May28

Hawaii

Posted on May 28, 2021 by jd785

Ger ready to learn all about Hawaii this week! Here’s a link to the book:

We’ve been wanting to do a unit to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for the past 2 years and different things have prevented us from being able to do that. We focused on Hawaii for this unit. The book talks about different foods grown in Hawaii, how many islands there actually are, and also some of the different things you can visit while there. Check it out!

SENSORY

Tropical flower leis added to our rainbow umbrella made us feel like we were in Hawaii. To add to the atmosphere, Hawaiian music was recorded on a voice output device.

Science access point: recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli.

Students searched for the letter /H/ in colorful beans and noodles.

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

If you visit Hawaii, you are going to spend some time on a beach 🙂 We put some fun sand castle molds for the students to use with kinetic sand.

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

Tropical flower petals mixed with leaves and a few feathers here. Figures from the movies Lilo and Stitch and also Moana were included.

Social studies access point: recognize a character in a story that is not real.

This week we made our oobleck resemble poi, which is a traditional Hawaiian dish made from taro root.

Science access point: track the movement of objects that are pushed or pulled.

We included lots of tropical fish likes ones you might see in the waters around Hawaii in our water play.

Science access point: match living things with their habitats.

Bath and Body Works has a pineapple scent that made our students smell like they took a trip to the islands 🙂

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

GROSS MOTOR

This week the students worked on beach ball skills.

Students worked on catching, throwing, and hitting a beach ball using bilateral hands.

FINE MOTOR

For project one, the students made themselves Hawaiian tourists using this template:

hawaii-tourist Download

First, they identified the color of their marker.

Science access point: match an object by one observable property, such as color.

Next, they used markers or crayons to color their template.

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

Then, they glued they glued a picture of their face on to template and glued that to an island scene we pulled out of an old calendar.

Math access point: recognize when object has been added to a situation.

TA DA!!! Let’s visit Hawaii!!!!

For project two, the students decorated picture frames we found at Dollar Tree.

First, they identified the colors YELLOW and GREEN. They also identified a CIRCLE.

Science access point: match an object by one observable property, such as color.

Math access point: recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape.

Next, they used green and yellow markers to color their picture frame.

Science access point: recognize a change in an object.

The student’s photos were added to the frames and TA—-ALOHA—-DA!!!!

LANGUAGE

This was a pretty great way to end the Group by Group school year! We had an amazing luau, complete with a Hawaiian parade, volcano photo booth, and of course, music and snacks.

Our language group paraded down the halls to fun Hawaiian music while wearing their floral attire. We handed out leis to staff and students along the way.

After we paraded through, we had a “block party”. There was music and our staff even started a limbo line!

Students requested different food items that they wanted (chips, cookie, or applesauce). They got to choose a drink from our tiki juice bar.

The photo booth (always popular with our students and staff) was filled with different glasses and props for people to hold up. Students had to request the props they wanted.

This is always a nice time to visit with friends which we haven’t really been able to do much. We think everyone had a wonderful time! Aloha!

This is our final post of the year. Joy, our OT, is retiring so we are not sure what next year will look like. Whatever happens we will continue putting the fun into learning—-Group by Group!

Happy Summer!!

May23

Talent Show

Posted on May 23, 2021 by jd785

Standard

We had so much fun with our theme for the week! Here’s the link to the book:

at-sharkys-talent-show Download

We had planned on using this theme last year but COVID changed our plans, so some of these pictures were taken last year and some this year! Each page features a student performing something at Sharky’s talent show. There was a piano player, a rock band, and even a magician! Check out the book and see all of the awesome talent!

SENSORY

Everybody gets to have their chance to be a star at Sharky’s talent show! Star shaped cookie cutters made colorful impressions in kinetic sand.

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

Costumes often have colorful beads, sequins, and glitter—-just like our discovery bottles!

Science access point: track objects in motion.

We kept with our colorful theme with multi-colored rice. Different play figures were included so the students could put on their own talent shows.

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

Since the host of our show is Sharky, we had to include some of his cousins in our water play 🙂

Science access point: match living things with their habitats.

When the students mixed Jello powder with shaving cream it changed color—like magic!

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

Our scent was Bath and BodyWorks ” in the stars”.

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

GROSS MOTOR

This week students chose from a variety of different musical instruments that they would play if they were going to be in Sharky’s Talent Show. Then, they got the chance to play the instrument of their choice; which encouraged use of bilateral upper extremities.

FINE MOTOR

For project one, the students turned themselves into magician’s bunnies!

First, the students identified the color PINK.

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

Next, they wrapped TWO chenille stems around a tongue depressor to make bunny whiskers. We used double stick tape to anchor the chenille stems at the back.

Math access point: associate quantities with number names.

Then, a cute pink pom pom nose was added. We found that double stick tape worked better than glue to keep the pom pom in place.

Math access point: match one object to a designated space to show one-to-one correspondence.

TA—-abracadabra—DA!!!

For project two, the students made ventriloquist bird puppets using paper lunch bags!

First, they identified the color of their bag.

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

Next, they cut triangle beaks for their birds.

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

Then, they glued beaks, feathers, and googlie eyes on to the paper bags.

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

TA DA!!! Ready for the talent show!

LANGUAGE

We made a shark-tastic snack this week. Here’s the recipe that we used:

lets-make-shark-snack-cups Download

We started by having a student HELP OPEN the box of pudding mix. Another student HELPED by pouring it in the bowl.

We had to add 2 cups of milk. Since we were using milk from the school we got to see how much each container had in them. We found that we had to use 2 cartons of milk, so each carton contains 1 cup. Students indicated that the milk felt COLD when they touched the carton.

Students helped MIX the pudding by taking turns using the wireless switch.

Math access point: associate quantities with number names.

Once the pudding was DONE, we added some blue food coloring. Students helped to STIR the food coloring in. We observed how the color was DIFFERENT than before.

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

Students helped to CRUSH some graham crackers next. This is always a favorite part 🙂

Once the graham crackers were crushed up, students requested that some be put in their cup. If they didn’t get enough, they had to request MORE. We’re trying to not prompt at all and we’ve gotten several funny looks because of the small amount the kiddos get. They’ve learned to ask for more independently throughout the year.

We added some blue pudding on top of the crushed up graham crackers.

Students then had to request some more graham crackers. We talked about how the graham crackers were supposed to only go over HALF of the pudding.

Each student requested one shark. They got to choose from 4 colors. We talked about how the graham crackers were the “sand” and the pudding was the “water” so they had to put the shark in the water.

The ocean never tasted so good!

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

Don’t forget to check your SPAM folder for a confirmation email if you want to follow us!

May16

Tokyo Olympics

Posted on May 16, 2021 by jd785

Standard

Although we’re not yet sure if the Olympics will be happening this year, we made sure to celebrate them anyway. Here’s a link to the book;

lets-go-to-the-tokyo-olympics

Our book talked about the location of the 2021 Olympics as well as some of the events that might take place, such as beach volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, and track and field. Look carefully at the front and back pictures because you might notice a couple of our students.

SENSORY

Rainbow rice in the colors of the Olympic flag filled these boxes. The students looked for letter /T/.

Science access point: recognize objects as the same.

Students stamped Olympic rings into colorful moon sand.

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

Gold and silver bead reminded us of the medals for which the athletes compete.

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

Opening and closing ceremonies are usually filled with lights and fireworks. We had some fun lighted toys for the students to wave around and fun bubble wrap fireworks!

Science access point: recognize and respond to different types of stimuli.

Red and yellow food coloring was combined with shaving cream to make Olympic flames.

Science access point: recognize a change in an object.

The students raced yachts in the water play bins this week. We also included measuring cups for scooping fun.

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

Bath and Body Works Japanese cherry blossom was the perfect scent for this unit!

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

GROSS MOTOR

The Olympic sport we worked on this week was soccer. Students worked on walking or rolling up to the soccer ball and kicking it to the goal.

FINE MOTOR

For project one, the students made laurel wreath crowns—-like the ones winning athletes receive.

First, the students identified the color GREEN.

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

Next, they used GREEN markers to draw lines or letters on paper leaves. The leaves were cut using the Ellison machine. The decorated leaves were added to a strip of paper.

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

TA DA!!! We are the champions!

For project two, the students made Olympic torches!

First, the students identified a CIRCLE.

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

Then, they drew one circle in each of the Olympic colors on a piece of paper.

Math access point: match objects by an observable property, such as color.

The paper was then taped around a paper towel tube.

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

Next, the students took pieces of red, yellow, and orange tissue paper and pushed them into one end to make the “olympic flames”.

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

TA DA!!!

Let the games begin!

LANGUAGE

We had so much fun bringing the Olympics to life this week!

We started by our language group and the lighting of the torch. Our students paraded to the opening ceremony while the Olympics music played in the background.

We had our doubles yacht races first. Staff members and students from their classrooms lined up to take part. We have some competitive students and staff!

Next, our students who are able to move their wheelchairs on their own took place in the singles yacht race. SO much fun!

Our ambulatory students didn’t want to miss out on the fun, so they got to race as well!

Each class stayed together as they went to each of the events.

We had synchronized swimming where students took turns activating a switch in order to move the swimmers around the pool noodle pool.

There was also rhythmic gymnastics where students got to move around ribbons to the music.

We had an All-Turn-It spinner so that peers could be the judges.

We had soccer as well! Students kicked the floating soccer ball into the nets with help from staff.

Outside, our students got to play volleyball.

They practiced taking turns throwing and catching to their peers and classroom staff.

Finally, we had discus where students got to toss soft Frisbees to see who could get them the farthest.

After each class completed each event, we had a medal ceremony where students got their own medal and then took a picture by our Olympics backdrop.

We had an absolute blast with this unit!

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

May8

American Roadside Attractions

Posted on May 8, 2021 by jd785

Standard

We’re getting you ready for some wacky roadside attractions that you can visit over the summer! Here’s a link to the book:

lets-visit-wacky-roadside-attractions Download

We have lots of different and unique places around the U.S. that you can visit, such as the Largest Ball of Paint, the Paper House (made entirely of rolled up newspaper), and Foamhenge (not to be confused with Stonehenge). Take a look to see a few of our students checking out some sites too!

SENSORY

In Virginia you can visit Foamhenge which is a replica of Stonehenge made out of styrofoam!!! Instead of stone or styrofoam, the students made FLOAMhenge 🙂

Science access point: apply a push to an object.

There is a museum dedicated to hammers in Alaska! The students used various toy hammers to hammer golf tees into play dough.

Science access point: distinguish between objects in motion and at rest.

Colorful pasta and some toy beetles were in honor of Herkimer—the world’s largest beetle statue in Colorado!

Science access point: recognize and respond to different types of sensory stimuli.

If you visit Indiana, you could check out the world’s largest ball of paint! We used food coloring and oobleck to get a paint-like consistency—so fun!

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

There were teapots in our water bins this week. You can check out the world’s largest teapot in West Virginia!

Math access point: recognize differences in sizes of containers that hold liquids.

In Maine you can visit Wild Blueberry Land so blueberry scented lotion from White Barn was the perfect scent for this week.

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

GROSS MOTOR

For our motor activity this week, the American Roadside Attraction we “visited” was the Hammer Museum in Alaska.

Students worked on mobility to a location on campus and played the electronic Whac-A-Mole Game. Students use a hammer to hit the moles on their heads to push them back into their holes.

Students had fun playing the electronic game and no moles were injured or harmed in any way during the activity.

FINE MOTOR

For project one, the students made paper houses. In Massachusetts there is a house made entirely out of newspaper—how cool is that!

First, the students identified a RECTANGLE and TRIANGLE.

Math access point: recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape.

Then, they glued a precut rectangle and a precut triangle on to a piece of paper. The students were encouraged to put the triangle at the TOP of the rectangle. Scrapbook paper was used for this project.

Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship.

Next, they trimmed a piece of construction paper to make a door.

Science access point: recognize a change in an object.

TA DA—–Home Sweet Home!!

For project two, the students made Craft Foamhenge!

First, the students identified a rectangle.

Math access point: recognize an object with a two-dimensional shape.

Next, they chose pieces of colorful craft foam and used rolling stampers to add texture and color to the foam.

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

Then, they glued the foam pieces on to a large piece of paper.

Math access point: recognize a movement that reflects a spatial relationship.

TA DA!! Welcome to Craft-Foamhenge 🙂

LANGUAGE

We made a blueberry treat that we think would fit right in with Wild Blueberry Land. Here’s the recipe that we used:

lets-make-mini-blueberry-delights Download

We started by putting pudding mix and milk in the bowl. Students felt the bottle of milk and had to identify if it was HOT or COLD.

Science access point: recognize objects as warm or cold.

We measured out the milk and our students indicated if we needed MORE or if we were DONE.

Students helped MIX the pudding by using a wireless switch. During the mixing students looked at the bowl to see if it was ready or if we needed to mix MORE.