Maple mermaid story

This week, some of our learners engaged and participated in a sensory story, linking to our theme ‘Sail the Seven Seas’, titled ‘Mia The Mermaid’s Underwater Adventure’. 
This session was focusing on My Communication, allowing our learners to communicate during the story and within follow on activities. Communication boards were provided so our learners could express what they could see, hear and feel as well as actions to encourage their participation.
We watched Mia Mermaid’s tail swish above us whilst using repetitive language “swish, swish, swish”. We explored splashing and pouring blue coloured water using our hands and cups, pouring high and low. 
Miss Brown blew bubbles just like the bubbles Mia Mermaid sees in the sea, we all had a turn popping the bubbles whilst our teachers demonstrated gestalt language “pop, pop, pop” and “popping bubbles!” 
Mia Mermaid then found a starfish on a rock, we felt the textures of the starfish and practised describing how it felt which was rough and spiky. 

We then found a rattling treasure chest! We all listened to the rattling sound it made, maintaining our engagement and curiosity. Miss Brown then opened the treasure chest to find shiny pearls inside! We all explored how smooth the pearls felt and the sound they made against each other and in the chest. 
It was then time for Mia Mermaid to go home and go to sleep after a busy underwater adventure. Miss Brown modelled laying down on a pillow and covered herself with a silk blanket whilst pretending to sleep. Some of us came to the front for their turn and others preferred to be tucked in whilst staying on their chair. We practised gestalt language “I’m sleepy” and “shhh they’re sleeping”. 
 

Some of us went down to the playground to practise communicating for preferred items and activities. We did this by using our PECS books and communication book asking for preferred activities like swing and songs. We also practised requesting preferred sensory items such as chiffon, ribbon, bouncy balls and bubbles.

Our follow on activities consisted of sensory play and colourful semantics. We explored sand and Gelli Baff with toy sea creatures and shells. Gestalt boards and communication boards were provided to aid communication and preferences within the activity. Teachers used frequent use of intensive interaction and modelled exploration and language to support our learners individual needs. 
 

Some of us completed a sequence of colourful semantics, some at ‘who, doing what?’ and some at ‘who, doing, what, where?’ Whilst also furthering our language skills, practising using adjectives to describe what we can see in the pictures.

 

Well done Maple Class for a fantastic week.