Today, I gave a group of 8 middle school students with varying cognitive impairments and their teachers/caregivers a tour of the Youth Room. We followed up with a winter-themed sensory story time. Unfortunately, our early start to winter in Michigan this week delayed their bus a bit so I had to cut one of the stories in order to keep them on their schedule (and squeeze in our fabulous craft!).
We started off with a discussion about all of the things we like about winter. Warming up with hot cocoa and building a snowman topped our list!
ASL sign song: "Sprinkle, sprinkle, little snow" (tune: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star")
Sign learned: SNOW
Sprinkle, sprinkle, little snow
Falling down on us below.
Small and white and powdery,
Such a joy for all to see.
Sprinkle, sprinkle, little snow
Falling down on us below.
(Source: Preschool Education)
Story: Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
We didn't have time for the sensory reading of this new favorite, so I added some of the sensory experiences to our next story.
Flannel rhyme: "Chubby Little Snowman"
(We talked about how to put our flannel snowman together first.)
Chubby little snowman
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Ate the little snowman's nose
Nibble, nibble crunch!
Story: Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
We passed around an "indoor snowball" to experience the crunchy feeling and then I brought around a small bin of artificial snow for them to touch and feel before I read the story. I also had a grocery bag filled with snowman materials to show the kids, just like in the story. We talked about the different materials used to make the snow dad, mom, boy, girl, baby, cat, and dog. Their favorite one was the snow dog because they loved the buttons! I asked them why the snow creations were shrinking and melting when the sun came out. There are so many discussion points in this beautifully illustrated, simple favorite.
Song: "Winter Pokey"
You put your mittens in,
You put your mittens out.
You put your mittens in,
And you shake them all about.
You do the winter pokey (shiver),
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about!
You put your boots in...
You put your warm hat in...
You put your snowsuit in...
(Source: Perpetual Preschool)
Activity: "Snowballs pals"
We used all of those wonderful materials from the Snowballs sack (pre-cut pieces of yarn, buttons, bird seed, leaves, circle stickers), along with some pre-cut textured paper circles to create our Snowballs pals. They really enjoyed making these, and everybody (boys and girls) made a snow girl! Here are a few of them:
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