Autumn Sensory Table

Rationale:

We have a giant sensory table at school. It was originally for the young kids, but it went unused for a long time. I asked the facilities guy to raise it to an adult, hip level height so that the older students wouldn't have to bend over to access contents inside. Later, I requested the addition of plexi-glass ledge of 2 layers, for slipping icons between.

For one of our communication blocks, we focus on extracurricular classes. Students can choose music, cooking, or art at this time. I took on art and started this month. This is our first activity. It's an artsy experience with lots of opportunities to model and focus on language.

Materials:

Scented and Colored rice as explained by Growing a Jeweled Rose

Decorative Gourds and Leaves (the cheapest I found was at Walmart)

Hay - also cheap at Walmart

Ribbons

Cups

Laminated cards with pictures related to Halloween

Clothespins

Yarn

Stapler

Visuals portraying sorting concepts

Icons to represent action words

Icons to represent sensing words

Icons to represent preferences/opinions

Instructions:

Guide the students to dig and explore the rice, when a student finds a card, ask them which category on the wall it goes with. "Does a ghost costume come from a tree, does it go with a pumpkin, or does it go with Halloween?" Have them hang the icon from a clothespin. I also provided bins and had my more naive students sort gourds versus pinecones versus picture cards. Next week, we will reuse the rice to make handwarmers.

#sensory #resources #theme #symbolstix #groups