A Few Easy Steps for Successful Theme Unit Instruction

Winter Is Here Instructions Understanding Your Theme Unit The Winter Is Here theme unit includes a variety of fun and engaging activities to use duri...
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Winter Is Here Instructions

Understanding Your Theme Unit The Winter Is Here theme unit includes a variety of fun and engaging activities to use during circle, centers, independent work, and group activity times. The focus of this theme unit includes: • Winter weather, activities, clothing, and animals vocabulary words and concepts • Art and cooking activities with a winter theme • Center and independent work activities in math, reading, and writing • Science inquiry • Life skills: planning a party • Learning in groups • Working with a partner Use this theme as part of a comprehensive behavioral curriculum (The STAR Program). All students will benefit from direct instruction focused on teaching essential skills in receptive and expressive language, academics and social/play skills. The activities in the theme unit can assist instructors with generalizing and expanding skills students have learned in more structured teaching sessions. All activities provided throughout the theme unit address a wide-range of student skill levels.

A Few Easy Steps for Successful Theme Unit Instruction Winter Is Here Month:

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

MONDAY Winter Activity Charades

Who Has the Winter Item?

Hidden Snowball Game

Mitten Match

Snowball Throwing Practice

WEEK 1 CIRCLE GROUP

Science: Life Skills: Art: Cooking: Lesson 1: Lesson 1: Cozy Kid Polar Bear Fishing for Ice Planning a Party work stations. Select one reading, set up center and/or independent learning level. Use the activities provided to work assignment based on student one writing, and one math independent

Game: Build a Snowman Game

CENTERS/ INDEPENDENT WORK

WEEK 2 CIRCLE GROUP CENTERS/ INDEPENDENT WORK

Winter Activity Charades

Who Has the Winter Item?

Hidden Snowball Game

Game:

Cooking: Polar Ice Cap Drink

Art: Polar Bear

Mitten Match

Snowball Throwing Practice

Science: Life Skills: Lesson 2: A Lesson 2: Planning a Party Melting Snowman work stations. Select one reading, set up center and/or independent learning level. Use the activities provided to work assignment based on student one writing, and one math independent Winter Animal Scavenger Hunt

WEEK 3 Winter Activity Charades

Who Has the Winter Item?

Hidden Snowball Game

Mitten Match

CIRCLE

Snowball Throwing Practice

GROUP

Game: “Winter Is Here” Bingo

Cooking: Snowman

Art: Skiing Penguin

Life Skills: Lesson 3: Planning a Party

Science: Lesson 3: Melting Experiment

CENTERS/ INDEPENDENT WORK

work stations. Select one reading, set up center and/or independent learning level. Use the activities provided to work assignment based on student one writing, and one math independent

WEEK 4 CIRCLE GROUP CENTERS/ INDEPENDENT WORK

Winter Activity Charades

Who Has the Winter Item?

Hidden Snowball Game

Mitten Match

Snowball Throwing Practice

Science: Life Skills: Art: Cooking: Lesson 4: Erupting Game: Lesson 4: Snowman Tree Snowflakes Winter Fun: What Snowy Pine Throw a Party Clothes Do I Need? work stations. Select one reading, set up center and/or independent learning level. Use the activities provided to work assignment based on student one writing, and one math independent © Star Autism Support 2016.

Themes First! - Winter Is Here

1. Follow the suggested Monthly Calendar for activities focusing on winter themed vocabulary and concepts. 2. Introduce the theme unit concepts during Circle and Group Activities. Using the lessons provided, teach students important vocabulary and concepts that will be used in centers and independent work. 3. Centers and Independent Work activities are provided for a wide range of student skill levels. Activities are a follow-up to the concepts, vocabulary, and ideas presented during circle and group activities. The independent work activities can also be used during group teaching times. 4. Group Activities incorporate art, cooking, games, life skills, science, and social studies. Activities introduce and practice the concepts taught throughout the theme unit.

Student Learning Outcomes Theme vocabulary: • Winter vocabulary • Colors: White, Blue, Yellow, Red, Brown, Black • Shapes: Triangle, Circle, Oval, Diamond, Rectangle, Square President/Election Concepts: • Weather, Temperature, Preparedness, Responsibility, Kindness, Conservation Reading • Letter matching and identification • Phonics: beginning and short vowel sounds • Theme vocabulary in words and sentences • Theme comprehension • Phonemics: word families • Sight Words

Math: • Counting and one-to-one • Sorting and patterns correspondence • Comparing and classifying • Geometry • Adding and subtracting • Money • Measurement • Time Writing: • Color, cut, and glue • Trace, copy, and write words and sentences • Presentation of ideas in pictures and writing Science: Physics, chemical reactions, measuring, predicting Social Skills: Turn-taking, waiting, sharing, asking questions, commenting, working in a group Life Skills: Organization, planning, collaboration, delegation, patience © Star Autism Support 2016. Themes First! - Winter Is Here

Utilizing Learning Objectives Each activity, lesson, worksheet, and task opens with a learning objective that clearly outlines the skills and concepts reinforced in that specific piece of material. All objectives work off of learner-based outcomes in regard to students’ individual skill levels. Learning objectives can be used to reinforce state and district educational standards and individual IEP goals; they can also help maintain documentation of the skills and tasks students exercise and master during these activities.

Circle The circle activities and visuals include icons for calendar, songs, songbooks and themed activities. It is important to have a structured circle routine. View the “Circle Routine: Ideas and Visuals” in the STAR media center. Once the circle routine and visual supports are in place, add more fun to circle time by introducing new themes. Each theme unit includes circle song icons, books. and activities. NAME OF ACTIVITY/VISUAL SUPPORT

PRINTABLE FORMS

CALENDAR DATE ICONS Icons for each day of the week to identify the date. Includes repeating patterns.

Calendar Icons (Ice Skates, Sled, Snowboard)

SONG ICONS/SONG BOOKS Support student participation by providing song choice icons and visual supports for each song.

• I Built a Snowman • Snow Fun

CIRCLE ACTIVITIES Use these activities to introduce the Winter Theme and teach key vocabulary and concepts.

• • • • •

THEME RELATED VIDEOS Use the following videos during circle to introduce the concepts taught in this theme unit.

• See circle activities page for a link to videos. • We recommend that you preview the YouTube videos prior to student viewing to ensure appropriate content as video links can break or change. Also be advised ads may appear within the videos.

THEME VOCABULARY Introduce new vocabulary and concepts through written and visual supports.

Winter Clothing: Mittens, Boots, Scarf, Coat, Snowsuit, Cap, Gloves, Ear Muffs, Socks

Winter Weather: Winter, Snow, Snowing, Snowflake, Blizzard, Icicles, Cold, Freezing, Snowstorm

Winter Words: Shovel, Shoveling Snow, Snow Globe, Snowy Pine Tree, Fireplace, Hibernate, Thermometer

Winter Fun: Snowball, Snowball Fight, Sledding, Sled, Snowman, Igloo, Ice Skating, Ice Skates, Hot Chocolate, Ice Cube, Snow Angel, Ski, Snowboard, Snowboarding, Skiing, Ski Poles, Carrot, Buttons, Coal, Ice Hockey, Puck, Hockey Stick, Tubing, Tube, Skating Rink

Colors: White, Blue, Yellow, Red, Brown, Black

Winter Activity Charades Who Has the Winter Item? Hidden Snowball Game Mitten Match Snowball Throwing Practice

Winter Animals: Penguin, Polar Bear, Seal, Cardinal, Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Moose, Elk

Shapes: Triangle, Circle, Oval, Diamond, Rectangle, Square

© Star Autism Support 2016. Themes First! - Winter Is Here

Group Activities A variety of group activities are included that incorporate cooking, art, games, life skills, science, and social studies. Small group activities are a great way to build a positive classroom climate and teach social skills. Providing structure during these activities will create clear expectations for students and promote independence. Refer to the Small Group Activity routine ideas located in the STAR Media Center for additional ideas. NAME OF ACTIVITY/VISUAL SUPPORT

PRINTABLE FORMS

GAME: BUILD A SNOWMAN GAME (Classification game using snowman items)

Build a Snowman Game

GAME: WINTER ANIMAL SCAVENGER HUNT (Scavenger hunt activity using winter animal imagery as clues)

Winter Animal Scavenger Hunt

GAME: “WINTER IS HERE” BINGO (Matching bingo game using winter images and concepts)

“Winter Is Here” Bingo

GAME: WHAT CLOTHES DO I NEED? (Categorizing game using winter nouns)

Winter Fun: What Clothes Do I Need?

ART: COZY KID (Art project in which students create their own winter paper doll)

Cozy Kid

ART: POLAR BEAR (Art project in which students build a polar bear)

Polar Bear

ART: SKIING PENGUIN (Art project in which students create skiing penguin crafts)

Skiing Penguin

ART: SNOWMAN (Art project in which students construct their own snowmen)

Snowman

COOKING: POLAR BEAR (Students assemble snacks modeled after polar bears)

Polar Bear

COOKING: POLAR ICE CAP DRINK (Students assemble winter-themed drinks)

Polar Ice Cap Drink

COOKING: SNOWMAN (Students assemble snacks that look like snowmen)

Snowman

COOKING: SNOWY PINE TREE (Students assemble snacks that look like trees)

Snowy Pine Tree

SCIENCE: (Winter science inquiry lessons)

Lesson 1: Fishing for Ice Lesson 2: A Melting Snowman Lesson 3: Melting Experiment Lesson 4: Erupting Snowflakes

LIFE SKILLS: (Students work together to plan a party)

Lessons 1 – 4: Planning a Party

THEME RELATED BOOKS: 1. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

2. The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel 3. The Mitten by Jan Brett 4. The 12 Days of Winter by Deborah Lee Rose 5. If It’s Snowy and You Know It Clap Your Paws by Kim © Star Autism Support 2016. Themes First! - Winter Is Here

Centers and Independent Work File folder tasks, activities, and worksheets are included for math, reading and writing at three different levels of difficulty. Students benefit from structured centers and independent work time. Review the Centers and/or the Independent Work routine ideas and visuals in the STAR Media Center. Activities for centers and independent work follow a consistent format and address learning objectives/standards in reading, math, and writing. Each new theme will follow the same format to provide consistency of instruction for the student to build on previously learned skills. The following table is an overview of the format for each lesson. CURRICULUM AREA

PRINTABLE FORMS

READING

Level 1 FF 1.1 Winter Mitten Matching 1 FF 1.2 Winter Mitten Matching 2 FF 1.3 Winter Matching FF 1.4 Winter Sorting 1

Readiness: matching colors Theme vocabulary: matching Theme vocabulary: matching Theme comprehension: sorting

Level 2 FF 2.1 Snowflake Alphabet A-H FF 2.2 Snowflake Alphabet I-Q FF 2.3 Snowflake Alphabet R-Z WS 2.4 Winter Vocabulary 1 WS 2.5 Winter Sentences 1 Book 2.6 Dressing for Winter FF 2.7 Winter Sorting 2

Phonics: letter identification 1 Phonics: letter identification 2 Phonics: letter identification 3 Theme vocabulary: words Theme vocabulary: sentences Theme comprehension: book Theme comprehension: sorting

Level 3 WS 3.1 Beginning Sounds 1 (e, f, h, i, p, s) WS 3.2 Beginning Sounds 2 (e, f, h, i, p, s) WS 3.3 Rhyming Snow Globes WS 3.4 Winter Vocabulary 2 WS 3.5 Winter Sentences 2 WS 3.6 Winter Sight Words Book 3.7 In Wintertime Book 3.8 Penguin Fun

Phonics: Beginning Sounds 1 Phonics: Beginning Sounds 2 Phonemics: rhyming Theme vocabulary words Theme vocabulary sentences Sight words Theme Comprehension Book 1 Theme Comprehension Book 2

Level 1 FF 1.1 Igloo Number Matching FF 1.2 Mitten Shape Matching FF 1.3 Winter Money 1 FF 1.4 Winter Time 1 FF 1.5 Winter Sorting FF 1.6 Winter Patterning 1

Counting and matching Geometry matching Money matching Time matching Sorting Pattern matching

Level 2 FF 2.1 Winter Counting 1 FF 2.2 Snowball Counting WS 2.3 Comparing Numbers 1 WS 2.4 Winter Colors and Shapes FF 2.5 Winter Patterning 2 WS 2.6 Winter Money 2 WS 2.7 Winter Time 2 WS 2.8 Winter Sizes

Count object to five Count objects to ten Compare numbers to ten Geometry Patterns Money Time Classify

Level 3 WS 3.1 Winter Counting 2 WS 3.2 Comparing Numbers 2 WS 3.3 Winter Addition FF 3.4 Winter Patterning 3 WS 3.5 Winter Geometry FF 3.6 Winter Money 3 WS 3.7 Winter Time 3 WS 3.8 Winter Measurement

Counting objects to 30 Comparing numbers to 30 Add/subtract Patterns Geometry Money Time Measurement

Level 1: File Folder Tasks (FF) Level 2 & 3: File Folder Tasks (FF), Activities and Worksheets (WS) and Books. Note: Worksheets can be laminated and reused by providing students with a dry erase marker and eraser.

MATH Level 1: File Folder Tasks (FF) Level 2 & 3: File Folder Tasks (FF), Activities and Worksheets (WS) Note: Worksheets can be laminated and reused by providing students with a dry erase marker and eraser.

LEARNING FOCUS OBJECTIVES/STANDARD

© Star Autism Support 2016. Themes First! - Winter Is Here

Centers and Independent Work CURRICULUM AREA

PRINTABLE FORMS

WRITING

Level 1 WS 1.1 Color the Winter Pictures 1 WS 1.2 Winter Shapes 1 WS 1.3 Make the Snowman

Level 1, 2 & 3: Worksheets (WS) and Activities. Note: Worksheets can be laminated and reused by providing students with a dry erase marker and eraser.

Level 2 WS 2.1 Color the Winter Pictures 2 WS 2.2 Winter Shapes 2 WS 2.3 Winter Color by Number WS 2.4 Penguin Dot-to-Dot WS 2.5 Winter Letters Level 3 WS 3.1 Winter Words WS 3.2 Numbers and Number Words WS 3.3 Winter Is Here Sentences WS 3.4 Winter Words

LEARNING FOCUS OBJECTIVES/STANDARD Color within the lines Trace within the lines Match shapes and color within the lines

Trace and color Trace numbers and color within the lines Trace letters Match letters with images

Trace, copy, and write vocabulary words Trace, copy, and write number words Write theme-related sentences Presentation of ideas in print

READING MATH WRITING

© Star Autism Support 2016. Themes First! - Winter Is Here