Playdough Angels

Playdough angels. They may not all quite resemble angels but it was a mixture of ages, and allowed to create from the resources available.

• skin colour play dough (obviously), there were two shades
• plastic gems
• white feathers
• pipe cleaners (metallic)
• eyes
• pom poms
• match sticks

The story we were doing was Joseph is told by an angel that Mary is having God's son, but it would work for any angel story. This was our most popular angel activity with the littlest ones.

CD Angel

Not a prescriptive craft super fan but I quite like this CD angel and left lots of scope for creativity! Was REALLY popular! And I know which one I prefer (one was done by me!)

Family Advent Day 3

I thought I'd be organised and attempt to post day prior!

Family Advent TIme

To celebrate advent as families I have created a set of cards for daily reflection/ activity time. I have tried to leave room for some creativity, whilst giving possible ideas of exploring the story together.

Christmas Communication Signs and Symbols

I know it's only Sept but some people already seem to be on the Christmas Planning already (I'm not that organised) so thought I'd start (or attempt to, depends on organisation) posting resources and ideas that support individuals with SEN and or Additional Needs and their inclusion in the advent/ christmas activities/ events.

So starting with communication, which is obviously a key aspect of inclusion of anyone but it's essential that we get it right.
A few things to consider relating to Communication, Additional Needs and SEN

• Attempt to simplify and reduce language, particularly ensuring you reduce jargon and cliches 
• Speak clearly
• Speak at a steady pace that isn't too fast and ensure some pauses between important points (not long silences, just a pause)
• Supplement spoken language with changes to pitch and tone appropriate to what is being said with appropriate (maybe exaggerated) facial expressions
• Supplement spoken language with visuals e.g. gestures, props, pictures, signs and symbols (some ideas for this below)
• Idioms can be difficult for some people with additional needs, such as autism to understand. (Also consider the use of metaphors with some individuals, who may need more concrete examples I remember talking to a very verbal teen with additional needs after a talk using the metaphor that we should be like a stick of rock have Jesus' name running through  us, she said she thought the talk was great I asked what they liked the reply "Christian's should be crispy like a stick of rock")
• Offer appropriate/ adapted opportunities for the individual to communicate alongside peers (you will need to consider the individual needs)
• Ensure you communicate with the individual, their parents or carers about their needs and adapt accordingly 
• Make inclusive practices a part of your "usual" practices, consider how the TV show Something Special has made Makaton mainstream.

Makaton Signs and Symbols
"Makaton uses signs, symbols and speech to help people communicate.  Signs are used, with speech, in spoken word order.  This helps provide extra clues about what someone is saying.  Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear.  Using symbols can help people who have limited speech and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign." (Makaton website) 

• Makaton Signs and Symbols (originally from the Makaton website) check out the Makaton website for free resources at regular intervals.

• We wish you a merry Christmas Makaton You Tube video from Singing hands.

Symbols

"Symbols are images which are used to support text, makingthe meaning clearer and easier to understand. They provide a visual representation of a concept." (Widgit) 

There are a range of symbol sets e.g. Widgit Symbols, Picture Comuncation Symbols (PCS), and obviously Makaton. Symbols can be used to aid understanding and individuals communication.

• Widgit Nativity symbols and story pack

• Symbol World online Nativity story

• Christmas Communication Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) secular and Christian

• Christmas Communication board for craft activities (PCS)

British Sign Language

The sign system by some members of the deaf community in Britain.

• Silent Night British Sign Language (and other songs) recorded for youtube

• Silent night British Sign Language, printable song. It costs £1.99 to download

• BSL We Wish you a Merry Christmas Printable

Check out one of my previous Inclusive Christmas Post

Follow the star

For this weeks little ones group we did "Follow the star" Looking at the wise men following the Star to Jesus, it should have been after Christmas but a bit of a blip in my planning (but seemed to be fine)

 They came in to this set up in the door way! They immediately all stood around, one child turned out the lights (because there were start lights). They then all threw them selves into playing with the stars, I asked what they thought we may be thinking about today reply: "Fairies" my response "I can see why you would think that with the fairy wands, but no it's not fairies. It is about Christmas" (with a smile) "OHHHHH, it's angels then" "Mmm no, have a look at all those things" "OH, the star"  "Yes the star, who followed the star" their bustle of following noise! ohh look we can turn this on and off this one jingles, jingle jingle jingle"

 These other activities were available, but actually we spent our time, after the story and sorting activity making a star tent to hide under so we could see the light properly (we have a great black out blind for this purpose but it broke when I tried to close it- which reminds me must ask someone to fix!)

This activity was done by one child a few times

 Before we read the story, we looked through this Christmas box each child chose an item and we said what it was. We then sorted them into items that were in the Bible and those that just were around at Christmas, this activity worked well for the 4-6 year olds but not for the younger ones, that is a negative of having a group thats evolved into 2-6 year olds.

The candy cane caused some discussion and it is in the middle as it could be a candy cane, a shepherds crook, or a J?

 We then read a christmas play version of the christmas story called follow the star!  We spoke about people doing nativity plays whilst telling the story. One child (4) announced their disgust that

 "I'm a fish in the Christmas play, what's a fish got to do with Christmas! They have forgotten Jesus!" Out of the mouths of babes! Let us not forget Jesus this holiday time!

Nativity Blocks

Got this idea from Pinterest where several people have made lovely nativity block sets with stickers and varnish. I thought it would be nice to paint some, turned out ok for an attempt but I need new paintbrushes I think! (The blocks are cheap store replicas of jenga blocks, bought from a charity shop)

Prayer and Worship (@ Christmas)

These were from a session last year that was around christmas time, but we had planned to do a session on prayer and worship but decided that it was appropriate to make the connection between the two.

These were the available exploration/ play resources

Nativity set with book, initially presented with no baby. To pose the question, ahh we need a baby at christmas and aid discussion about Jesus. And this worked very well, pointed out missing baby by three year old.

Sung/ musical/ dance worship, the cards are Mary's song presented with a visual image for each sentence.

People who came to worship Jesus when he was born. Play dough making the people  who came to visit Jesus (apparently there were a lot of snails who visited Jesus who knew)

Prayer is communication: Walkie talkies, a two way baby monitor (other half in another room, had to be found) mobile phone. And a basket of resources to make cup and string phones.

We need to look out for how God is speaking to us and it's no always words: No talking signs - children acted out the cards for friends to guess

Worship God/ Human creation: cards with images of people e.g. concert, church, football match children sorted into which they thought were worshiping God. This led to some interesting discussions about us not knowing what was going on inside people heads e.g. the concert the people may look like they are worshiping the band they may be singing christian songs to God, the church they looked like they were singing to God but they may not care. A really useful activity.

We hear from God through his word, Bible story books.

Sometimes we go in our room and quietly talk to God, a tent to do so on our own.

Free craft, with range of resources.

Going to Bethlehem, Signed Story

 I posted about this book in a previous post last, year but thought I would show you pictures of all the pages. I signed the key words in addition to these but don't have pictures of all of those. I also had a toy resembling each of the key transportation items. The repetitive script made it great for the children to join in.

The signs and symbols were from the Makaton site, but edited into this format by me using images. Makaton regularly updates free downloads, check it out. The pictures are from kizclub which has brilliant printable props for popular stories, these are for we all go travelling by . I also made colouring books of this which were good for a few children and will probably create these for carol service packs.

Makaton Christmas Story Cards

Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people to communicate.  It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order. 

The signs and symbols were from the Makaton site, but edited into this format by me using images. Makaton regularly updates free downloads, check it out.

I created two sets, one with children doing nativity play or cartoon images.