Valentine’s Barrier Activity

 

This is a great and challenging activity for upper elementary students and even middle school students as well.  I give each student a blank grid as pictured above.  I also give each student (group of 2) a completed grid, each having a different version.  I put a barrier between them like a board game box.  They are then given the task of giving each other specific and clear instructions so that their partner's picture will match their completed picture in the end.  This activity can be an auditory skill/listening activity by simply adding the acoustic hoop.  This is a great activity for working on left/right/center and top/middle/bottom.  The details of the finished grids requires very specific language, using words like outline, wavy, diagonal/horizontal/vertical, as well as size and location words.  Preposition choice is also very important.  

Because this activity can be quite challenging, it is also a great opportunity to work on both communication breakdown and communication repair.  I like to model and prompt students to ask follow-up and clarifying questions.  At the conclusion of the activity, I have the students compare their papers to the goal papers.  We talk about the mistakes and why they might have occurred.  Perhaps they misunderstood the direction.  Perhaps the direction didn't have all the information they needed.  

For students with fine motor challenges or perfectionistic tendencies, I provide heart-shaped tracers made from oaktag or something durable.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZh5aLXamIQ&t=1s

 

Valentine Songs

 "Do You Know My Valentine?"

 https://youtube.com/shorts/WlBD9YmcB44

With this song you can incorporate auditory/listening skills or receptive fingerspelling by having the students listen for or watch for their names.  I show fingerspelling, name sign, and spoken name in this video.  

"Skinamarink"

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dNv0hPoedg

Winter's Here Song

 

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A9mhlOnRHRs

Winter’s Here!!!

Tune of “This Old Man”

 

Winter’s here.

Time to cheer.

Bundle up in all your gear.

Boots, hats, snowpants…coat and gloves,

It’s the season that we love.

 

Snowy day.

Let’s go play.

Catch some snowflakes on the way.

Ski, skate, sled, build…have a snowball fight,

Hot cocoa and firelight.

Don't Break the Ice Game

 

 https://amzn.to/4h3VsnD

This game is a great way to work on practicing speech and language skills.  It is highly motivating and fun for the students and ties in nicely with "winter" themes.  It is also inexpensive and readily available for purchase online and at typically at the major stores (Walmart, Target, etc.).  I simply have the students practice whatever their target skill might be before taking their turn to tap out an ice block.  But be prepared...it's a bit loud!!!  You could throw a towel on the table under the game if you want to soften the noise.  I wouldn't advise playing it on a day you have a headache ;) 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AOKEkbppeY