The OT’s created some really cool bobsleds out of cardboard boxes that fit over wheelchairs. We had 2 man bobsled teams: a student and a teacher.
Our races consisted of 2 teams at a time. The teams had to wait to hear “GO” before running to the finish.
This event was lots of fun!
Like the dragon boat races we had a few weeks ago, we found out just how competitive our teachers are 🙂
The final event was the luge. Our students had to follow directions to keep their bodies on the sleds in order to “luge” down the hill.
Although it was a short ride, they had so much fun!
Everybody got to take a turn…..
…..or two or three 🙂
Finally, everyone came together for the medals. Each student received a medal for participating.
We took team photos.
Everyone agreed…….
…………. it was a Winter Olympics hit!
Join us again next time for more fun and learning——Group by Group!
We brought the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics to our school this week! Our book, I Can Be in the Winter Olympics showcases some of our students participating in some of the events. Joy’s intern, Jimmy, helped photoshop the kids into some pretty wonderful pictures. You just have to see them! Enjoy this wonderful book and happy Winter Olympics!
Here is a link to the book: I Can Be in the Winter Olympics
It was all about the Sochi Winter Olympic Games this week! We learned about the Winter Olympics, the country of Russia, and had fun competing in some games of our own.
Our students are learning about maps as part of their Unique Curriculum unit this month so our theme reinforced some of the concepts they were learning about. Read along to see all our activities.
SENSORY GROUP
We looked at a map and traced the way east from the USA to Russia. It is a long way and to get there you have to ride on an airplane. We used a vibrating massager to get the feeling of the engine vibrations. The massager had 2 different speeds which made for a lot of fun—-higher speed if you are flying on a super jet! Most of our students really liked the massager but for those who were more tactile averse, we turned it off completely and let them just touch the soft velvety covering.
Recognizing and responding to different types of sensory stimuli is a science access point.
Recognizing a map is a social studies access point.
The colors of the Russian flag are red, white and blue—-just like ours! Hidden underneath our rice was a map of Russia and the letter S to find (we hid 3 in the rice).
We really enjoy watching the progress of our students as we see some of them begin to realize that there is something to discover as they brush the rice aside.
Associating a picture with a place is a social studies access point.
The Olympic flag has 5 colorful rings. Our next box had big, fluffy chenille stems in the colors of the rings. Our students practiced making circles and linking them together. Most of our students needed help forming the circles but they ALL had fun trying 🙂
The social studies access point recognizing important events in artifacts is a social studies access point.
Recognizing 2 dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Identifying objects by one observable property such a color is a science access point.
One of the most popular olympic sports is ice hockey. Our students used a circle cutter to cut hockey pucks out of the black play dough. This is the same play dough we made for our pirate unit. It was kept in the fridge and has lasted quite nicely!
Recognizing 2 dimensional shapes is a math access point.
Recognizing the appearance of an object or material has changed is a science access point.
Ice skating is another super popular sport. Our discovery bottle was filled with sparkly glitter, beads and sequins—-like the costumes the athletes wear. The familiar Olympic fanfare theme could be heard when the voice output device was pressed. Our students really enjoyed both of these items!
The science access point of tracking objects in motion is addressed here.
Apply a push to move an object is another science access point addressed.
The next box was filled with leaves and flowers like the bouquets winners receive. Our students loved picking them up, tossing them into the air and watching them drop back down. They also loved finding the medals and quickly putting them around their necks……… BUT the most popular item was the little Sochi bear. He came all the way from Russia and was donated by one of our followers, Gena—-thanks so much!
Indicating that an object has fallen is a science access point.
Explore, observe, and recognize common objects in the natural world is another science access point addressed.
We are learning about the WINTER games so we had to include some snow—-the shaving cream version this week! It was perfect for tracing the letter S for snow and SOCHI!
Apply a push or pull to move an object is the science access point addressed here.
Hands were rinsed in Bath and Bodyworks Candy Apple scent. We got it on clearance and decided it worked for our unit—-who wouldn’t want to eat candy apples and watch the Olympics!
Measuring cups were included for scooping fun and to address the math access point recognizing differences is sizes of containers that hold liquids.
Recognizing and responding to one type of sensory stimuli is another science access point addressed.
FINE MOTOR GROUP
On Tuesday for our art project we made bobsleds. In preparation, toilet paper rolls were pinched and one end stapled together. For safety, we put masking tape over the staples.
Then we gave our students the option of painting their sled red, white, or blue. They used the communication symbols to choose their color and then pointed to the paint that matched the color they chose—-they did a really good job!
The science access point identify objects by one observable property is addressed here.
The language access point communicating a preference for familiar objects is also addressed.
The students then painted their bobsleds, addressing the science access point recognizing that the appearance of an object has changed.
After they bobsleds were painted, adults hot glued popsicle sticks to the bottom.
With the addition of some USA flag stickers—-our bobsleds are ready for competition.
Go Team USA!
On Thursday we made a Russian flag. We started by counting the sides of a white rectangle and also counting the rectangles as they were passed out. The math access points recognizing common objects with 2 dimensional shapes and recognizing the sides of a square or rectangle are addressed here.
Then we used our paper cutter to cut strips of red and blue paper—–making 2 more rectangles!
The science access point apply a push or pull to move an object is addressed when using the paper cutter. It is also excellent for promoting a pincer grasp!
The blue strip was glued to the bottom of the white paper and the red strip on top of that. Sochi 2014 was then glued into the middle.
Recognizing a movement that reflects a spatial relationship is a math access point addressed.
Another math access point is recognize when an object is added to a situation.
Ta Da……. a fabulous Russian Flag!
Hurray for Sochi 2014!!!
LANGUAGE GROUP
We decided to have a Winter Olympics event during our language group this week. It’s always so nice to be able to reiterate something we have talked about before, and since we had recently gone over FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD, having an event just seemed appropriate. Recognizing the next step in a simple sequence is a math access point.
We made our bobsleds from some toy boats we found on the give away table—–they were perfect! There were even slots so we could add little people. We cut out some cardboard and made each of our students a bobsled teammate by adhering their picture to a small piece of cardboard. They always love to see their picture and it makes the activity so much more personal.
Identify picture of self is a language access point.
We placed the teammates face down and our students got to pick 3 teammates to race each other randomly. Putting the racers in their bobsled was a great fine motor activity!
Once the racers were placed in their bobsled, it was time to race. A long, skinny cardboard box covered in white paper made a perfect bobsled run—-very authentic looking 🙂
On your mark…get set…GO!
The students had to wait until they heard “go!” which appeared to be harder than it sounds, but they did a great job. They had so much fun watching the bobsleds go down, cheering for their friends, and seeing who won FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD place.
Tracking moving objects is a science access point.
After a few races, we had the awards ceremony. We used a voice out device to play the Olympic fanfare as we handed out the medals—-donated by Jimmy the intern. Thanks Jimmy!
Obviously the medals were a huge hit 🙂
We had a great time learning about the Winter Olympics this week. Join us again next week for more fun and learning Group by Group!