Discovery Skills Kits

What is a Discovery Skills Kit? It is an all-in-one kit promoting the development of a particular life skill or comprehension of a concept. These backpacks (from Janway), contain 4 - 8 books, small toys/games and other manipulatives. With funding from the Friends of the Bloomfield Township Public Library, I assembled these multi-sensory kits with especially visual and tactile learners in mind. Youth with autism, cognitive impairments, intellectual disabilities, specific learning difficulties and English Language Learners (ELL) can have difficulty learning key concepts and other essential topics via written and auditory instruction. Different learners can really benefit from these hands-on assistive learning tools. Many of the kit topics were suggested by our Accessibility Services Focus Group and special education professionals in our local school district. The backpacks have two zipper pulls, allowing us to attach zip ties that are removed upon check-out. A new zip tie is secured upon check-in before kits are placed back on the shelves. There is a photo guide with content lists located on the shelves so patrons can view the materials before checking out.

Shelf Photo Guide

We currently have 21 kits in the collection:
Alphabet
Human Body
Cause & Effect
Colors
Community
Counting
Daily Living
Expressions / Emotions
Focus / Self-Regulation
Getting Dressed
Measurement
Money
Opposites
Rhythm & Music
Seasons
Sensory Awareness
Shapes
Social Skills
Spatial Relationships
Time
Safety

Cause & Effect Kit

Book: The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Noble

Book: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Book: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood

Card Set: Cause and Effect

Card Set: ColorCards Cause & Effect

Toy: Caterpillar Gear Board

Toy: Cause & Effect Alpine Adventure Game

Toy: Smart Pal Frog (with optional capability switch)

Toy: Mini Wiggly Giggly Ball

Focus / Self-Regulation kit

Book: My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook

Book: The Worst Day of My Life Ever! by Julia Cook

Book: Mrs. Gorski, I Think I have the Wiggle Fidgets by Barbara Esham

Book: AD/HD Homework Challenges Transformed! by Harriet Green

Book: Take the Time: Mindfulness for Kids by Maud Roegiers

CD Set: The Mozart Effect: Music for Children

Card Set: Conditional Following

Card Set: Yoga Pretzels

Toy: Clear Schedule Strip and Visual Schedule Resources Insert

Toy: Bug-Out Bob

Toy: Busy Fingers Fidget Lap Pad

Toy: Find It Activity Tube

Toy: Perplexus

Toy: Spot It! and Spot It, Jr. games

Toy: Time Tracker Mini

Social Skills kit

Book: How to Be a Friend by Laurie Brown

Book: I Can't Believe You Said That! by Julia Cook

Book: Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook

Book: Well, I Can Top That! by Julia Cook

Book: Social Rules for Kids by Susan Diamond

Card Set: All About You, All About Me Fun Deck

Card Set: Hooray for Play!

Card Set: Hooked on Friendship

Card Set: Learn to Respond Appropriately

Card Set: Reactivity game

Toy: Puppet-On-a-Stick (2)

Spatial Relationships kit

Book: Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres

Book: Over, Under & Through by Tana Hoban

Book: Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins

Book: Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson

Card Set: Pigs & Pals

Card Set: Pirates & Pals

Toy: Hape Play Blocks

Toy: Hello Sunshine game

Toy: Positional Words Resource Box game