Bob's Cars

This is a simple book I created for a primary assembly in a special school- I can't remember the theme but I promise it was relevant. I have since lost the document I created way back then so made a new copy available now (free of course) from alljoinin.net. It is identical, bar picture style to those below.

Sorry about photo quality

Discovery Colour Bottles

I've been going through old photos and found these, made some time ago but still in use! Originally made for a very little person as a rattle/ sensory toy helped to create by a little bit (but not much) bigger person with the aim of developing their fine motor skills and colour sorting concepts. I simply added a little hot glue to the inside of the lid before screwing on very tightly, but plastic glue also works. Making the bottles was especially enjoyable and probably looking back the most fun sorting activity to date, maybe should do that again (we can cut bottles afterwards to get tiny bits out I guess).

Little person much enjoyed shaking, rolling and placing in and out of box, bigger person enjoyed tidying into correct colour spaces in box. They have since had use as; skittles, good for instructions too knock red then blue down, and colour language e.g. what colours have you knocked down?; driving round in trailers (coloured milk delivery); and as fizzy drinks in roll play...

The bottles make wonderful sensory toys for children with a range of special educational needs, and the best thing is you can personalise to individual needs e.g use bottles with handles to assist grasp, make sound bottles for those with visual impairments, themed bottles for those with particular interests.

There are a host of ideas for discovery bottles online such as Kinder friends, Dr Jean and Mrs. Pohlymeyers class.

Ten in the Bed

Fed up with seeing the vast array of expensive ten in the bed resources, which usually incorporate ten teddies I set off on a search to find ten similar looking bears. I didn't wait long before I came across these teddy key rings in a clearance sale, 50p each so a total of £5. Bed was made using an old GHD box and sticking a piece of fleece for a blanket onto the box and coloured scourers for pillows. The head board was made using a plastic folder of the same colour as the box cut to size and then velcroed to the back. I also made coloured tabards and matching hats for each of the teddies, two of each so we could look at colours, matching and the concept of the same. All teddies live inside.

Intently counting to those tired teddies!

Colour sheep and shepherds

I had promised a doll making how to today, but have been at church all eve and not enough time now to write it. So... What to post today? More dolls... Shepherd colour matching dolls to compliment the David story. Just an idea I had when I was sorting out the sheep from the other sorting animals.

The dolls were made in exactly the same way as the bible dolls, (which I will show how to make tomorrow) and in fact I think the blue one will make a perfect Mary

Colour matching clips

A really simple yet popular and challenging activity. I think the petiteness of the resources gives it appeal, and it's simplicity encourages engagement. I obtained these clips in a cheap assorted stationary set.

Peg Colour Match

What to do with a left over spring roll container? I can't be the only one who sees a piece of "rubbish" and thinks that may be useful, then has nothing to do with it? I had to think of something quick otherwise this "useful" piece of trash was going in the recycle bin for melting. So...

Place coloured card (you could also use patterned scrap book paper, I regretted not doing this) into each of the compartments.
Collect a peg for each of the interior walls. Stick a piece of card to each side of the pegs corresponding to the two adjacent coloured compartments of the wall that the peg is attached to e.g. the peg on the bottom right of this picture would have a purple and a green side.

This is a complex twist on basic colour matching, of course you could use the compartments for basic sorting also. I have made the card removable so that the can be taken out a put back into the correct places to ensure all pegs can be matched to colours, of course this is for extreme complex problem solving.

"There are no big problems, there are just a lot of little problems." Henry Ford

Painting with porcupine balls

Had a genius moment today (can't reach the kids paintbrushes in the cupboard, there's been a landslide so came up with this idea). Using porcupine mini porcupine balls attached to clothes pegs as printers/ paintbrushes, worked very well although the pegs were a bit temperamental holding onto the balls I would probably not use the pegs in future.

We usually use these balls for a colour posting game, so thought that it may be fun to paint by choosing colours using the dice from the game. This worked well and think it would be a fabulous idea to encourage children with autism to use a range of colours.

We then squirted paint onto paper in a tray, popped a ball in. After lots of tilting and some unpredictable ball movements we had a paper full of little dots. Would be lovely with white paint on black paper for snow!!! (shame I didn't photograph the end result)

"Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation and a pinch of creativity." Bo Bennett

Ribbon song

Found this WONDERFUL song on little fingers play blog. I think this will be great for using with sensory learners, including those with profound disabilities as a great sensory experience. Also great for children learning colours and for gross motor skills. I also think it would lend its self to a nice listening activity with a group of children, with children each having a ribbon, all children start seated in a space and stand when their colour is sang until all are standing.

The song starts:

"Ribbon Red

Ribbon Blue

Wave those ribbons around you..."

Check out little fingers play for the full lyrics and audio.

"Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don't understand the language that you're singing in, the still know good music when they hear it." Lou Rawis

Duplo cards

Older kids often love those lego sets where you follow instructions. Why shouldn't little ones too. Great for following visual instructions (early reading) and identifying position and colours and following pattern (numeracy and reasoning). Also great as play cue cards to assist children with Autism who find open ended activities and free play difficult. Also good for use in structured workstation situation (TEACCH).

Also great to support children to communicate with each other by giving each child a card and a shared box of bricks, on their turn they ask other child to give them a specific brick. Encourages colour and size language, which also lend it to a good PECS activity when teaching attributes.

Make your own cards by photoing creations or printing cards, from alljoinin printables.

Black and white cards for you to colour or for children to create own.

Colour cards.

"We must have reasons for speech but we need none for silence." Proverb

Rainbow blocks

Aren't kids creations wonderful, I would have never thought of doing this! This is an absolute plus for child initiated learning, however I would defiantly recommend this for an adult initiated/ led activity. All you need is a ray of sunshine and some of these rainbow blocks, build them up and watch the wonderful patterns projected onto the ground!! A great outdoor activity for a sunny day.

"The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work." Patricia Clafford