Celebrate the Children

Summary of Instructional Materials

(List of catalogues at back)

Social Skills

We use mainstream materials in our groups that are supplemented with teacher made videos, posters, and books. These ≤homemade≤ materials are written in simple terms, which allows for greater understanding of the concepts being taught. These materials are highly motivating and the students have an easier time relating to the situations and characters of the story.

Emotions cards (simple faces of different emotions)

Lakeshore Feelings and Faces Game

Photo Emotions (LDA) 1-800-521-3218

Emotions videos (students/adults acting out emotions)

• Emotions chart (For students to log their emotions visually)
• Emotions Frogs (Childπs Work, Childπs Play) Beanbags with emotion words on them.
• Emotions Poster (Childπs Work, Childπs Play)
• Sesame Street Emotions Books
• Joy Berry - Help Me Be Good Book Series, Grolier Books (Emotions Books)
• Homemade books about emotions and social situations (Individualised and simple)
• Blues Clues - What is Blue Feeling? (Book)
• Perfect Pigs - An Introduction to Manners (Book)
• Whoπs Been Sleeping in My Porridge? By, Colin McNaughton (this book helps the students learn about subtlety, irony, and sarcasm; use to build sense of humour)
• Photographs of students around the classroom, at field trips, and their families (these photos are used to elicit feelings, social language, and act as a reference to past events)
• Emotion Faced Dolls
• Various puppets for role playing (Clifford, Blues Clues, etc.)
• Felt board with felt people ( Blues Clues, Curious George, Madeline; we use the felt board for predicting behaviour and emotions)
• Masks and colourful hats
• Theory of Mind Dolls (pictures can be inserted into head of doll to show students what the doll is thinking about)
• Familiar soundtracks and figures of familiar characters (Tarzan, Lion King, Little Mermaid, Anastasia; these soundtracks expose the students to interests of typical children)

CDπs

• Greg & Steve - Kids in Motion
• Six Little Ducks
• Where is Thumbkin?
• Pre-School Aerobic Fun (KIMBO Box 477, Long Branch, NJ 07740)
• Any fast paced music
• Lumi Sticks (rhythm activities)
• Elmocize - Sesame Street Video

Problem solving games from Childπs Work, Childπs Play:

• Stop , Relax, and Think (5+ years)
• Listen Up (5+ years)

Play Skills

• Kitchen set with pretend food/dishes
• Fisher Price - Carpenters Table
• Barneyπs Schoolhouse
• School Bus
• Pretend people
• Doll house
• LEGOS
• Race track
• Cars
• Dress up clothes
• Crib
• Stuffed animals
• Pretend farm and animals
• Telephone
• Cause and effect toys; toys that light up or make noise
• Theme toys (Blues Clues, etc.)

Creative Drawing

• Draw and Talk (Evan Moor 800-777-4362)
• Following Directions (Evan Moor 800-777-4362)
• Various drawing materials
• Scented markers
• Coloured pencils
• Dot-A-Dot Art
• Anti-Colouring Book (allows for creative drawing)

Obstacle Course

We incorporate fine motor, gross motor and motor planning into our obstacle course activities. The obstacle course can have as many steps as your students are able to sequence. Activities should include jumping, crawling, crashing, and writing. Below, we have listed some basic materials needed.

• Trampoline
• Bean bag
• Silly Stilts
• Mats
• Balance beam
• Hippity Hop
• Peanut Ball
• Sit & Spin
• Drums
• Balance Boards
• Dry erase board
• Wicky Sticks
• Shaving cream

Predicting/Sequencing

• Blues Clues Story Cards
• Blues Clues Sequencing Cards (American Education Publishing, Ashland, OH 44805)
• Tense sequencing (The Living and Learning Company 800-521-3218)
• Sequential Thinking: Levels 1-5 (LDA Grand Rapids MI 49501)
• Social Sequences (LDA Grand Rapids, MI 49501)
• Play tent to hide toys
• Below, are some books that are good for reinforcing predicting and sequencing skills.
• ≥Maisy≤ books
• ≥Teletubbies≤ books (these books are simple and repetitive)
• Very Hungry Caterpillar by, Eric Carle

Thinking Goes to School

The activities chosen from this book are modified to meet the needs of our students. Each day a different category is targeted and a specific activity is completed. Below are some materials that have been used during these activities.

• Phonograph
• Flashlight
• Shoebox
• Shapes of different colours and size (for sorting)
• Parquetry blocks
• Mazes
• Dry erase board
• Think and Feel Box

Sensory Toys

The materials listed below are used during various classroom activities.

• Big bins of beans that the child can get into to
• Slime or wet putty
• Water
• Shaving cream
• Finger paint
• Smelly markers
• Blopens
• Bubbles
• Whistles
• Weighted blankets and vests
• Wicky Sticks
• Feather boa
• Brushes
• Christmas lights
• Fiber optic toys
• Other items or toys that are soft, rough, heavy, wet, make noise or music, have lights, smell, etc. Toys that give children sensory input can help them stay organized when playing.

Catalogues

Childπs Work Childπs Play 800-962-1141

Lakeshore

OT Ideas 973-895-3622

Therapy Skill Builders 800-211-8378

Lillyπs Kids 800-285-5555

Play With a Purpose 800-533-0446

Creative Learning 973-927-6868