So it's that time again. August has rolled around and here we are, ready to face another school year. First off, where did the summer go? I always wonder. If you are like me, some years the beginning of school seems to come upon me much faster than I every expect and before I'm even prepared, it's time for my first day of therapy. Some years in the past my caseload was so high, I didn't have enough time to fully unpack and get organized before the first day. So I've had to improvise. If you too are one who needs to improvise this year, and looking for a little help, here are a few quick easy therapy activities/games you can do with your kiddos the first week of therapy with minimal or not materials.
1. Getting to Know You:
Materials: None are necessary, but paper/chalkboard/dry erase board are optional.
Purpose: Simple game to use as an ice breaker returning from the summer time. You can use this game also as a means of dynamic assessment for your students communication skills.
How to play: Ask your students 10 simple questions about themselves. Examples, "What is your favorite color/food/song?", "What did you do over the summer?", "Do you have pet(s)? If so, names, types of animals?, "Tell me about your favorite book"., etc. You can write their answers on the board if you have one. Have your students begin on one end of your tx room/hallway, and with each question answered correctly they can take a step forward (as big as they can). The goal being they need to reach you/the other side of the room/end of hallway by the time they answer the 10th question. Easy peasy!
2. Summer Artwork:
Materials: One piece of paper for each child, crayons/markers/colored pencils, file folder.
Purpose: Simple directions game with goal to determine your students' ability to give adequate directions and follow directions. Students will be directing other students on how to draw a picture that represents their summer fun.
How to play: Each student receives a blank piece of paper. Place file folders between students so they cannot see each other's papers. Have students take turns giving another student directions of items to draw. Have them include the object name, color of object, and location on the paper to draw item. By the end of the exercise, students should have drawn a picture that represented other student's summer fun! Perfecto!
3. "I'm thinking of...":
Materials: None are necessary, if you have objects/pictures present you can use those for support.
Purpose: This is a type of 20 questions game. The goal is for the students to accurately describe objects and other students to give logical suggestions based on those descriptions. You can assess your students ability to define objects based on their function, size, color, material, location, etc. (assessing use of attributes). You can also assess auditory comprehension skills of other students by listening to descriptions and making logical guesses.
How to play: It's played exactly the way you are thinking. Each student thinks of an object and describes it. The other student(s) take turns guessing the item being described. You can add to this game by choosing a category from which the students much choose their object or giving a limit to the number of guesses or the number of descriptions provided. Just have fun with it!
4. Sing it!:
Materials: None are necessary
Purpose: Language fun in music. You can also assess some articulation skills dynamically.
How to Play: Give the students a word or (if working on articulation, an initial or final sound) and let them take turns signing songs with that word (or a word with that chosen sound stated first) in it. The student who can come up with the most songs wins.
Ok so these are simple basic games you can do quickly and with minimal or no materials. It's an easy way to get back into the swing of things, get come great dynamic assessment information regarding your students' skills after a summer off from therapy, and just have fun!
Have a great new year!
