Apple Picking

Apple Picking Fun

Tis the Season for All Things Fall! Why not take advantage of a fun fall themed classroom activity!

Skill in the classroom: Matching apple colors- red, green, yellow

PT skill: A variety of gross motor movements and motor planning

Process: 

1. Make 3 separate trees with leaves that are the color of the apples you want the student to match or you could use baskets that are the same color.

2. Make paths (I like to use painter’s tape) to the baskets or trees from where the “apples” will be (I like balls for the baskets or you can cut out apples that are red/green/yellow). Better yet, have the student color and/or cut out their own apples. 3 paths for 3 trees or baskets.

3. The paths can be in different shapes like zig zag, hopscotch, etc.

4. Have the student squat down to get an apple, return to standing, and walk to take the apple to it’s matching place. Students can walk forward, backward, sideways, crawl, scooter board jump….the list goes on and on!

5. You can use a variety of movements to put the “apple” on the tree or in the basket- tip toe standing, squatting, climbing up a small step.

6. You can use this same method to match letters, their name, numbers, really anything!

This type of activity is educational, uses language, has a decision making component (which path do I have to choose), has fine motor components, has gross motor components, can be done as a group for team building, and has many options for growth or change based on your classroom.

This can go into any fall curriculum- Johnny Appleseed Lesson, with the “Giving Tree” Book, etc. 

                                                                    Have fun with this!

Movement Matters- Whitney Carter PT, DPT

 

Team Work Makes the Dream Work!

Wait?!? What did that say? T-E-A-M? How does that work?

For children with disabilities, we work as a team to write a report or plan that will provide them with support to learn, grow, and have relationships with their peers. Why should the team work end there? Don’t we teach our children to share and help others? Why is it such a foreign concept to provide holistic and well-rounded experiences?

I remember as a child that one of my favorite books was about Grover being so terrified of what would happen at the end of the book because there was a scary monster waiting….oh no! Is the scary monster at the end really that T-E-A-M word?!? Aaaarrrgggghhhhh!

In my mind, to provide the absolute best care, we should all learn from each other. Every PT session that I have with a student incorporates so much more than PT. We are ALL responsible for helping this child learn. I use colors, numbers, books, games, stories, playground equipment, lots of language, other providers/teachers involved in the care of that child, and tons of other academically relevant activities to cover as much ground as possible and to make sessions fun and meaningful.  Wait…..what was that?!? OTHER PROVIDERS AND TEACHERS?!?!?

We need to work together- in sessions, consulting with one another, sharing information, sharing progress, sharing strategies! We all have unique skill sets that can make an unstoppable force when combined! If we all work together, really work together….we may just change the world…..or at least learn that it’s not so scary to work as a team!

Movement Matters- Whitney Carter PT, DPT

Pictures from: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+monster+at+the+end+of+this+book&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_-omj-u3VAhWI34MKHXHjDXsQ_AUICygC&biw=1138&bih=523#imgrc=yTUN-FyZCsiTnM: