Topic “Individual”  

• A familiar picture book;
• If required, a symbol card to represent 'what' (for example a question mark).

1. Ask "what" questions about familiar pictures in books. For example, ask 'What is this?';
2. Model the answer if the child has difficulty answering, for example "What's this?". You could also use a "what" symbol card when you ask questions - pointing to it when you use the word 'what'.

One or more of these:

• own photos from school or home;
  
• pictures of things.
  

... and if required:

"What" symbol card

• A familiar picture book;
• If required, a symbol card to represent 'who' (for example a question mark next to a picture of a face).

1. Ask 'who' questions about familiar pictures in books. For example, ask 'Who is this?';
2. Model the answer if the child has difficulty answering, for example "This is Sam". You could also use a "who" symbol card when you ask questions - pointing to it when you use the word 'who'.

One or more of these:

• own photos from home or school;
• picture cards with people on.

...and if required:

• a symbol card to represent 'who' (for example a question mark next to a picture of a face).

A situation where there are other people - for example in class, in the playground.

"Who" symbol card if required.

A male doll

A female doll

2 identical sets of items, e.g. toy food, counters, any small items.

1. Explain to the child that you are going to play a game that will help them learn 'him and 'her.

2. Set out the dolls and the items. Explain that you call the male doll 'him' and the female doll, 'her'.

3. Give you child instructions - e.g. give the cup to him, give the plate to her.

4. After a few turns, ask your child to give you an instruction using the word 'him' or 'her'.

- printable him/her sorting game - click here

Writing tools and paper

Washing up brush and bucket of water

Sand tray

Play dough

(1) Start by making big vertical strokes with a washing up brush and a pail of water outside on a fine day. Say "Down ... down"

(2) Give the brush to the child

(3) Reward any attempts to make a downward stroke for example with clapping, praise etc.

(4) Follow this procedure in the sand or in a rolled out piece of play dough etc.

(5) Use a chunky crayon (not too long) and a piece of paper. Say 'Down ......down.'

(6) Give the crayon to the child

(7) Reward success with praise or reward toys.

(8) Use a ruler to make two vertical tramlines on the page and then help the child draw between the lines in a downward motion.

(9) Draw two or three tramlines on a page well spaced - and see if the child can start at the top and draw down.

(10) Draw big dots in a downward line and make the starting off dot big and red. Model for the child drawing a downward line roughly along this line of dots. You may need to start the child off and stop half way down the line for the child to complete.

(11) Use different colours and writing tools to make the task more interesting. Reward attending to the task with social praise or a reward toy.

The materials you had in the lesson.

Picture prompts for the activities that were carried out.

Piece of card to stick the prompts onto as you do the activities in the lesson.

1. As you do the lesson, each time you do an activity, get the prompt card for the activity and put it on the card - so that the activities appear there in the same order that you did them;
2. At the end of the lesson get the students to say what activities they did;
3. Ask them which came first, then which was next, and which was next again (etc.);
4. Use the prompt cards if students are having difficulty recalling the sequence.

Breakfast food and implements, rough sketches or photos of each stage in the sequence to use as prompts.

Ideas for sequences:

Toast

1. Get the bread
2. Open the packet
3. Take out two slices
4. Put them in the toaster
5. Push down the lever
6. Wait for it to pop up
7. Take it out
8. Spread butter on them
9. (Spread jam on them)
10. Eat

Note: you can simplify the sequence - e.g. bread - toaster - spread butter. Or you could make it more complex.

Make a cup of tea

1. Fill the kettle with water
2. Switch it on
3. Wait
4. Put the teabag  the cup
5. Pour in the water
6. Wait
7. Take out the teabag and put it in the bin
8. Add milk
9. Drink

As with the toast, you can simplify this or make it more complicated!

1. Ensure that the student already knows how to do the activity - for example that they are able to make toast and spread it.
2. Get them to tell you what to do/show you what to do: initially start with a simplified sequence with 3 or 4 steps (see ideas on the left);
3. Respond to what the student indicates that you should do - but look confused if it won't work - for example if they ask you to put cold water in the tea (yuk!) to help encourage them to correct themselves: use the pictures or photos if necessary.
4. Over time, see how much of the sequence they can describe without any prompts. 

- A toy that your child is motivated by.

- A small blanket.

1. Show your child the toy and let them explore it.
2. Cover the toy with the blanket.
3. Pull the blanket off the toy - you could say 'peek a boo' or name the toy as you uncover it.
4. Repeat this a few times and watch your child's reaction - do they anticipate you are going to pull the blanket off? Do they attempt to get to the hidden object?
5. If your child is not looking towards the blanket when you hide the toy, try using a noisy toy so they can listen to the sound when it is hidden under the blanket.

Camera to make the picture sequences (or alternatively you can draw them or use a commercial resource).

Resources as appropriate to carry out a simple sequence

Examples of sequences (with suggested steps to make pictures for):

Putting on a jumper (get jumper, put head through, put arms through);

Drinking a drink (jug and cup, pour water into the cup, drink it)

Peeling and eating a piece of fruit (fruit, peel fruit, eat it)

Sitting down and eating dinner

Drawing a picture (pencil and paper, child drawing, finished picture)

Looking at a book (get it, open it, look at it)

1. Carry out the activity without the pictures;

2. Do it again, showing the relevant picture for each part of the activity as you do it;

3. Get the child to do the sequence, tell them what to do by showing them a picture for each part of the sequence;

4. Get them to show you what to do by giving you a picture for each part of the sequence. Try to do exactly as the picture you are given indicates, for example if they give you a picture of someone blowing bubbles without having given you the step for opening the bubbles container, try to blow the bubbles anyway (and act being disappointed when you don't get any bubbles).

Sheet of paper with 3 boxes drawn on them for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

A counter.

Optional: sets of symbol cards or pictures showing a variety of activities - including activities the student may have done.

You can create symbols cards using the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint.

1. Talk about each day, one at a time. Get the student to draw or write things they have done or will do in each box. Use the picture symbols if the student is having difficulty coming up with things.

2. When you have finished, explain that there is going to be a quiz. Describe an activity and the student must say if they did it yesterday, did it today or will do it tomorrow.

3. Have them step the counter over onto the right day.

Set of three pictures - one showing a picture of a child, one showing a picture (preferably of the same person!) at a similar age to the student and one a picture of an older person. These could be photographs or drawings.

Choose three ages which are appropriate/relevant for the student.

Large 'thought clouds ' on A3 or A4 paper:

Sticky tape

Pens

Picture symbol prompts if required.

You can create symbol prompts using the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint.

Calendar

Pens

Any activity or set of activities where the student might use a schedule or have a visual timetable.

You can create a visual timetable/schedule using the Commtap Symboliser for PowerPoint.

Camera to make the picture sequences (or alternatively you can draw them or use a commercial resource).

Resources as appropriate to carry out a simple sequence

Examples of sequences:

Clean teeth: get toothpaste, open lid, get brush, squeeze toothpaste onto brush, put lid back onto toothpaste, brush teeth, spit out, put brush under water, repeat, clean brush, put brush away.

Wash hands: turn on tap, rinse hands, put soap on hands, scrub hands, rinse under water, turn tap off, dry with towel.

Brush hair: get brush, brush hair, put brush away.

Deodorant: get deodorant, take off lid, spray at appropriate area, put lid back on, put away.

1. Carry out the sequence without the pictures;

2. Do it again, showing the relevant picture for each part of the activity as you do it;

3. Get the student to do the sequence, showing them a picture for each part of the sequence as they do it;

4. Get them to show you what to do by giving you a picture for each part of the sequence. Try to do exactly as the picture you are given indicates, for example if they give you a picture of scrubbing your hands before the tap is turned on/before you have the soap, try to do this - but appear confused when this doesn't work.

Use a small box or bag to collect toys which target different sensory areas

e.g.

Auditory (noisy toys) toys (rattles, squeakers, shakers, musical items, drums etc.)

Visual toys (flags, streamers, Slinkies, spinners, bubbles, flashing items, torches, pop-up toys, windmills etc.)

Tactile toys (toys that feel different) (balls of different textures to squeeze, brushes of different textures to be tickled with, materials e.g. velvet, sandpaper, feathers, pots of rice/macaroni to feel, Play dough to squeeze/cut )

Scented toys (play dough, Plasticine, some rubber toys)

1. Collect some toys from each of the sensory categories described.

2. Store the toys in a container which you use only for this specific activity and is otherwise stored away from children.

3. Find a quiet comfortable place to work either at a table or on the floor. Try to make sure the child cannot easily run off or get distracted.

4. Make a show of shaking the suitcase and seeming happy about the approaching activity.

5. Take out two toys from different sensory categories and place them in front of the child - note which category of item the child chooses/reaches for and put the other item back in the suitcase.

6. Allow the child a short time to enjoy the item chosen then say 'Your name's turn' (e.g. "Mary's turn") and gently but firmly take the item for your turn.

7. Use the toy for a short time then offer it the child again. Say 'Child's name's turn'.

8. Repeat a few times but stop before the child gets bored.

9. Start the process again by offering the child a choice of toys from two different sensory categories and then follow the turn taking routine.

10. Continue with the activity for approximately 10 minutes - stop before the child gets bored.

11. Store the sensory suitcase in a secure place until the next session.

Use a selection of the following:

Paint pots and brushes, felt tips, computer painting programme, pots with different coloured bits of paper to stick and a sheet of paper.

Use, for example, one of the following sets of items:

Sand tray with spades, pots etc.

Water tray with pots, sieves, pourers etc

Rice tray with pots and pourers etc

Newspaper or children's paper or magazine

Large sheet of paper

Pens

Choose a page of a newspaper or children's paper, or cut out some stories from a newspaper. (You could also do this on line if you have access to a computer. It is very motivating for the children!)

Choose stories that will prompt discussion and are not simple right / wrong issues.

Put the main person in the story in a circle in the middle of a page. Draw lots of lines out of the circle, and think of different things the person could do. Have each child circle the one they think they would suggest . Help the children think about what will happen if the person takes their advice.

Cards to write situations on.

Paper

Pens

Short video clips from children's programmes

Alien puppet or picture.

Cards to write situations on.

Everyday situations at school and home.

LDA what's wrong social sequencing cards.

Paper or whiteboard

Pens

Describe and look for things and actions in story books and pictures.

pictures with paper clips attached, magnetic fishing rods, 'pond' e.g. a flat box

Put cards in the box, take turns to fish for a picture, say/sign what is fished out.

Eight picture cards, small piece of paper with a fish drawn on it

Pictures of everyday objects, background pictures (Black Sheep Sentence Builder and Narrative Packs have some good ones)

Pictures of everyday objects from class and outside. A blank jotter book

Pictures of everyday objects from class and outside

• Digital camera
• Velcro
• Laminated sheet of paper
• Stickers
• Laminated symbols for  ‘Hello’

If you don't already have a symbol for "hello" you can find one in the Commtap Symboliser.

1. Agree with 3 familiar people that the child is going to start greeting them by saying ‘Hello’.
2. Explain to the people you have selected that the child is learning to greet another person and there are a number of steps to this.
3. Explain that the child will get a sticker reward for starting to say ‘hello’.
4. Ask the people you have selected to respond to the child’s greeting by making eye contact and saying ’hello’ with a welcoming gesture.
5. The steps for greeting include:
• Stopping
• Looking
• Gesturing
• Handing over a symbol of ‘Hello’
• Saying/signing ‘Hello’
6. Take photos of the people you want the child to greet and laminate.
7. Put the photos on a laminated sheet of A4 paper using velcro.
8. Next to each photo velcro on a laminated symbol of ‘Hello’.
9. As you approach the target person they need to stop and get down to make eye contact with the child and say and gesture ‘hello’. It is best to use just one word.
10. Help the child identify the person in the photos by pointing to the photo.
11. You model saying ‘Hello + name + welcoming gesture. As you do this point to the person’s photo and then point to the ‘hello’ symbol.
12. Support the child to do the same if needed.
13. The child gets a sticker for stopping / looking / gesturing / saying ‘Hello’ verbally.
14. As the child learns the routine slowly give fewer and fewer prompts for greeting targeted adults.
15. Keep giving stickers for as long as the child needs this reinforcement.

Cards showing a range of nouns and adjectives plus the words "the" and "is". DLTK's examples. (https://www.dltk-kids.com/)

Pencil and paper (optional)

1. Lay the word "is" on the table in front of the child. Put the word "the" to the left of this, with a gap in between them. Check that the child can read both words;

2. Put one of the noun cards into the gap between the words "the" and "is";

3. Put one of the adjective cards after the word "is";

4. Read the sentence to the child (e.g. "the monster is green");

5. Encourage the child to make up new sentences in the same manner. It doesn't matter if the sentences are silly;

6. You can use the paper to record the sentences made, or for the child to draw an appropriate picture on.

Feely bag containing a range of objects (choose objects appropriate for the children you are working with);

"is" cue card as previous activity.